Chris Gatlin is a rising senior at Valparaiso University who is majoring in computer science and has two minors in math and social work. He is currently working as a student engagement ambassador and also a peer educator. He is the treasurer of the Black Student Organization. He is a member of Phi Kappa Psi and the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. He also serves as a mentor and VP of fundraising for College Mentors For Kids. Chris grew up on the south side of Chicago. He enjoys playing video games and watching anime. He also loves to watch the NBA and NFl.

Grace Aurand is an incoming senior majoring in English and Political Science. This summer, she will be a Policy Engagement Fellow at Shirley Heinze Land Trust in Chesterton, Indiana! At Valpo, she is also a member of the cross country and track & field teams and the news editor for The Torch.

Erica Castillo is a junior, soon-to-be senior, social work major with a minor in art. She is involved with Active Minds as the activities coordinator and fundraising director. She is also in SSWO where she is a cohort representative. She always tries to put her best foot forward, even when it can be hard. She is a driven and passionate individual towards the many social injustices of our world and she’d like to help in any way she can.

Camille Jefferson is an incoming junior Healthcare Leadership major. This summer she will be interning at By the Hand in Gary, IN. She is very excited about the opportunity as she will be working with kids and adding to her personal development. On campus, she is a part of the Black Student Organization and Alpha Phi Omega (Service Fraternity).

Adam Monnette is an incoming junior Communications major with a minor in Leadership Development. He is involved in many things on campus including Lambda Chi Alpha as the VP of External Affairs, President of UPC, writing for the Torch, being a Co-Vice president of Service for the Service Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, and is the student executive chair for the Honor Council, as well as being a CC scholar. He will be working with The Red Cross in Disaster Services Response and is excited to learn more about not only the Red Cross but also about working with the greater Indiana community.

Tytus Ragle is a biology major with a chemistry minor on a pre-medical track. He is planning on graduating this December and attending medical school next fall. His placement in the CAPS fellowship program is with HealthLinc in Valpo. After he completes his schooling, he would love to work in a public health setting. Currently, he is a member of the Valpo football team and is involved with InterVarsity, a campus ministry program.

Nour Alhajjeh is a current senior majoring in International Relations and minoring in Biology. She serves as the secretary chair of the Valparaiso International Student Association and as Fourth-Year Senator on the Diversity, Inclusion, Equity Committee. In the past, she was a Young Global Professional in the Middle East Program at the Atlantic Council, Washington. DC. She also interned for Congressman Frank Mrvan as a Communication and Research Intern. Nour has also interned with the Welcome Network, a profit organization where she had the opportunity to assist with immigrants and their settlement process. She is extremely excited to become a Fellow at The Chicago Reporter site to highlight and advocate various issues in the area while engulfing herself in a new experience.

Maiah Deogracias is a rising senior currently double majoring in Communications (with a focus on Public Relations) and Digital Media Arts along with a Humanities minor. After school, she hopes to apply for the Orr Fellowship and graduate programs to study either Communications Management or Integrative Design. During her time at Valpo, she has had opportunities to gain professional experience by serving as an Orientation Assistant for two years, working in the Admissions office as a Communications Intern, taking photos for Valpo’s Integrative Marketing and Communications team, and working in Student Life as a Student Engagement Ambassador. Other things Maiah’s involved in includes playing French horn in the University’s Symphony Orchestra, serving as my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta’s, chapter president, and serving as Valpo Dance Marathon’s Director of PR!

Cylia Srmek is an incoming senior from Oak Lawn, IL with a Social Work and Sociology major. She is also a Christ College student, and a member of Alliance and Hooked on Tonics acappella. She has interned at Dunes Hospice and will be interning with VU Athletics as part of her social work curriculum. Over the summer, she will have the privilege to be working with Heartland Alliance Health and am excited that my CAPS experience will aid in her professional knowledge in working with the refugee population, and with case managerial, communication, and advocacy skills. This fellowship will allow her the opportunity to feel more confident in her future career in social work.

Allison Howard is a rising senior double majoring in International Relations and Chinese & Japanese Studies. She has been involved with Student Senate, the Black Student Organization, and Valpo Pre-Law Society. Her plans following graduation are to attend law school and hopefully practice in the areas of International Human Rights, Civil Rights, or Immigration. If she has some time and willpower to take on any more schooling, she would like to get her Masters or Ph.D in African American Studies. She will be working with Heartland Alliance in the VELT area. She hopes to learn more about what it is like to work with the immigrant population as that is an area of advocacy she’s considering working in. One of her favorite hobbies is learning languages and she hopes to utilize this in her future career.

Mikayla Flanagan is a rising senior at Valparaiso University where she is majoring in Sociology with a Criminology Concentration and has a Political Science minor. In the past at Valpo, she’s been involved in Student Senate, Club Softball, Junior Panhellenic, and College Mentors, and attended a spring break service trip. She works at the Christopher Center Library and is in Gamma Phi Beta as well as Order of Omega, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Alpha Kappa Delta. She studied abroad this previous spring semester in Cambridge, England where she was able to visit different countries in Europe. She enjoys learning new things, going on walks, being in nature, and spending time with friends and family. She’s not sure what the future holds for her, but hopes through this program she can learn more about herself and what she wants to do once she graduates.

Kylie Bowlds is a current senior studying Psychology and Sociology. On campus, she’s been involved with the office of campus recreation and well-being and music ministry opportunities during her time at Valpo, and is excited to hopefully attend graduate school here in the fall working towards her MA  in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In the future, she’s interested in working for a non-profit that assists in making mental health resources more accessible to different communities, as well as advocating for policy change that provides more mental health aid as a part of health care.

Serving With Organizations Out Of Leavenworth, WA

Erin Murphy is an incoming senior Sociology major. She has a concentration in criminology as well as a minor in social work. She’s involved in Alpha Gamma Delta, a social sorority on campus as well as Sweetwine a music ministry group. She’s also a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the national honors society for sociology. She hopes to go into community development after she graduates.