Our latest campus celeb likes to get down and dirty, AND it’s for a great cause!
Meet David Ringel, a senior Zoology major with a pre-med focus. He’s been a member of Habitat for Humanity since his sophomore year at Miami and is now the President of the organization. He is also a co-founder of People Working Cooperatively, an organization that hosts projects ranging from helping others out with yard work to installing wheel chair ramps for homes in Oxford, Hamilton, and Middletown. Check out our interview below to get to know David and his passions better!
HC: Describe Habitat and all the things you do for people who don’t know much about the organization.
DR: Habitat for Humanity is an organization that raises awareness for homelessness and provides housing for qualified families who could not otherwise afford comfortable and healthy living conditions. At Miami University we work with our affiliate chapter to find projects, trips, and homes to sponsor where we will work on building a home from start to finish.
HC: What made you want to join Habitat?
DR: Habitat was an organization that I had been interested in being a part of since high school and saw their booth at the mega fair my sophomore year of college. I decided to go on a couple of builds and have since been involved with the organization.
HC: What is your favorite aspect about being a part of the group?
DR: I really enjoy the builds. We get to meet the families that we are working with and work on a lot of home construction activities that I otherwise may not have become familiar with if it weren’t for Habitat for Humanity.
HC: What has been your most rewarding moment with Habitat?
DR: Our upcoming kick off build in Oxford on November 10th will definitely be one of the highlights of my experience with Habitat so far. Our campus chapter will be donating $10,000 toward our partnered sponsorship with the IFC to build a home in the Oxford area.
HC: What organizations are you a part of on campus?
DR: I am also apart of another service organization called People Working Cooperatively that was created by myself and some other Miami students my sophomore year. We work on projects ranging from yard work to handicap ramp installations for homes in the Oxford, Hamilton, and Middletown areas.
HC: What other activities or hobbies do you enjoy?
DR: I really enjoy playing basketball and going fishing whenever I have the chance. I also enjoy running and plan to run in the Flying Pig half marathon this summer.
HC: If you could be one animal what would it be?
DR: I would be a sloth because they’re really laid back and like to hang out.