By Bob Edmiston, VP Philanthropy MBA Association, MBA Class of 2011

The first thing one might notice as they arrive at the construction site in the morning is that all hands are welcome at a Habitat for Humanity worksite – good thing, because there was work to be done! On Friday September 10th members of the MBAA and WMBA teamed up and worked hard to provide simple, decent, affordable houses for qualified families in need. Habitat’s expert volunteers were a team of some the nicest, most patient, and helpful retired gentlemen in Centre County, and they put a dozen Smeal MBAs to work throughout the day. We built a hallway in the basement, leveled ground, shoveled cement, constructed scaffolding in preparation for a roof, covered the outside frame of the house, constructed interior walls and even helped deliver a bathroom shower.

The Habitat site build provided a great opportunity for Smeal MBAs to socialize, bond and work together without the burden of a business case deadline. It allowed some first and second year students to meet for the first time, and most important we helped the greater State College community. Although we were all tired at the end of the day, everyone agreed that even if you had never driven a nail with a hammer, worked a power saw, shoveled cement into a wheelbarrow or set-up scaffolding, you were a welcome help, assisted in a great cause and had fun! We will be back!