Lee Faraca - Cal Poly

As my graduation date rapidly approaches, I can’t believe how fast college has gone by. Senior project is in full swing and companies are having workplace showcases almost weekly. Friends and colleagues have already begun signing letters of intent for various companies. As I look back on my college experiences and how much I’ve learned, I realize that I’d like to continue my education. I hope to study for and take my Professional Engineers (PE) Exam next year as well as enroll in a Master program.

Cal Poly offers a 4+1 “Blended” program I can apply to. I’d like to concentrate on Water Resources and Hydraulics Engineering. Growing up on the Vineyard has fostered a strong connection to nature, specifically water. I’ve found fluid mechanics and water management to be my favorite classes. Part of the “Blended” program is completing a Master’s thesis, which I would do on water conservation.

Another option is to enroll in an MBA program. My dream is to own or run a firm, and a MBA would be a good catalyst. Coming to Cal Poly it became quite apparent to me how intelligent and high achieving engineering students are. Between internships and classes I learned that I’m not nearly the smartest or best engineer, but that my strengths lie in project management, leadership, and client service/interaction. Coupling my degree with an MBA will, I think, open many employment opportunities for me.

Samantha Hargy - George Washington University

My last two semesters have been a whirlwind of once in a lifetime adventures! As a part of the Global Bachelor’s International Degree Program, I spent last spring studying at Fudan University in Shanghai, China and immersing myself in a culture completely different from my own. While in China, I traveled extensively, visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, hiking Mount Hua, one of China’s sacred mountains, and walking the Great Wall in Beijing! I took classes outside of my major to explore new topics and most enjoyed International Political Economics, where we discussed the future of Asian economies and the influence of Asia on the world market. Although all of my classes were in English, I dabbled in Mandarin and could successfully order myself food in a restaurant!

This semester I have been studying in Santiago, Chile at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, taking classes focused on my Latin American Studies major and Spanish minor. My favorite class here has been Historical Memories, where we discuss Augusto Pinochet’s rise to power and what happened in Chile during his dictatorship. I also completed an internship with TECHO, an NGO that works to build affordable housing in Chile and many other countries. Chile is a beautiful country, and I recently returned from hiking the week long W trek in Torres del Paine National Park, one of the top ten hikes in the world. Next semester I will continue on this incredible study abroad experience in Quito, Ecuador at Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

I could not be more excited for the adventures ahead! All of these experiences are only possible thanks to MVYouth and all of your help and I am endlessly grateful! Here’s to another year of adventures for all!

Olivia Jacobs - Hamilton College

My Fall 2018 semester has been nothing short of awesome. As a junior at Hamilton College, I elected to take my coursework in the beautiful city of Amsterdam, Netherlands this semester through a study abroad program called IES. I took a course called Conflict Studies at the University of Amsterdam, which gave me an introductory glimpse into world politics, a topic I previously had little knowledge of. My other three classes, Gender Studies, Dialogues on Difference, and Dutch Language and Culture, were situated in the Dutch context, allowing me to analyze racism, homonationalism, and Islamophobia outside of the United States. My identity as an activist and white ally only grew as I attended protests and shattered preconceptions I had of the Netherlands being a liberal utopia.

Outside of my studies, I cared for three French-Dutch sisters aged 4, 8, and 11 twice a week. I rode the ‘bakfiets’ while taking care of them, which is essentially a bicycle with a huge basket in front to transport the littlest one. Cycling is the main form of transportation in Amsterdam and I quickly learned there is a real skill to biking home in heavy rain while carrying grocery bags and maneuvering past mopeds and oblivious pedestrians! Some weekends I spent traveling to nearby countries, but many times I stayed in Amsterdam exploring all the city had to offer while developing lasting friendships with other students in my program. This semester would not have been possible without the financial support of MVYouth, as it is a real privilege to experience life in another country while continuing my studies. I feel full of gratitude for MVYouth as I reflect on this adventurous and eye-opening semester. I will be in Copenhagen, Denmark next semester for the second half of my study abroad year. Stay tuned!

Lena Hanschka - Colby College

Freshman year at Colby College was about observing and exploring academic life, new social dynamics, the Maine outdoors, and the incredible range of extra-curricular opportunities. Now in my second year, I’ve become fully engaged. As a leader in the Colby Outdoor Orientation Program this fall, I helped incoming first-years get acquainted with the school before the start of classes. My co-leader and I mentored eight freshmen in three days of wilderness hiking, a great start to the new year. Academically, I’m focusing on anthropology and environmental science. This semester I took two anthropology classes – one on research methods and the other combining economics with anthropology – with two focused independent research projects. Both turned out to relate pretty directly to experiences I’ve witnessed in my own life. In one final research paper, I explored the social and economic dynamics between Martha’s Vineyard tradesmen and their wealthy clients. In the other, I explored how socio-economic disparities can affect a person’s ability to participate in outdoor recreation. These projects gave me a better appreciation for my Vineyard upbringing. Looking ahead, language and foreign study are important components of my specialized anthropology program. In preparation for study abroad next year in Senegal, I’m developing my French language fluency with a fall semester French course taught by a Senegalese professor, followed by a one-month French immersion class in Paris in January. My environmental studies coursework has focused on geology this year, specifically climate change: the first course connected the Earth’s geological history to accelerating changes in the earth’s climate today; and the second will delve more deeply into the specifics of those changes. MVYouth and its generous donors have enabled me to take full advantage of the many academic and extra-curricular opportunities that Colby offers – thank you!

Emily Hewson - Bennington College

My experience at Bennington has been eccentric. From Experiential Anatomy to Concept Musical to Robert Frost and the Rural Authentic, my classes have been diverse and inventive. They really do let professors have autonomy over what they teach and how they teach it. I particularly enjoyed my experiential anatomy course where we learned about fascia. It's the connective tissue that encompasses everything in our bodies. If you were to take everything but the fascia out of a body, you would still be able to see where all of the bones, muscles, veins, and arteries would be. It is the definition of connective tissue. I appreciate the intimate student to teacher experience.

I love working with my voice teacher Thomas Bogdan and integrating into the music community at the Jennings house (the building The Haunting was based on). But I am especially psyched about my first fieldwork term where I’ll be working on Tauroa farm in New Zealand! A fieldwork term is part of our curriculum in which we have to complete 210 hours of work in a field connected to what we are studying. Because I’m a first term and don’t have a set field of work, I get to go anywhere! This school has opened doors I never knew existed. The academic system they have in place makes it so your experience here can be as fruitful or barren as you make it. It’s up to the student to take advantage of the opportunities laid in front of us. Bennington College truly is the place for me.

Chris Aring - Olin College

From working on a business idea with help from professors, student teaching at Newton North High School, and teaming up to create a budgeting app for young adults, this past semester at Olin College of Engineering has pushed me to expand my interests and broaden my knowledge into new fields.

In one of my favorite classes to date, “User Experience Design,” I worked with a team to design and build an app to help young adults establish positive budgeting habits. This class allowed me to design for complex engineering problems with a direct, people-oriented goal. My team had to find a group of individuals for whom we could design a product, track the product’s development, and collect data in real time to determine how well the product of our engineering research was working. The activity was an incredible opportunity - one of many I have received through Olin’s design-based courses.

In addition to various engineering projects, my student teaching experience through a class at Wellesley College has allowed me to work alongside a mentor teacher to observe classes, teach lessons and engage with students.

During my upcoming, final semester of junior year, I plan on finishing the requirements for my Electrical and Computer Engineering degree, refining my business plan, and continuing to explore new opportunities - ones I could never have imagined myself having if I did not end up being able to go to Olin College of Engineering through the support of my community, friends, family, and the generosity of MVYouth.

Liam Weiland - Berklee College of Music

My first semester at Berklee has been incredible. The level of musicianship surrounding me is simultaneously inspiring and daunting. I have never spent so many continuous hours practicing, writing, and listening to music. I was lucky enough to be granted a scholarship for the Berklee Five-Week Performance Program this summer by MVYouth and the Fialkows. My growth as a musician has been exponential from the beginning of that program to now. The staff here are world class musicians, but I’ve found myself more inspired and influenced by the students around me. I spend most of my free time writing and jamming with Saebin, another first semester freshman from Virginia, who has become my closest friend here. From the very first time we played together, it was clear that we had a connection through our mutual ambition to become successful artists. Since then, we have written an EP that we plan to record second semester. The community at Berklee is like no other. Berklee creates a highly motivating environment that keeps you in the mindset to work on your music 24/7. I’ve expanded from playing mainly finger-style acoustic guitar to exploring blues, rock, and jazz styles. Students are allowed to pick their classes starting in the second semester, and I am excited to start taking music business and production classes that will help me explore my possible career paths here at Berklee. I could not be more thankful for the opportunity MVYouth has given me to develop and refine my craft.

Nayson Peres - UMASS

My first semester at UMass Amherst has been a great experience and in hindsight attending UMass Amherst was the right choice. I have met some fantastic people from all sorts of backgrounds that have really given me a perspective on the opportunity that I have here. Not only are the people great but the resources and opportunities to explore are exceptional as well. I’ve been able to make a lot of new friends and learn a little more about the majors I can declare after attending club meetings and Peer Advisory sessions. My classes have been going well. I have been thoroughly engaged and challenged, especially in our readings of Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. In such a big campus I have found many places and resources to help me with my classes and with settling in. I have had the pleasure of learning with some really interesting people. I am set on the Pre-Med track and that just leaves the question of what I’ll be doing for my major. I have been able to narrow my search but I still want to take the time and choose the area that speaks the most to who I am. The good news is the Pre-Med track allows for basically any major and that I have time to choose. My time at UMass Amherst has been really enjoyable and I cannot thank MV Youth enough for this amazing opportunity!

Isabella Morais - Wesleyan University

My first semester at Wesleyan has been fantastic. I have learned so much from all of my professors, but even more than that, I have learned a lot from myself. Being a Charter School graduate, I spent a lot of time my junior and senior year learning how to be an independent learner. When I first got to Wesleyan, I was scared to go work in the library or ask for help with the writing workshop, however, as the semester chugged along, and classes got more difficult, I learned that the stacks in Olin Library are the only place where I can work– and it improved my grades by tenfold. I am grateful to MVYouth for the generous scholarship because it means that I can really focus on my studies and being on my mock trial team, instead of having to work my way through college. I am the only freshman who is on the Mock Trial B team, and I get to further my passion for law as well as be on a diverse team of students who feel the same way. Being at Wesleyan this first semester has really solidified my love of learning and I can’t wait to continue with it all this upcoming semester.

Danielle Hopkins - Barnard College

During my first semester at Barnard College, I auditioned for and was part of Columbia University’s Black Theatre Ensemble’s fall production of Dreamgirls. In the musical, I played the role of CC, who is the main character, Effie’s brother and also a leading role in the show. Being part of this musical was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I entered college thinking I wanted to major in either Political Science or English and now after this first semester I have absolutely no idea what I want to major in. While I did take a political science class and a required English course I decided to also take Spanish and try Astronomy with the Astronomy lab to fulfill my science requirement and to experience something new. I ended up learning a lot in the lecture and lab. I got to do observations, calculations about celestial bodies, and learn about space exploration and climate change. However after taking this course, I don’t think I can see myself as an Astronomy major. While being unsure of my major is a little terrifying, in many ways I’m glad I don't know because it is forcing me to step out of my comfort zone. I am so grateful that MVYouth is supporting me in this endeavor. I wouldn’t be able to go on this journey in the best city in the world and discover what is right for me without the generous support MVYouth is giving me.

Lena Hanschka - Colby College

This past semester at Colby College has been really amazing. All of my classes were really interesting, especially my Introduction to Anthropology course. We covered a wide array of topics, but it was really fascinating to learn about the small aspects of different cultures. For example, we learned about how the definition of kinship can vary by culture, sometimes not defined by genetics at all, but rather by who you eat your meals with. I have also really enjoyed living in Maine. The Colby campus is surrounded by woods with many trails to walk or run through. It has been really nice to be able to take a break from studying or homework and enjoy nature. I am so excited for the winter weather and all of the winter sports. The Sugarloaf Ski Resort is only about an hour away and with a more relaxed winter schedule, I hope it make it up to the mountain at least once a week.

Paulo Pereira Filho - UMASS

Life at UMass Amherst this past semester has been filled with new experiences. UMass Amherst is similar to a small city, in itself, they have so much to offer on campus and there’s always something to do. During the week, I spend a lot of time in the tallest academic research library in the world, the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. This past semester I had many opportunities to become involved in the community of UMass. I joined the Isenberg Real Estate Association as well as the UMass Pre-Medical Society. I have had different volunteering opportunities through the Pre-Medical Society and have become CPR/AED certified through a Healthcare Professional (HCP) and Basic Life Support (BLS) class in order to reach my goal of becoming an EMT. The highlight of this past semester has been joining intramural soccer at the beginning of the semester and becoming captain of my team. I am looking forward to what next semester has in store for me. I have made myself at home here at UMass and none of it would’ve been possible without the immense generosity of MVYouth. I am forever grateful for the benevolence. Thank you MVYouth.

Marlla Lemos - UMASS, Boston

Although the year was full of ups and downs, my first semester of sophomore year was on of the best so far. This semester, I discovered my passion for critical thinking, and declared my major in Ethics, Social, and Political Philosophy in hopes to one day fulfill my dream of becoming an immigration lawyer. I have also declared a minor in Human Rights, and Spanish Language. I have so many exciting and challenging classes to look forward to in the upcoming spring semester, together with an opportunity to job shadow the Assistant District Attorney at Middlesex County District Attorney's Office! All these amazing opportunities are made possible thanks to the MVYouth community, I just want say how grateful I am to be able to finish every semester strong, because school is my only job and priority.

Samantha Hargy - George Washington University

During my third semester at GW, I took advantage of George Washington University’s close proximity to Capitol Hill by interning in the U.S. House of Representatives with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY12). I attended briefings, replied to constituent letters, and frequently got lost in the tunnels under the U.S. Capitol building. On top of my internship, I took classes that both challenged and interested me, including Brazil Rising, which analyzed the history and future of Brazil. I also joined a professional community service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, that connects students to community service sites around DC. With APO, I completed 36 hours of community service this semester. The end of the semester was bittersweet, as I will not return to GW until senior year. Instead, I will take part in the Global Bachelor’s Program and study abroad for three consecutive semesters. I will start this journey in February at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. My following two destinations are to be decided. MVYouth provided me with the possibility to do all of these amazing things. A thank you will never be enough to explain how grateful I am to go to GW, and it’s all thanks to your help!

Chris Aring - Olin College

During my most recent semester at Olin, I chose my major, built a piano playing robot, designed my own computer processor, and explored more interests. While I've decided to major in electrical and computer engineering, I plan to take education courses at Wellesley College. Since many of the classes at my school combine ideas from multiple disciplines and count for more than one major, I took two computer science classes this semester. By working in project teams with students and teachers, I had additional opportunities to experience what it means not only to fulfill the objective of a project, but to learn to teach others in my group and the entire class the material I knew. In a sense, the project groups are themselves mini-classrooms where my interest in education has grown. In one class, I worked as part of a team during a three month span to create a piano playing robot. Our grade was not based on how functional the final product was, but rather on our documentation, check-in reports, and final product website. This last semester has been one of growth. I learned how to work on large, lengthy projects with a team, how to communicate and research to set myself up to be the first student from my college to go through Wellesley College’s education program, and finally, how to take the next step. Thanks to the support of MVYouth, I have been able to grow and learn in innovative and curious ways.

Casey McAndrews - Hamilton College

My time at Hamilton College has continued to be an amazing experience, and it is flying by! Over the past year I have spent several Saturdays working with the Hamilton Autism Advocates for NeuroDiversity (HAAND) club on campus. Children with autism from the surrounding community come to the school and engage in all different kinds of activities and arts and crafts to help boost their social kids with others. This has been one to most inspirational things for me on campus, as I have become very passionate about working with children with autism and other special needs. I was also recently elected co-captain for the women’s club soccer team for the upcoming semester. This past year I was able to take some really cool classes. I took a developmental biology course and watched chick embryos develop, and was also able to participate in several different psychology studies for senior thesis projects for my psychology class. I am looking forward to many new experiences and classes in the upcoming semesters. Thank you, MVYouth, for another amazing year!

Olivia Jacobs - Hamilton College

I've had a busy fall semester at Hamilton College. I took an art course, an introductory women's studies course, and two education courses this semester. Women's studies was fascinating because the issues we've learn about are particularly prominent in today's political climate. My two education courses were wonderful - one focused on lesson planning while the other was an ethnography course in which I had to observe a classroom in the community every week and then write about it. The art course "Figure Drawing" was a toss-up, a totally different area of study and one very unfamiliar to me. I took the course because I wanted to challenge myself. I love that Hamilton allows me to explore and expand my interests. I have continued riding on the Equestrian Club team twice a week as well. It brings me a lot of joy to be around the horses. I also continue to intern at the local middle school running girls empowerment groups. My life at Hamilton is so full of the things I love to do. There are so many possibilities in my future thanks to the generous support of MVYouth.

Kaela Vecchia-Zeitz - New York University

The past year at NYU has been one of reckoning and growth. I’ve not only gained knowledge in the classroom, but also an immense amount of intellectual thought and discussion in the bustling environment of New York City. In the early spring of 2017, I began an internship at The Bronx Defenders, a holistic public defense office which provides services to lower-income people living in the South Bronx. This experience has taught me a great deal about the integrity, determination, and patience I will need to have as a social worker moving forward, especially if I choose to work in criminal justice reform. In accordance to working at The Bronx Defenders, I am engrossed in my studies. This fall I’ve been taking a journalism course - investigating the complexities of news, media, and journalism in the past and present. I’ve enjoyed this class so much that I’ve decided to concentrate in journalism, alongside majoring in social work. Next semester, I’m planning to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina where I hope to cultivate fluency in the Spanish language and Argentine culture. This incredible opportunity would not be a reality for me if it wasn’t for the generosity of MVYouth. Thank you.

Lee Faraca - Cal Poly

Junior year at Cal Poly is the most challenging, but also the most enjoyable year at school. For the past 2 years I’ve been learning all of the mathematics and physics behind engineering. This year, I get to take major classes and explore more of the civil engineering field. So far my interests lie in the water resources and geotechnical engineering fields. Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is an organization I’m heavily involved with. Currently our chapter of EWB is working on designing a water distribution system for Cuachillo, a small village in Nicaragua. These next couple quarters I’ll work with the projects team to research and design pipelines for the installation. In August, I hope to travel with some of the EWB team to Nicaragua to build and implement our design. A couple weeks ago, our department had a meeting about senior projects and graduation requirements. College has seemingly flown by. It’s remarkable how much progress we the recipients, and MVYouth as an organization have made. The impact MVYouth makes is huge, with college expenses rising, it’s becoming much harder to get a collegiate education. Thank you so much for your compassion and generosity.

Gavin Leuenberger - Northwestern Michigan College & Michigan State University

Gavin Leuenberger was selected as the first recipient to receive financial support to pursue a joint program in Landscape Management offered through a partnership between Michigan State University (MSU) and Northwestern Michigan College (NMC). The specialized training partnership allows students to earn a certificate from the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) while working toward an Associate’s Degree from NMC. The program provides training for students to select, use, and manage landscape plants and lawns. Students obtain a working knowledge of plant growth, development, and identification which prepares them for careers in the green industry.