Chris Ciarcia, the associate director for the College of Charleston’s Center for Civic Engagement, has been named the 2018 Staff Person of the Year by the national organization Break Away. Ciarcia was honored for his work with the College’s Alternative Break program.

Chris Ciarcia

Alternative Break is a transformative experiential learning opportunity where students spend their academic breaks addressing critical issues such as affordable housing, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental protection, civil rights, and sustainability in different communities throughout the country.

“The College’s Alternative Break program has been so successful because of the dedication and hard work of our student leaders,” says Ciarcia. “Our Alternative Break program, for the most part, is student led and operated through collective action. Students involved in the Alternative Break program care deeply about community and believe Alternative Breaks can be used as a catalyst for positive social change.”

Break Away is a national, nonprofit organization that promotes the development of quality alternative break programs through training, assisting, and connecting campuses and communities.