Nearly a dozen University of Tampa students are spending their spring break hundreds of miles away in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The city is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina and the BP Oil Spill. The students are volunteering to help the environment.

"We found that a lot of the students are really passionate about environmental issues and being able to contribute," said UT Director of Community Engagement Ian McGinnity.

"We'll be doing things like removing invasive species, doing beach cleanup and just kind of educating ourselves on the BP oil spill and the community in Biloxi and Hurricane Katrina," student Lily Cousins said.

The students will also plant trees and new plants and clean up the trash that still litters the streets years after the two disasters.

They'll spend their entire spring break in Mississippi. The trip is part of the UT's Alternative Break Program.