Trey Ferguson, a freshman in secondary science education, wants to spend his first college fall break in Atlanta tutoring high school students in civil rights.   That’s why he said he plans to apply for one of the alternative service break trips offered through the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service.   “Since my future lies in high school education, I’d like to get a firsthand experience with being one-on-one with a student,” Ferguson said. “I’m also a very firm believer that not every student learns the same because of their different backgrounds.”   The fall 2010 deadline for alternative service break trips is rapidly approaching for students who wish to participate. Applications for these programs are due online by Sept. 10. Student leaders for each service team will review the submissions and select 39 students to attend the trips.   Adam Culley, CSLEPS assistant director, said more students will be able to attend the other ASB trips scheduled for the rest of the year.   “Out of the 350 applications typically received each year, about 280 people will be selected to attend one of the various trips available,” Culley said.   Both fall trips will be held from Oct. 7 through 10. While ASB trips do often include international and sometimes longer, credit-bearing trips to areas such as Mexico, Guatemala and Italy, both fall trips will be in the United States.   A group of 29 students will be selected for a trip to Washington, D.C. These students will have the opportunity to volunteer alongside organizations such as D.C. Central Kitchens and Capital Area Food Bank to learn more about homelessness and hunger in an urban setting.   The other trip is scheduled to take 10 students to Atlanta. There they will explore civil rights issues together while serving as mentors to high school students through the YMCA. Participants will also volunteer with Hosea, a service group, to help the hungry and homeless in an urban area.   While there are 20 trips scheduled throughout the academic year, with locations all over the map, from San Francisco to Belize, Culley said the location is not all students should look at.   “The destination is only one aspect of the trip. It’s one thing to say, ‘I’m going to Belize.’ It’s a completely different thing to say, ‘I’m going to Belize to help Mayan farmers, impoverished children,’ or whatever issue you are really interested in. So focus on the issue and really have a passion and desire to get involved with that issue,” Culley said.   Both fall trips cost $250, which covers transportation, housing and food costs. There are scholarships available to cover some of the cost. However, students in the past have also found ways to raise the funds through letter-writing campaigns and other efforts.    Culley said hopefully at some point, CSLEPS will be able to award more scholarships.   “I hope someday CSLEPS will be given an endowment so we can afford to provide more scholarships,” Culley said.     Culley also said there are new ASB trips for spring break this year, including a rainforest conservation trip to Costa Rica, a trip to San Francisco to focus on the GLBT community and homelessness and a trip to El Salvador to build houses.    While the credit-bearing trips revolving around medical issues have traditionally been the most popular, Cully believes the new ASB trips will bring in even more applicants.    Students who do apply for an ASB trip are required to attend information sessions, which will give information about the trips, the costs, fund-raising and other important information. The next information session will be held in the Talley Student Ballroom on the second floor Wednesday at 7 p.m.    “All students with a passion for service are encouraged to apply,” Culley said. “The leadership team is tasked with making sure a diverse group of students is able to attend.”