|
My name is Jasmine Abraham. I am a junior at Hamline University. I am majoring in psychology and communications. I joined McVay this year as an intern. I am really excited to start working with the kids from the different sites and make a difference in their lives. I am addicted to white chocolate mochas from Starbucks, and am interested in photography and collecting rare shoes. When I am not at school I love to spend time with my family while playing our favorite game, Taboo.
My name is Dominic Amegashitsi. I am a senior majoring in communications, as well as an international student from Ghana, West Africa. One of the unique things about me is that I tend to view every situation as an opportunity to learn and grow. And of course, I like to laugh a lot. I joined the McVay program in September 2007, and I have learned a tremendous amount in this program. It almost feels like I have been with the McVay program for years. The program is built in such a way that it accommodates diverse people and views. The kids in this program are fun and interesting to work with. One of the unique things about this program is that it is very dynamic and constantly evolving. The program is designed to educate the interns, the fellows, and the youth. From the “get go”, the interns, fellows, and youth are constantly interacting with each other. It doesn’t take long to realize that we are one big family.
Hello. My name is Karyn Cave and I’m a first year student at Hamline. I was born in Edina, Minnesota but spent most of my life growing up in Denver with my parents and older brother. I plan to major in English with a concentration in creative writing and possibly major in business as well. In my free time you can always catch me reading or watching one of my favorite movies. Some of my hobbies include writing, theater, art, and traveling. In March 2006 I traveled to Italy with my choir where I grew to adore all the amazing art it had to offer. I am a fairly new intern but have enjoyed the time I’ve spent with the program. I’m excited to be a part of this program.
I’m Erica Peterson Elhilali. I am a senior political science major and this is my first year with the program. I love to travel and have been to Italy, China, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan. I know Arabic and focus on the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. I am married to Hamada Elhilali who is a professional soccer player in Morocco and I have been to Morocco four times on various trips to visit him. I love to cook, especially Moroccan food. My future goal is to further study the Middle East and Arabic after I graduate in May. I hope to either become the U.S. ambassador to Morocco and or a professor of Middle Eastern politics one day. One of my favorite things about the McVay program is that I get to learn about new cultures and meet a lot of new wonderful people while doing it.
My name is Brandon Johnson and I'm currently a senior at Hamline University. I run track and play football for Hamline. I went to North Saint Paul high school. I enjoy working with kids and hope to have fun with the program.
Hello, all! My name is Sabrina Mims. I am currently a fourth year student at Hamline University. I chose to go to Hamline because it is a small campus where I felt a part of the Hamline community versus one of the bigger campuses I was applying to. I also came to Hamline wanting to major in cultural antropology, which I soon found out wasn't the right major for me, like most first years. I am currently majoring in social justice focusing in Judeo Christianity. I am presently enrolled in the following classes: lifetime sports, Tae Kwon Do, fundamental concepts of PE, problem of God in modern thought, and anthropolgy of hip hop in a global perceptive. The co-curricular activities I am involved in are: Multicultural and International Student Affairs (MISA), Native American Student Association (NASA), Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and Homeless Youth Program Volunteer. All of my classes and activities have molded me as a person. They have taught me more about myself and cultural background as well as other cultural beliefs. My classes and activities have taught me how to become a leader and take charge in what I believed in. I learned that it’s necessary sometimes to speak up and state what you believe in, instead of standing there never saying anything. I have changed since I've been at Hamline by becoming a more open minded person. I do not think I would have joined the organizations I am in now if I wasn't taking the classes and knew the people I know now. Without this I don't believe I would have had the same experiences that I did. With all this said you must be wondering what type of person am I and where I come from. I am not to be mistaken for a Minnesota native; in fact I am from Los Angeles, California. I come from a family of five, of which I am the second youngest. I graduated from Crenshaw High School, where I attend for all four years. In high school I was involved in the following organizations: Fire Academy, short flag squad, speech and debate, national honors society, and tutor and mentor for third graders. After all this was said and done I still made time to spend with friends and family, as well as my daily dose of video games. Other than that, I have always been a real laid-back person and extremely easy to get along with. After Hamline I plan on moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and working in immigration and refugee non-profit services. Growing up in an area where immigration played a big role in who attend my school and my community, I personally feel that immigration issues are something that also affects me.
My name is Sara Mitambo. I am from Cameroon in West and Central Africa. I am the only girl in a family of five, meaning that I have four brothers, three older brothers and one young brother. I have a passion in life which is tennis, which I have been playing since I was about five years old and still play now. I am also a part of the tennis team at my school. I am a junior at Hamline University and I will be majoring in international management/business with a minor in French. I fluently speak French since it is my native language. I am really glad to be a part of the McVay program and I really adore the kids.
Hi! I’m Cat Polivoda and a newcomer this year to the McVay Program. I am a sophomore at Hamline University majoring in global studies and German and with a minor in communication studies. I am originally from La Crescent, Minnesota but I feel like Saint Paul is most certainly becoming my home. Besides McVay, I am involved in other capacities at Hamline such as a tour guide, a member of the Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress, and a team leader for Bridges Scholars. I am also a barista at Ginkgo Coffeehouse. I love being in the sun, laughing, spending time with wonderful people, speaking German, traveling, wasting entirely too much time on my computer, listening to music, talking—maybe a little too much, making and eating guacamole, and, of course, I love working with McVay. I am lucky enough to work at Bethlehem where I get to spend afternoons engaging with some amazing young people! I also have the pleasure of working with some of the most incredible Fellows. Working with McVay has taught me so much and confirmed my desire to work with youth for the rest of my life. I hope to work with McVay the whole time I am here at Hamline.
Hi, my name is Ahmet. I’m currently attending Hamline as a first year student. My major is undecided but I’m leaning towards a physics degree. This is also my first year with the McVay program, but I’ve had previous experience teaching chess, and participating in a mentoring program. I like to spend time hanging out with friends, studying chess, painting, maybe reading a good book, or doing homework. I play soccer for Hamline and working out is something I always like to do. One can point out perhaps that I’m pretty awesome at chess. I won the high school state tournament my sophomore year, and I was ranked seventeenth in the nation my junior year at the National Chess Tournament. Chess is one of the reasons I wanted to join this program; it seems to me that people who get into chess have a better understanding of what goes on around them. I’ve personally seen how attracted kids get to this game, me being one once. That being said, I’m very excited to be in this program and wish to fulfill the expectations required of me by the McVay family.
My name is Greg Simonson. I am currently a junior psychology major with a possible Spanish minor. I’ve been with McVay since the beginning of my sophomore year and was a fellow at Bethlehem for a semester. After college I want to go on to graduate school and probably get my Ph.D. in clinical psychology. I really would like to work with kids in some sort of psychological setting. I love McVay because it gives me the opportunity to work with various ages of kids from so many different backgrounds. It offers a really nice challenge. Some things you should know about me:
Hi, my name is Kor Zoua Pa Xiong and I was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I am currently a first-year student at Hamline University and I plan to major in criminal justice and physical therapy. I come from a big family and so I love being around noise. I like to have others around me, but sometimes I just need a little of 'myspace.' I like to sleep, eat, have fun, and play sports, but most of all learn. I like to learn many new things; I like to try new things; I'm all about taking chances. I am an intern for the McVay Youth Voice Partnership and I have been a part of the McVay Youth Voice Partnership not for too long, it's been probably a couple of months and let me say, it has been a wonderful couple of months. I've learned so many things from the youth in the program and I feel as if I have also taught them something too, although I haven't been in the program for a long time. I am looking forward to the rest of the year to see how this program goes. I am ready to see new things and learn new things from all the youth in this program!
My name is Susun, pronounced the way it is spelled. I am eighteen years old, born in Fresno, California but raised in Tulare. I have lived in Minnesota for almost ten years now and love it, but cannot say the same when it comes to the forty below temperature. I graduated from Edison High School in Minneapolis and am currently a first year student at Hamline University. I am a person who likes to hang out and have fun, but at times find it a challenge because of my hectic schedule. I believe in giving back to my community and therefore volunteer with Hancock/Hamline Collaborative Magnet School assisting the students with their development of reading and writing skills. The McVay Youth VOICE program gives me an opportunity to do two of my favorite things and those are working with the youth and serving as a resource for the students through community-building activities which result in the development of a relationship similar to that of a mentorship.
My name is Winta Yacob. I am a junior and my major is social justice. I am a fellow at Liberty Plaza. Being a McVay Fellow truly means a great deal to me. I enjoy being a positive mentor to the kids that I work with. I have a lot of fun teaching and learning from the kids. This is the best job I've had thus far! I can relate to many of the kids at a number of sites that we have. I am a first generation American citizen. I grew up in Saint Paul and Eagan in a family led by a single mother, and I have one older brother. I am lucky to have the privilege of working with truly phenomenal kids! Thanks McVays!
|