The 2018 CAPS Fellows Cohort

ALICIA ALCARAZ

RACHEL BRANDENBURG

Rachel is a senior working towards her Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a minor in Urban Studies. She will be living this summer in Chicago, working for the Field Museum as their Calumet Intern. Through this experience she will gain a deeper understanding of the connections between people and spaces, specifically in Gary, Indiana.

ANNIKA BROWN

Annika is a rising junior majoring in International Relations and French. She will be spending her summer as the Community Engagement Intern at Growing Home, an urban farm in Chicago which aims at “inspiring healthy living, economic opportunity, and community empowerment in Englewood.” Annika is excited for the opportunity to learn about and participate in the processes of urban agriculture, and she looks forward to engaging in many meaningful conversations about food justice. Outside of her internship, Annika can’t wait to form friendships and explore the city with the other CAPS Fellows.

CALLUM CASEY

Callum recently graduated Valparaiso University with his degree in Social Work and Spanish. He will be working as a CAPS Fellow at Erie Neighborhood House with their READS Program as well as assist with their Youth Mentorship Program this summer. He is excited to be a part of the organization. After CAPS, Callum will be traveling to Madrid for the year to teach English through the CIEE Teach Abroad Program located in Spain.

FELICIA ESCANDON

Felicia is a rising senior studying Secondary Education and English who hails from the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. At Valparaiso University, she is involved in Gamma Phi Beta sorority, Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Society), Residential Life (as a third year RA), and is an Oliver W. and Emma W. Allen Scholar. This summer, Felicia will be in Indianapolis, serving at ArtMix, which “transforms the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art”. She cannot wait to create relationships with other CAPS Fellows and coworkers during her senior summer!

ABIGAIL FATE

Abby is a senior studying psychology, human biology, and Spanish. She is placed with Water to Thrive in Austin, Texas this summer, and is excited to travel to Uganda for two weeks of site visits with Water to Thrive staff before spending the rest of the summer at their offices in Austin.

TANNER GESELL

Tanner Gesell is a Junior Mechanical Engineering major who is also pursuing a minor in Music and a CC scholars degree. He will be placed at Companion Community Development Alternatives (CoCoDA) for the summer and is really excited to learn more about global service based engineering. His hope is to apply the knowledge he learns at University and at CoCoDA to help contribute to a world that uses energy more efficiently for the betterment of all.

JESSE HERSHBERGER

Jesse is a Junior English and Political Science major. This summer she is interning with Venn Strategies, a government affairs firm in Washington, D.C. After graduating Jesse hopes to work in public policy or advocacy and is particularly interested in education policy. In her free time she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, writing, and talking about politics.

GRACE JACKSON

Grace is a rising senior civil engineering major with a French minor. This summer she will be working at Water to Thrive in Austin, Texas and focusing on a bridge project in Robit, Ethiopia as well as the creation of better templates for communication with in-country partners. She is excited to have the opportunity to combine her love of non-profit work with her passion for civil engineering while engaging in meaningful work.

PERRY LERIT

Perry is a senior Digital Media major and will spend the summer as a Regional Communication Intern for the American Red Cross in Indianapolis, Indiana. Perry is most excited to creatively reach out to local and state communities, while also utilizing video and photography skills.

EMILY NEUHARTH

Emily Neuharth is a rising junior, Creative Writing major, and Christ College Scholar. She will be spending the summer in Indianapolis at the Harrison Center for the Arts as a Cultural Entrepreneur Intern; she’ll be participating in creative placemaking through writing and design. Emily’s thrilled to work alongside an organization that shares her passion for Artivism (Art + Activism).

ESEOSASERE OKUNDAYE

Eseosasere Okundaye is a rising junior at Valparaiso University.  She is a Christ College student double majoring in political science and social work. Eseosasere is a Partnership & Professional Learning Intern at Ingenuity, Inc located in Chicago, IL.  She aspires to attend law school and aid youth in the criminal justice system.  In her free time, Eseosasere plans to watch plays in the city.

EMILY OWENS

Emily is a recent alumna of Valparaiso University, majoring in psychology and global service. She is excited to be interning with Heartland Alliance in Chicago this summer, working with their Refugee and Immigrant Community Services Department specifically through the department’s Refugee Youth Summer Program. She looks forward to developing meaningful relationships in her workplace and CAPS cohort, and can’t wait to explore Chicago!

AARON PEVITZ

Aaron is a rising senior studying Social Work and Psychology from Naperville, Illinois. This summer, Aaron will be interning at Indiana Humanities in Indianapolis. The goal of Indiana Humanities is to “connect people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage Hoosiers to think, read and talk.” He will specifically doing research on the Lilly Scholars for Life engagement and awareness program. He is most excited to get to know the other CAPS Fellows in Indianapolis, the other interns at Indiana Humanities, and exploring the city!

CAROLINE PRATT

Caroline is a senior International Relations and Economics double major. She will be spending her summer at International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) where she will be working on the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders amongst other tasks. Caroline is excited to explore Washington DC and be a part of everything the capital has to offer.

BETHANY RIETHMEIER

Bethany is a rising senior studying criminology and political science. She will be spending the summer interning at Concordia Place, a community-based non-profit organization in Chicago that provides economically inclusive early childhood, teen leadership and senior wellness programs, fostering growth of involved communities in the city. Bethany will be obtaining experience in community development, philanthropic organization, and non-profit leadership during her time at Concordia Place. She is looking forward to a summer of growth and adventures through both her experiences as an intern and living in a new city with other CAPS fellows!

WILLOW WALSH

Willow Walsh is an upcoming Senior, majoring in English with two minors in creative writing and German. During the summer of 2018 through the CAPS Fellows Program, she will be placed at Ingenuity in Chicago, IL. She is most excited for learning how to put her education to practice in a professional working environment, hoping that studying English is the transferable skill that she thinks it is. For now, however, she’s excited to be a part of bringing arts education to every child in Chicago Public Schools through Ingenuity.