Clemson alumnus helping rebuild school in Louisiana; volunteers needed

Published: June 21, 2010

CLEMSON — When Clemson University alumnus Joe Semsar started teaching at Lanier Elementary School in Baton Rouge, La., through the Teach for America program, he was shocked at the dilapidated condition of the school, so he took action.

Semsar learned of NBC’s new show “School Pride,” in which poor, run-down schools are renovated and rebuilt, so he and a fellow teacher pitched Lanier Elementary to the show’s producers. The producers chose Lanier as one of six schools to be renovated for the show’s first season.

Work on the school will take place July 12-18, with NBC’s cameras filming the entire process. More than 1,200 volunteers are needed to help with the project, and Semsar is reaching out to his Clemson family for help.

“It’s going to be like Habitat for Humanity on steroids,” Semsar said. “This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This show is awesome because it is going to completely change the education setting for hundreds of students. It is going to have a big impact on all of these students.”

Semsar said the school is in serious disrepair, with asbestos in places, mold in the ceiling, a leaky roof, inadequate classrooms and a dysfunctional playground. He said when school started his classroom did not even have a chalkboard and his students did not have textbooks for seven weeks due to lack of funding. He said the school serves 300 children, 98 percent of whom receive free or reduced-price lunches.

“We want to create a school that these kids want to come to, where they can come to learn and have a good time,” said Semsar, who teaches fourth grade math.

Clemson students interested in volunteering should visit http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/civic-engagement/rebuild-lanier.html to register. All others should go to http://schoolpridevolunteers.com/form_batonrouge.php.

“We, as a community, are very excited,” Semsar said. “I want my Clemson family to be a part of what’s going to take place.”

“School Pride” will air on Fridays on NBC starting this fall.

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