These days it's all too easy to get ARAMARK Campus Dining Services employee Della Conrad excited. One only needs to ask about her new house to see a huge smile break across her face and her eyes begin to dance.

Conrad will be the proud owner of a brand-new house in a just a few short weeks, thanks to the help of Habitat for Humanity.

The dedication service for her home, as well as several others around it, will take place 4 p.m. April 28. A block party will follow.

Chi Rho, the university's Christian male a capella ensemble, is planning to sing at the dedication service.

"She's treated all of us really well ever since we sang 'Della my Love' to her a few years ago," said senior Derek West. "We just really felt called to sing for her again."

A 33-year-old divorcee and mother of a 7-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, Conrad has wanted a house of her own for many years.

She first learned of the Habitat for Humanity program through a co-worker, and in February 2001 attended an informational meeting.

"I was determined to have my own home, so I was really persistent in filling out all of the information they needed and doing everything they wanted me to," Conrad said. After Habitat conducted a home visit to determine the family's level of need, Conrad was approved in May 2001.

"When I first found out, I was screaming, and wanted to tell everyone I knew the good news," Conrad said. "I'm just so excited that I will finally be a homeowner. Habitat has actually purchased the house, and I will make payments to them."

In order to be eligible for a Habitat for Humanity house, prospective homeowners must agree to put in 300 equity hours towards various Habitat projects ¯ 150 of those hours must be spent working on other Habitat houses before one's own house site is actually assigned.

Among other projects, Conrad has painted banisters, hung vinyl siding and planted trees. Prospective homeowners can also earn hours by participating in Habitat fundraisers such as the Unity Walk. "They give you lots of opportunities to get your hours in," Conrad said. "And when it comes to the time you put in on your own house, that's no big deal because you'd be there anyway."

One thing Conrad enjoyed most about the construction process was getting to know some of the people who volunteered to work on her house. Several churches helped out, as well as college service organizations from as far away as Ohio and Minnesota.

Some university organizations that were involved included the university Habitat for Humanity group, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and Chi Omega sorority.

A tour of Conrad's almost-finished home revealed a spacious living room, a fully-furnished kitchen, three bedrooms and two full baths. It even has a large front porch.

Della excitedly explained her ideas for decorating while dashing from room to room.

Conrad plans to start with her daughter's room. "We're going to get some pretty wallpaper and I think I want to somehow build her a window seat," Conrad said. "My mind's just working a mile a minute."

Upon a viewing of the master suite, Conrad says what she looks forward to most is having the privacy of her own bedroom and bathroom.

She and her daughter have been sharing a room in their present apartment ever since her daughter was born.

Throwing open the doors of her personal closet, Conrad exclaims, "I'll have to buy more clothes just to fill this thing up!"

Conrad is extremely grateful to Habitat for Humanity for giving her the opportunity to have something for which she might have had to wait much longer.