2016 CAPS FELLOWS COHORT

BRIANNA BENNETT
Brianna is a senior Chinese & Japanese Studies major and History, Chinese and International Relations minor(s) at Valparaiso University. This summer she will be interning at Heartland Alliance in downtown Chicago, working with people who are in need, especially new refugees and immigrants to the United States. She has been learning Mandarin Chinese for the past 7 years and her hobbies include traveling around the world, learning East Asian languages, listening to music and dancing. This summer she hopes to find herself as well as become one step closer to knowing/understanding what her true passion in life is.

RACHEL BRIEGEL

Rachel is a senior social work major and sociology minor who is serving at the Urban League of Northwest Indiana over the summer. Originally from West Michigan, Rachel is eager to become more engaged with Northwest Indiana and the work being done by the Urban League promoting diversity and inclusion within the community it serves. At the Urban League, Rachel’s main tasks will include updating their donor database and sending out emails about upcoming programs as well as thank yous for past donations, preparing for the annual scholarship fair by contacting colleges and sending invitations, and helping individual clients with job preparedness through mock interviews, assistance with resume building, and internet literacy.  Rachel is looking forward to learning about the various programs at the Urban League, their implementation, and how they may fit into her social work training and possible future career options.

ERIN BROWN
Erin is a rising junior studying Global Service, Spanish, and Theology. This summer, she will be serving at the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants (ICDI)  in Chicago, Illinois. Erin is involved in many different ministries at Valparaiso University. She is a Peer Minister, and is also a member of Sweetwine, a music ministry that partners with the Chapel of the Resurrection. Erin is also involved in the Social Action Leadership Team (SALT), a social justice ministry on campus. In her free time, Erin enjoys backpacking, camping, playing guitar and ukulele, and singing. She hopes to work in a non-profit that works with Refugee and Immigration Services in the future.

MARIA BRUNO
Maria is a senior creative writing, digital media, and humanities triple major.  She is working in Indianapolis at Broadway United Methodist Church this summer in community development.  She is an avid reader and a member of the Social Action Leadership Team at Valpo.

SYLAS BULLER
Sylas is a senior Biology and Chemistry major who is serving at National Lutheran Communities and Services. Sylas is from Goshen Indiana and plans to attend medical school after finishing his degree at Valparaiso University. This summer Sylas is excited for the opportunity to further his education in medicine and social dynamics with the intention of practicing medicine, through service in low income areas in the United States and Overseas.

KORTNEY CENA
Kortney is a rising junior Global Service major with a minor in Engineering, from Castle Rock, CO. She will be serving this summer as a CAPS Fellow for aqUV, a company that manufactures water bottles that disinfect water from bacteria and viruses by using UV light. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to grow and to utilize her engineering skills and technical knowledge in the field of humanitarian work, and is eagerly looking forward to being able to implement the projects she works on this summer during the trip to Haiti at the end of the Fellowship.

KATY DEADMOND
Katy Deadmond recently graduated from Valpo with a degree in Communication and with minors in Political Science and Philanthropic Leadership and Service. She is very excited to be participating in the CAPS fellows program. Katy is the Summer Projects Coordinator at ArtMix in Indianapolis. ArtMix transforms the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art. Katy will be doing development work as well as marketing and community outreach. She is looking forward to gaining knowledge through this well-rounded experience. After her time as a fellow, she hopes to continue work in the nonprofit field.

CHARLIE EMHARDT
Charlie is a rising senior accounting major with a political science minor who will be interning at United Way of LaPorte County. Charlie hopes to get a better understand of the non-profit sector and what it means to find a vocation of service. During the school year Charlie is a leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the university, he will be the President for the upcoming school year. Charlie is a founding father for the reestablishment of the Epsilon Beta colony of Pi Kappa Alpha, he currently serves as Risk Manager. Charlie is also a member of Men’s Tennis team.

KATHRYN FOGLEMAN
Kathryn is a senior International Relations and Humanities double major with a minor in Economics. On campus she participates in the symphonic orchestra and devotes much of her time to karate club in pursuit of her black belt. This summer she is interning at Venn Strategies, a government relations and  public affairs firm in Washington DC. After spending the spring semester in DC interning for a non-profit through the Lutheran College Washington Semester, she is excited to see Washington from another angle and anticipates learning more about herself and how she most effectively serves others.

TYLER INGERSOLL
Tyler is senior international business and German double major who will be serving at the United Way of LaPorte County this summer. The position centers around public relations and learning the inner workings of major community not-for-profit organization. Tyler will be spending the next school year in Reutlingen, Germany and enjoys running, biking, and frisbee in his free time.

BRINESHA JACKSON
Brinesha is a recent graduate of Valparaiso University. She double majored in English and Political Science. This summer Brinesha will be interning  at Forest Manor Multi-Service Center in Indianapolis, IN. Forest Manor is a non-profit community- based social service organization.  Brinesha will be a lead teacher for 2nd and 3rd graders at their summer enrichment program. Brinesha will also be pursuing her masters degree at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University this fall.

LEANDRO JAIME
Leandro is a first-generation college student from Joliet, IL who will graduate in December 2016 with a BSBA in finance and minors in engineering and mathematics. This summer, Leandro is serving with the CFA Society Chicago, and is looking forward to learning more about different finance career paths and becoming familiar with the city of Chicago. During his time at Valparaiso University, Leandro has served in many leadership roles with various student organizations including: Lambda Chi Alpha, TEDxValparaisoUniversity, the Financial Management Association (FMA), and SMART Connections mentoring program. A man of many interests, Leandro enjoys listening to podcasts, spending time in nature, and meeting other ambitious individuals.

ELENI KALDIS
Eleni is a senior Social Work student who is serving at Erie Neighborhood House this summer. She is passionate about community work, social justice, and race relations. While at her placement, Eleni will be involved both in the agency and with their Little Village branch. On her free time this summer Eleni plans to read, be outside, take some trips with her friends, go on adventures, and explore new environments.

DAVID KING
David is a senior History/Humanities major who is serving at Douglas Land Conservancy in Castle Rock, CO. His role at DLC will include: helping monitor over 50 properties that the organization stewards, assisting in the planning, promotion, and execution of a large fundraiser, and interacting with volunteers and board members with the organization’s summer hike series. David is a native to Colorado, and is excited to work to conserve the land where he grew up. At Valpo, David is active in the Social Action Leadership Team (SALT) and Brothers Reaching Out (BRO).

PAM LAUNIUS
Pam Launius is a recent VU graduate with a B.A. in International Economics and Cultural Affairs, and French. Her fellowship placement this summer is with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) in Baltimore. She works with the Outreach team, promoting LIRS work to partnership churches and refugee settlement partners. This summer Pam will assist with two large events – one in DC, which trains settled refugees so that they may successfully help new refugees in their own towns, and one in New Orleans, which promotes the mission of LIRS at the ELCA Youth Gathering.

EVAN LACY

Evan Lacy is a current business student here at Valpo. Before going into his Junior year, this summer he is participating in the CAPS Fellowship program working at the ICNC in Chicago. The ICNC, Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, is a business incubator and workforce development group designed to help up and coming entrepreneurs and assisting local Chicagoans find work and help them professionally. Evan, himself, likes to experience new things and is always on the move trying something new out. Before coming to Valpo, Evan used to work on Ambulances as an EMT. He’s ready to take his passion for helping people and combine it with the new materials he is learning in class. Outside of the office, Evan likes spending his time reading and drawing whatever crosses his mind.

CINDY LIU

Cindy is a senior double majoring in International Business and Communication at Valparaiso University. She enjoys traveling, photography, singing, and running. This summer, Cindy is serving with Concordia Place, a nonprofit focusing on growth and opportunity through economically inclusive early childhood, teen leadership and senior wellness programs. She is excited for the opportunity and looking forward to her first summer in Chicago.

KELLIE MCALLISTER
Kellie is a senior International Business major with a minor in Philanthropic Leadership and Service. This summer she will be working as a development and communications intern at Exodus Refugee Immigration in her hometown of Indianapolis. She is honored to work with an organization that has welcomed and assisted many families and individuals into their new home. She is greatly looking forward to the new challenges and experiences that lie ahead as a CAPS Fellow.

KYLIE SCHREIBER
Kylie is a rising senior Political Science and Communications double major with a Spanish minor. At Valpo, she is involved in leadership and service through organizations like Mock Trial and Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity. This summer, she will be serving as an intern to Charitable Allies in Indianapolis, a public interest law firm working with nonprofits and charities. Through this opportunity, Kylie hopes to explore both the field of law and the nonprofit sector as potential avenues for future careers and ways to fulfill her calling and purpose in life.

DANIELLE STEINWART
Danielle just graduated this year with a BA in Creative Writing. This summer, she will be in Washington D.C. as a Marketing and Development fellow at Lutheran Services in America (LSA). As she will get to choose projects that interest her once she is working, she doesn’t actually know what she will be doing yet, but she is excited to get started (and to become best friends with the other Valpo fellow at LSA, Nura).

KRISTA STRIBLING

Krista is a junior Civil Engineering major with minors in Mechanical Engineering and Humanitarian Engineering, from Greenfield, Wisconsin. She will be serving as a CAPS Fellow this summer with Water to Thrive, a nonprofit organization that funds water projects in rural Africa. Her internship is located at their office in Austin, Texas, and she will also be traveling to Ethiopia and Uganda to visit many of the communities that Water to Thrive serves. She is excited for all of the opportunities to learn and grow in her humanitarian engineering career aspirations that await her with this experience, as well as the opportunity to push herself outside of her comfort zone while living and working in brand new places. Most of all she is thrilled to be part of a cause that she is so impassioned about; clean water.

ANGELYS TORRES
Angelys is a junior Sociology/Criminology major with a Psychology minor. Angelys is serving at NPH USA as part of her CAPS Fellowship. NPH USA is a non for profit organization that provides housing, education and health care to orphaned, abandoned, and at-risk children in nine countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. Angelys is working in the Northwest Regional office located in Chicago, IL where she is learning the ins and outs of fundraising while assisting in planning an upcoming fundraiser for the organization in August 2016.

KATIE WILSON
Katie Wilson is a recent graduate with a degree in International Relations and a minor in Business Administration.  This summer she will be working in Washington DC at Horton’s Kids as a Youth Development Fellow.  Katie is excited to continue exploring her passion for education policy and learn more about systemic urban poverty.  Katie is thrilled to be back on the East Coast and hopes to meet at least one political bigwig during her time in Washington DC.

JACOB YAGER
Jacob is a rising senior pursuing his Mechanical Engineering degree with a Humanitarian Engineering Minor. Originally from Arlington Heights, IL, Jacob will be in Valparaiso, IN this summer working with aqUV. aqUV manufactures water bottles that uses UV light to disinfect the bacteria in the water. Jacob has several roles with aqUV including modeling the reflection of the light on the water bottle, create a non-mobile solar charging station, and designing a solar powered well. The fellowship this summer will conclude with the installation of these tasks in rural Haiti.

NURA ZAKI
Nura is a senior studying Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies. This summer she is interning with Lutheran Services of America, one of the largest not-for-profit health and human services networks in the country. She will join the Public Policy and Member Engagement team in their work identifying opportunities to connect members in meaningful ways, sharing learnings and best practices, identifying funding opportunities and bringing members together to promote practitioner informed policies. Nura also looks forward to mastering the Metro and being inspired by the D.C. metropolitan area for all its wonders.