Meet the 2017 CAPS Fellows

The 2017 CAPS Fellows Cohort

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHELLE ANDERSEN

Michelle Andersen is a rising junior Social Work and Psychology double major. She will be in Rockville, Maryland this summer serving National Lutheran Communities and Services (NLCS), a non-profit organization that has a variety of options for lifestyle, residential, and health care choices for seniors. She will be serving as a New Program Development fellow and is excited to work to improve the lives of older adults, which is her passion. In her free time, Michelle is on the VU Ballroom dance team and works in the student Union.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KATIE BAHN

Katie is from Bloomington, IL and is a senior nursing student. At Valpo, she has been given opportunities to be involved in numerous organizations that allow her to lead others and grow in her passions of service, nursing, and travel in organizations like CRU (Campus Crusades for Christ), WAVES (Working Across Vocations Everywhere through Service), and a nursing research team doing work in Nicaragua. Katie will be serving in Rockville, Maryland at National Lutheran Communities and Services as their Clinical Leadership intern. She looks forward to learning and growing both professionally and personally.

 

 

 

 

 

KATE BRAUN

Kate is a senior English major and Humanities minor currently placed at Charitable Allies in Mooresville, IN. She is looking forward to learning more about the ins and outs of the nonprofit sector this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VICTORIA BRUICK

Victoria is a recent graduate and is serving as the Research & Data Analysis Fellow at Ingenuity in Chicago, IL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADAM BRUNO

Adam graduated from Valpo this May with a BA in History and Secondary Education. While at Valpo, he was a member of the Valpo cross country and track teams. He was also a student commissioner on the President’s Commission for an Inclusive Valparaiso Community (CIVIC). as well as a member of the education honors society Kappa Delta Pi. In his free time, he enjoys running and reading. Adam is serving this summer at Heartland Alliance in Chicago, IL as the Youth & Family Services intern with the Refugee and Immigrant Community Services department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

AARON CARTWRIGHT

Aaron is a recent Valparaiso graduate and is serving at Venn Strategies in Washington, D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NICHOLLE DAY

Nicholle graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Digital Media Art. While at Valpo, Niki became very passionate about people and finding ways to utilize her design and communication skills in creative ways. She served as the Vice President of Public Relations for her sorority, the Assistant Editor-in-Chief on The Beacon, and was a graphic designer and social media coordinator for the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts and the Office of International Programs – Study Abroad. She was also a gallery attendant at the Brauer Museum of Art. She is a member of the Communications honors society, Lambda Pi Eta, as well as the Greek honor society, Order of Omega. Niki is looking forward to serving at Lutheran Services in America in Washington, D.C. as the Communications & Advocacy Fellow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEGAN GILLIAM

Megan is a rising senior in Sociology and English with a Psychology minor and is serving in Indianapolis, IN at ArtMix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAZMYN HARMON-WHITLOW

Jazmyn is a rising senior majoring in Political Science & Criminology, and is serving as the Communications & Media Fellow at Ingenuity in Chicago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAGEN HAUSER

Magen is a recent Valparaiso graduate, and is serving as a Resettlement & Placement Fellow at Heartland Alliance in Chicago, IL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOSHUA HENDERSON

Josh is a 2017 Graduate at Valpo. This summer he will be interning at Venn Strategies in Washington D.C. Following CAPS Josh will be working with a federal contractor located in Arlington, VA. While at Valpo Josh majored in International Economics and Cultural Affairs, and Chinese Studies. His time at Valpo was filled with international experience, spending time in China, Costa Rica, Greece, and Spain. His long term goal is to end up in foreign policy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOUISA ISHIDA

Louisa Ishida is a senior Communication major with a minor in Philanthropic Leadership and Service. Originally from Elmhurst, Illinois, this summer she is interning with Water to Thrive in Austin, Texas. Having recently returned from studying abroad in Cambridge, England, she is looking forward to American food and using her skills to spread the message of Water to Thrive. Upon graduating, she hopes to go into nonprofit public relations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KATIE KARSTENSEN

Katie will be interning for the summer at the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants. Katie is from Lowell, Indiana and is currently Elementary Education, is an Oliver W. and Emma W. Allen Scholar, has leadership positions in sorority and fraternity life, sings for the Kantorei Chapel Choir, and has been a Resident Assistant at Valpo for the past two years. Katie is also still adjusting to life back in the United States after spending the semester studying abroad with the Center for Global Education and Experience in South Africa and Namibia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KENDALL KARTALY

Kendall is a rising senior studying English and Secondary Education. At Valparaiso University, she enjoys her leadership positions in Sigma Tau Delta: The English Honor Society, College Mentors for Kids, and Social Action Leadership Team. This summer, she is excited to be a Partnerships and Professional Learning intern at Ingenuity in Chicago, Illinois. Ingenuity is committed to implementing arts education into the Chicago Public Schools. She is looking forward to using her passions and skills in meaningful ways as well as exploring the wonders of Chicago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JONAH KOETKE

Jonah is a rising junior with a Psychology major and Sociology and Theology minors. This summer, he has the amazing opportunity to be working in Washington D.C. with Lutheran Services in America helping them with member engagement research and looking at the trends of the non-profit sector. After Valpo, he plans on continuing my education to the graduate level with a focus in social psychology so he may peruse his passion of helping to fight against social inequalities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ERICA MARSKE

Erica is a rising senior at Valparaiso University and is currently studying Nursing at the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Through the CAPS program, she has been placed on the development team at Ancilla Systems Incorporated with offices in both Hobart and Donaldson, Indiana. Ancilla Systems Incorporated is the administrative branch of The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, helping raise funds for their multiple non-profit ministries in the Northwest Indiana area. After graduating from Valparaiso University, Erica will be taking her national exam to gain licensure as a Registered Nurse and hopes to work in an emergency department thereafter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MADELYN NIETER

Madelyn is a rising senior Health Care Leadership major from Fort Wayne, IN. She will be serving as Operational Leadership at National Lutheran Communities and Services (NLCS) in Rockville, MD.  Madelyn looks forward to using what she has learned in the classroom and contributing to the growth of NLCS.  While at Valpo, she is involved in Greek Life and works in the admissions office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KATHLEEN PRAHLOW

Kathleen Prahlow, a Valpo native, is a recent graduate of VU with majors in Spanish and Secondary Education and a minor in TESOL.  She is putting her language and teaching skills to good use this summer through an internship with Heartland Alliance’s English Language Training program in Chicago, IL.  In the fall, she will return to Indiana as a high school Spanish teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGAN WEBER

Regan is a recent graduate, who is serving at the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis, IN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JACOB WILLIAMS

Jacob is a recent graduate of Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Global Service.  He also attained two minors in Computer Science and Middle Eastern Studies.  As a CAPS Fellow, Jacob accepted an internship in Washington D.C. with the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), and will be supporting their Operations department in preparation for the arrival of 1,000 young leaders from across the African continent.  These promising individuals will be part of the third Mandela Washington Fellowship program, which aims to provide access to various educational tracks with the goal of equipping Fellows to make a positive impact on progressive development back in their home countries.  As for his part in all of this, Jacob anticipates a fulfilling summer of service while assisting IREX in recognizing their mission of cultivating leaders in all areas of society.  He has also found excitement in the fact that Washington D.C. offers a multitude of opportunities to be an active practitioner of political mobilization, and will be taking advantage of any opportunities that promote an increased involvement in our democracy.