Students involved with Southwestern’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity won’t have to look far to see who their latest house project is benefitting. 

On April 25, Southwestern students will help break ground for a new house that will soon be home to Physical Plant employee Michael Sedwick and his family. 

“It’s a blessing from God,” said Sedwick, a Georgetown native who has worked as a groundskeeper at Southwestern for nine years. “For us, home ownership always seemed to be a dream that was unattainable.”  

Sedwick and his wife, Alanna Williams-Sedwick, have four children – Diamond, Michael, Annissa and Madison. Alanna works as a bookkeeper for a local custom cabinet company. They currently are living in a three-bedroom duplex in Georgetown that has only one bathroom.

The couple first applied to become Habitat homeowners in 2002 but at that time they did not qualify. Last year, their children brought home information from school about a meeting for those interested in Habitat. The couple decided to go to the meeting and try to apply again. This time they were approved for the program. 

Families accepted for the Habitat program are required to attend financial management classes and to put 450 “sweat equity” hours into the construction of Habitat homes.  

The Sedwick’s new home will be located in the Old Mill neighborhood, which is near the intersection of Leander Road and 17th Street. The house will have four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and all the appliances will be energy-efficient. It should be completed by the fall.

Sedwick said the family visits the lot often to clean up and look around. “My children like to see the new yard where they will play,” he said. 

Their home is being sponsored by local Methodist congregations. Funding is still needed for the home, and donations may be sent to Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County, P.O. Box 737, Georgetown TX 78627. Checks should note that donations are “For Methodist Build.” 

This is the second Habitat for Humanity house in Georgetown that Southwestern students have been involved with. In 2006, students raised funds to build one of the first houses in the Old Mill neighborhood. 

Brendin James, a sophomore economics and political science major, is the president of Southwestern’s Habitat Chapter, which has about 15 active members. James said he got involved with Habitat for Humanity after going on several trips to Mexico to build houses with his church youth group. 

“Although it is great to help people in other countries, I feel we should help those who need help in this country as well,” he said. “Unfortunately we do have a large amount of people in the United States, and in Williamson County, who need assistance with housing.” 

The Southwestern Habitat Chapter hopes to get students from a variety of groups on campus involved with building the Sedwick’s house. Anyone interested in volunteering to help should write James at jamesb@southwestern.edu.