Education Team Year 18

Bryan Hill Elementary School

Maggie Bridgeman – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: Godfrey, Illinois
Education: Seton Hall University – BS Diplomacy and International Relations
Resume Highlights: Intern with McClatchy News – D.C. Bureau
Favorite Americorps Moment: When I finished Quest, I felt like I could take on the world. I knew it was going to be a good year.
Why did you Join: I wanted to give something back to the area where I grew up.
Favorite Project: The Bryan Hill Book Fair was an awesome success. Every student took home 4 books.
Future Plans: I hope to go into the Peace Corps after I’m married.
Hobbies: Fishing, Crafts and Fiber Arts

“The lives of the children we work with can be very dark, but AmeriCorps STL provides a glimmer of hope.”

Dave Culhane – 1st Year Member

Age: 24
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Education: Creighton University – BA English
Resume Highlights: 2009-10 AmeriCorps VISTA – Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Listening to my kindergarteners experiment with an infinite number of new ways to pronounce the supremely tricky word: hippopotamus.
Why did you Join: I was interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by public education, particularly within an inner city setting.
Favorite Project: Helping students pick out interesting and entertaining books at the Bryan Hill Book Fair.
Future Plans: Teaching literature at the high school level, preferably near a mountain range.
Hobbies: Mainly reading and strolling.

 

Julie Sullivan – 1st Year Member

Age: 22
Hometown: Haverhill, Massachusetts
Education: Suffolk University – BA International Affairs
Resume Highlights: Intern- Boston Consoritum on Gender, Security, and Human Rights
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Quest. While Quest may have felt tiring and frustrating, looking back, it was one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences.
Why did you join: After gratuating college, I realized I was not yet ready for grad school, and was not yet ready to pursue a career. Spending a year at a mediocre job was not an option. I wanted to spend my time gaining experience and serving communities who could benefit from my year of service. AmeriCorps St. Louis was a perfect fit.
Favorite Project: Bryan Hill Holiday Party. We were able to show our kids different ways to have fun besides playing on their X-box or Wii on the weekends. We were able to get our kids out of their homes, away from electronics, and spend quality time working on arts and crafts which included decorating cookies and making holiday gifts for family members. This was a project to expose our students to different activities and allow them to interact with each other in a social setting.
Future Plans: Graduate school or law school. Over the course of the next year I will decide in which way I want to pursue my education.
Hobbies: Volleyball, reading, snowboarding, waterskiing, anything that gets me out of the house and active.

 

Hallie Freeborg – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: Kirkwood, Missouri
Education: Drury University – BA Education and History
Resume Highligts: volleyball coach, student teaching, Resident Assistant
Favorite AmeriCorps moment: Every time I see my kids learn and grow. You can’t beat that feeling!
Why did you join: I joined to give back to the Saint Louis community. It’s been such a rewarding experience thus far!
Favorite project: Bryan Hill Book Fair. We were able to send every student home with four books over the winter break.
Future plans: I want to teach, coach volleyball, and eventually get my Master’s in education.
Hobbies: cooking, running, volleyball, making cards

Clay Elementary School

Emma Mueller – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Education: Truman State University – BA English
Resume Highlights: Summer Orientation Leader; Studied in Seville, Spain
Favorite Americorps Moment: Singing “Down by the Bay” with my quest team as we canoed in the rain towards dinner and the campgrounds.
Why did you Join: I wanted to spend a year in service to my hometown and serve the children that need the most support.
Favorite Project: Organizing the Pictures with Santa event at Clay with my team.
Future Plans: Live each day to the fullest, travel to every continent (except Antarctica), and learn to play an instrument.
Hobbies: Dancing, reading, traveling, soaking up the sun, laughing, making cupcakes.

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” -Walt Disney

Katerina Sartori – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: Livonia, Michigan
Education: Saginaw Valley State University – BA Communications and Criminal Justice
Resume Highlights: Summer Custodian cleaning dorm rooms, worked in the student counseling center at my college, summer camp counselor for childhood cancer patients and cancer survivors.
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Every single moment spent with people in AmeriCorps is considered my favorite!
Why did you Join: To be proactive with childhood literacy, and to let the kids know that no matter where they may be at in life that someone will always believe in them and encourage their dreams for the future!
Favorite Project: Anytime I get to see the kids I tutor shine and be proud of themselves for the work they do!
Future Plans: Travel to Uganda and work with Invisible Children. Get my Masters in Social Work or go back to school to get my teaching degree. And to finally adopt a dog… three of them.
Hobbies: Laughing, Laughing, and Laughing. Memorizing the newest dance craze, wearing my Snuggie.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

Annika Mellies-1st Year Member

Age: 18
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Education: Whitman College – English
Resume Highlights: Teaching ice skating/coaching ice hockey to children in Walla Walla and Portland, captaining my high school dragonboat team to place third in an international competition, reading short stories over the radio at Whitman College
Favorite Americorps Moment: Watching Clay students sing carols at the Christmas concert
Why did you Join: To take a breather after high school and to help improve what I think is one of the greatest unmet needs of today: childhood literacy.
Favorite Project: Making my hometown proud and starting a recycling program here at Clay!
Future Plans: Go back to school and earn my undergraduate degree, and eventually go to graduate school and become a teacher (and a cartoonist), start a big family
Hobbies: Baking, dragonboating, drawing, playing the cello, riding my bike, eating Asian food, reading comics

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” Winnie the Pooh

Christopher McLaughlin – 2nd Year Member

Age: 30
Hometown: Watertown, New York
Education: Boston University/University at Buffalo – BA Sociology
Resume Highlights: Worked at Tower Records in the French Quarter, New Orleans, and Lincoln Center, New York City; Internship at Castlehaven Community Association in London, England
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Field trip to Grant’s Farm with the children of Mullanphy Elementary
Why did you Join: The opportunity to teach disadvantaged children how to read one-on-one
Favorite Project: Walking dogs at Stray Rescue of St. Louis with Mayor Francis Slay
Future Plans: Marry my girlfriend, Amanda, and live happily ever after
Hobbies: Listening to music, spending time with my pug Archimedes and my cat Totoro

“Find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest.” The Dalai Lama

Dunbar Elementary School

Louis Bonacorsi – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Education: Duke University – BS Psychology, Minor in Chemistry
Resume Highlights: AIM HIGH St. Louis teaching assistant, volunteer at Duke University Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and a psychiatric hospital in Butner, North Carolina. General Chemistry Laboratory Teacher, volunteer at the Carnivore Preservation Trust in NC, which housed dozens of rescued big cats.
Favorite Americorps Moment: Finding the camp after Quest.
Why did you Join: I wanted an opportunity to give back to the community in which I grew up. Also, during high school, I volunteered for a similar program for three consecutive years, and the Education Team seemed like a logical extension.
Favorite Project: Dunbar Holiday Dinner
Future Plans: I start Medical School in August 2012.
Hobbies:Golf, movies, books, PUZZLES

 

Angela Mayes – 3rd Year Member

Age: 42
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Education: University of Missouri-StL. – General Fine Arts-(graduating in December 2012)
Resume Highlights: AVID tutor, US Navy
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Meeting Will Smith
Why did you Join: I love working with children
Favorite Project: Community Holiday dinner at Dunbar
Future Plans: To become a college professor
Hobbies: Reading, needle point

“You will stretch beyond your comfort zone.”

Mary Williams – 1st Year Member

Age: 24
Education: Eastern Illinois University – Science with teacher certification
Resume Highlights: Mission trip to Haiti (Port-de-Paix, Port-au-Prince), Alternative Spring Break participant, Resident Assistant, women’s basketball manager.
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Handing out coats to students from Coat-a-Kid.
Why did you Join: To spend a year serving others and gain an understanding of inner-city life and urban education.
Favorite Project: Painting the hallways and basement of Meramec Elementary school. The school was in dire need of cleaning and painting. After spending 8 hours at the school, the hallways had academic themes (literature, math, science) and the basement had a sea theme. The principal was very excited and could not wait for the students to arrive that Monday to what looked like a new school (they had no idea work was going to be completed).
Future Plans: To teach and then become either a high school guidance counselor or enter the healthcare profession.
Hobbies: Anything sports related, music, and reading.

“A simple, random act of kindness can make the difference in someone’s life.”

Allie Vogler – 1st Year Member

Age: 19
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
Education: High school
Resume Highlights: AmeriCorps St. Louis
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Quest
Why did you Join: I was interested in education, but I wasn’t ready for college. I needed a life changing experience
Favorite Project: Joining Hands in The Heartland
Future Plans: College, Music
Hobbies: Music, cooking, going places

“ACSTL challenges and builds you at the same time.”

Hickey Elementary

Franklin Johnson – 1st Year Member

Age: 26
Hometown: Alton, Illinois
Education: The George Washington University
Resume Highlights: Board Member for Youth Pride Alliance, former intern on Capitol Hill, Americorps Pilar Award
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Quest! And meeting the students I tutor for the first time.
Why did you Join: To serve my country and to help students who have unmet needs in the area of literacy.
Favorite Project: MLK March
Future Plans: To pursue higher education and to become an elected official
Hobbies: Reading, playing the piano, singing, and running

“I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” Abraham Lincoln
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
John F. Kennedy

LaCreshia Griffin-Pope – 2nd Year Member

Age: 24
Hometown: St. Louis City
Education: Webster University, Bachelors of Arts in Audio Production
Resume Highlights: I did an internship with Black Entertainment Television.
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: I have two. The first is the first day I went back to Hickey and receiving so much love from the kids and staff and seeing many the kids again especially the ones I tutored last year.  The second is during my summer service. At the end of camp we held a showcase for the parents and the children performed a poem and a song. It was the most adorable and greatest thing because they had been practicing it during camp.
Why did you join: I enjoy working with kids and helping them grow and learn through mentorship and positive reinforcement.
Favorite Project: MLK Neighborhood Cleanup Project
Future Plans: Graduate school and work in the entertainment industry.
Hobbies: Listening and following music, watching tv, family genealogy research and yoga/exercising.

“If you get give, if you learn teach” by Maya Angelou. I love this quote because it encompasses all the work that I am doing through my AmeriCorps position.

 Allison Tarics – 1st Year Member

Age: 24
Hometown: Houston, TX
Education: Washington University in St. Louis – BFA Painting
Resume Highlights: I teach ACT/SAT classes for high school students at The Princeton Review. I have been assistant-teaching an art therapy class at Siteman Cancer Center for patients for a year.
Favorite Americorps Moment: My winter holiday party with my 1st graders. I made smocks for them and sprayed shaving cream all over the desks to “play in the snow”. They made a HUGE mess but had a phenomenal time!
Why did you Join: I have been blessed with tremendous opportunities in life. My education is my most prized possession, and I wanted to share that with others.
Favorite Project: 1:1 tutoring – especially the times when my students are enthusiastic about learning, or when one of them says something hilarious and we both crack up. I love giving them the caring, personal attention they need so badly.
Future Plans: I will attend graduate school to study clinical mental health counseling (emphasis in creative arts therapies). I plan to join Big Brothers/Big Sisters after Americorps.
Hobbies: Reading, hiking, and fulfilling my urge to create through painting, crafting, and gardening.

Laclede Elementary School

Jessica Keaton — 2nd Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown:Olean, New York/Baldwinsville,New York
Education: University at Buffalo – BA Sociology
Resume Highlights: Transcriptionist for Roswell Park Cancer Institute; 3 time New Orleans volunteer with Habitat for Humanity; Orientation Aide Team Leader for the University atBuffalo; Elementary School Intern at a Primary school inLondon,England
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Marching in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade as well as serving in Joplin surrounded by other AmeriCorps programs and learning about how they serve the community
Why did you join?: I joined AmeriCorps to be a part of something larger than myself and to positively impact the lives of others.
Favorite Project:Joplin, MO with ERT Year 17
Future Plans: graduate school, possibly Peace Corps
Hobbies: playing soccer, reading, painting, volleyball

“It is amazing to think that all of the members of AmeriCorps Saint Louis came from different backgrounds, states, ethnicities and religions yet found service to be an important part of their lives.”

James LeDuc—1st Year Member

Age: 35
Hometown:Portland, Oregon
Education:Western Washington University – BA Psychology and Sociology
Resume Highlights: Market Planning Specialist with Starbucks Corporation, Outstanding Psychology Graduate at WWU, WWU Psychology Club President, School Psychologist Intern
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: I wish I could say more than one.  But, it is nice to get recognition from the parents of the children you are helping.  It makes what we do that much better.
Why did you join?:  To use my talents so that I might make my community better.
Favorite Project: Serving at the Winter Warming Shelter
Future Plans: To serve in an elementary school setting as a school psychologist.
Hobbies:Reading, playing basketball, music, traveling, cooking

“Most of us come to serve to give to others, but what is often overlooked is what we gain from our service.  We learn so much from our peers and the people we serve, in addition to the relationships we build along the way.”

Julie Hotze – 1st Year Member

Age: 22
Hometown:Teutopolis, Illinois
Education: SIUE – BA Elementary Education
Resume Highlights: UrbanFuture tutor, mentor for liver transplant patient, summer school reading program teacher for Teutopolis Grade School
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: I was trying to help one of my lowest students sound out a word on his signature piece. He put his index finger to his mouth, shushed me as politely as possible and said, “Ms. Julie, I got this.”
Why did you join?:  To use my bachelor’s to help students with reading and to learn about the world from a different perspective.
Favorite Project: Working with Jess Keaton to organize, shelve, and decorate a leveled book room from square one.
Future Plans: To go wherever life takes me! The wind is suppose to blow me into another teaching position and eventually a masters in a reading specialty or something with non-profit organizations
Hobbies: anything arts and crafty, teaching, laughing with friends and family

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn

Meredith Keough - 1st Year Member

Age: 24
Hometown St. Louis, Missouri
Education:Truman State University – MA Special Education
Resume Highlights: Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, internship at Edgewood Children’s Center, student teaching in resource room at Jackson Park Elementary, AmeriCorps Excellence Award
Favorite Americorps Moment: Watching my students receive awards for their improved academics and behavior
Why did you Join:I joined Education Team to have the unique opportunity to reach students in need through individualized instruction and attention and hopefully help improve their lives and community.
Favorite Project: We are starting a recycling program.
Future Plans: I want to be a special education teacher or help children in some way or another.
Hobbies: I love being with my family and friends and playing outside.

“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” – Lao Tzu

Sarah Segerson – 1st Year Member

Age: 24
Hometown: Dearborn, Michigan
Education: Central Michigan University – Elementary Education
Resume Highlights: Studied in Galway, Ireland, was a camp counselor at The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village for four years, recently began working with the TASK program, which focuses on providing social and athletic opportunities for children with special needs
Favorite Americorps Moment: Surviving Quest!
Why did you Join: I joined this program because my passion in life is to teach children. I wanted to be a part of something that truly helps to make a difference and knew that this program would not only benefit the children and communities that we work with, but would also help me to become a better and stronger person.
Favorite Project: My favorite thing about being a part of AmeriCorps St. Louis is tutoring my students. There is nothing more exciting and rewarding than seeing one of your students grow, not only academically but socially and emotionally as well.
Future Plans: I plan to be teaching in my very own classroom in the near future! I would also like to receive my graduate degree in reading and have a strong desire to teach English overseas.
Hobbies: Rollerblading, traveling, reading, laughing…I pretty much love to do anything fun and exciting!

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” – Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)

Mullanphy Elementary

Judith Tiga – 2nd Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Education: Washington University in Saint Louis – Philosophy/Neuroscience/Psychology
Resume Highlights: City Lights intern- Assistant director at a summer program
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: Having many of the family members of my student champion show up for the ceremony last year.
Why did you Join: I wanted to serve the Saint Louis community
Favorite Project: Winter Warming Shelter
Future Plans: Hope to go into medicine
Hobbies:singing, dancing, reading

“Just one more tree…”

Upama Zaman –  1st Year Member

Age: 25
Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
Education: East Carolina University – BA English and Political Science
Resume Highlights: Study Abroad in London
Favorite Americorps Moment: Bringing Toys-4-Tots to Mullanphy Elementary and seeing the kid’s reaction to their gifts.
Why did you Join: To give back to the community and gain valuable experience.
Favorite Project: Winter Warming Shelter
Future Plans: Graduate school for Public Health.
Hobbies: reading, writing, being a foodie, nerdy activities

“How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.” –Billy Shakes

Amanda Prasuhn – 1st Year Member

Age: 22
Hometown: Farmington, Missouri
Education: Webster University – BA Art History and Criticism
Resume Highlights: Completed research for my Senior thesis in Sienna, Italy
Favorite Americorps Moment:I came to the Americorps office to watch a video in order to get van certified. David was there to give us a multiple choice test after the video. He went to sit down on a cardboard box and the box could not hold his weight and collapsed. David got stuck in the box.
Why did you Join: I joined in order to do something worthwhile with my life
Favorite Project: Working the winter warming shelter
Future Plans: Pursue a career in the field of education and eventually earn my Master’s degree in education
Hobbies: reading, learning the German Language

“I know that I was born and I know that I will die but the in between is mine.” – Pearl Jam

Allison Billedeaux - 1st Year Member

Age: 21
Hometown: Portage, Michigan
Education: Michigan University – BA History
Resume Highlights: Mission trip to Jamaica
Favorite Americorps Moment:Teaching Amanda how to roll out of black ice in an Americorps van… backwards
Why did you Join: To give back to the community, as it has always given so much to me
Favorite Project: After school program at Mullanphy
Future Plans: pursue a career in the field of education
Hobbies: reading, writing, spending too much time with the Mullanphy team

“There simply cannot be another crisis today, my schedule is already full.” – Henry Kissinger

Jennifer Rich –  1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Education: Washington University – BFA Printmaking and Drawing
Resume Highlights: Worked at Visual Resources Center
Favorite Americorps Moment: Sliding down the cliff during quest
Why did you Join: To get experience in education and to serve the community
Favorite Project: 4th ward clean-up on MLK day
Future Plans: Pursue art education
Hobbies: printmaking, crocheting, reading

“All the mistakes I ever made were when I wanted to say “No” and said “Yes”.” – Moss Hart

Peabody eMINTS Academy

Keisha Ellis-  1st Year Member

Age: 22
Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri
Education: Saint Louis Community College – Some College
Resume Highlights: 2 years experience in Engineering/Drafting & AutoCAD, More than 5 years experience with Web Design, Powerpoint Presentations, Movie Maker
Favorite Americorps Moment: My favorite AmeriCorps moment would be the day I first served at the Warming Shelter. I had an awesome time serving the homeless guests that were staying at the UAC. I was captivated by the uplifting spirit of the individuals who were staying at the shelter. Those individuals helped me to realize that even in the toughest circumstances, you can always rejoice.
Why did you Join: My goal for joining AmeriCorps was to gain a better understanding of the meaing of “Service”.
Favorite Project: My favorite project is the Warming Shelter
Future Plans: I plan to return to college to further my education and recieving a degree in Fine Arts Graphic Design so that I can do what I love.
Hobbies: Arts, Poetry, Creating Presentations/Slide shows, Nail art, Crafts

“Every day you have the opportunity to learn and experience some-thing and some-one new. Seize the opportunity. Learn and experience everything you can, and use it to change the world.” - Rodney Williams

Emily Henderlong – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown:  St Louis, Missouri
Education: Western Kentucky University – BA Social Studies and History with focus in Secondary Education
Resume Highlights: taught sophomore US government in rural Kentucky (1000 + classroom contact hours), international teaching/learning experience (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Hungary; travelled to Spain, Portugal, England, Mexico, Canada, Turks and Caicos, Bahamas), Camp Counselor,  Member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority Epsilon Delta Chapter (pride leader, guard, philanthropy committee)
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment:  My favorite AmeriCorps moment changes almost daily.  It changes with the improvement of my student’s literacy skills and the bonds I continue to form with this incredible group of people.
Why did you Join: I went to college to become a high school history teacher.  I do not recall ever wanting to be anything but a teacher even as a child. I had a choice to make when a full time teaching position did not become available.  I had to choose between substitute teaching all year or making a difference.  I interviewed with ACSTL Education team and realized it was where my time and effort would be most valuable.  I have grown as an educator this year and the opportunity to educate students is one I will always cherish.
Favorite Project: On MLK day I got to serve at the St Louis Children’s Hospital.  I spent the day in the teen lounge playing apples to apples with some incredible patients.
Future Plans: I am moving back to Kentucky in August to pursue my career in education (hopefully with a job already in place).
Hobbies: Hiking, Canoeing, Camping, Backpacking, Shopping (bargain hunting in particular), Reading, Swimming, Running (with walking mixed in usually)

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” – Erma Bombeck

Joseph Slabaugh – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown:  Muncie, Indiana
Education:  Indiana University, Bloomington – BA English Literature
Resume Highlights: In 2008, finished runner-up in Indiana University Intramural Basketball (Division 3). Employment in student life and residence halls. Graduated with high distinction and departmental honors.
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment: A preschool student resting her head on my knee and (in the middle of a loud, raucous basketball game mind you) falling asleep.
Why did you Join: My interest in tutoring English was conceived against the academic backdrop of my work to date as a student, which has focused on philosophy of language and modern American literature.
Favorite Project: Writing an ABC book with a student; writing correspondence to authors with students
Future Plans: Graduate School
Hobbies: Running, basketball, scholarship, piano

“A difference must make a difference to be a difference.” – Gertrude Stein

Shaw Visual & Performing Arts Elementary School

Wesley Jenkins –  2nd Year Member

Age: 25
Education: Grinnell College – BA
Favorite Americorps Moment: End of Quest
Why did you Join: To dedicate myself to something important for a change.
Favorite Project: Garden Greening – working on a neighborhood garden
Future Plans: Graduate School
Hobbies: Reading, Writing, and Chess

“AmeriCorps is all about that tiny place in your tummy that says – yes, yes, yes – to what is asked of you. It’s taught me that saying Yes, can be a powerfully positive experience both for you and those you say it to.”

Tabitha Matthews – 1st Year Member

Age: 24
Education: Westminster College – BA Secondary Education
Resume Highlights: Educational Interpreter at Missouri History Museum in Forest Park
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment:  Arriving back from Quest and hearing everyones crazy stories from their night in the wilderness.
Why did you Join:I wanted an opportunity to serve the St. Louis community and explore new educational opporuntites working with young children.
Favorite Project: Serving daily at Shaw Elementary
Future Plans: Nursing School
Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Golf

“When I realized my student Dinah didn’t know all the letters, let alone their order, I quickly had to come up with a motivating activity that would help her master all 26. Born was “Dinah’s Ice Cream Alphabet”. Together we would construct a towering 26 scoop ice cream cone….It took us six weeks to finish all 26 scoops…The two of us sat in the hallway of school and ate our ice cream while we talked about our favorite letters… Dinah was savoring every second of her accomplishment.”

Whitney Colston – 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Education: Culver-Stockton College – BFA Theatre, Minor in Sociology
Resume Highlights: Random “summer stock” theatres every summer. I costume design and I have lived in Brownville, Nebraska, (population 142) and Mount Carroll, Illinois, (population 1700) during the summer months while doing freelance theatre work.
Favorite AmeriCorps Moment:  Quest, namely eating for the first time after Quest
Why did you Join:To better myself and my community.
Favorite Project: MLK Day/ cleaning up the Ville
Future Plans: Graduate school – M.A. in Theatre – and eventual plans to continue on with my P.h.D. I want to be a theatre professor/ director at a university.
Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, reading, theatre stuff, shopping, doodling, napping, sewing/ clothing costruction.

Woodward Elementary School

Brittany Cotton – 2nd Year Member

Age: 24
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Education: Spelman College – BA International Studies
Resume Highlights: Volunteering in Santiago, Dominican Republic
Favorite Americorps Moment: Working with the Warming Shelter.
Why did you Join: I wanted to help close the generational reading gaps that were becoming more apparent with the students I worked with at previous volunteer organizations.
Favorite Project: Warming Shelter.
Future Plans: Obtain a Master’s in Public Administration.
Hobbies: reading, listening to music, playing card games, and Just Dance or any other dancing game!

“As a team, we use all of our strengths to help and encourage one another to develop the areas in which we lack through conversations, team building, and most importantly, by example”

Michelle Collins- 1st Year Member

Age: 23
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Education: University Missouri-Columbia – BA Sociology, Minor in Business Administration
Resume Highlights: Senator for the Missouri Students Association, Black Business Students Association’s Vice President of Marketing, Recruitment Coordinator for Global Youth Service Day, traveled to Reynosa, Mexico to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. Receiving the opportunity to work alongside the Clinton Presidential Foundation where I directed events at the Little Rock 9 Congressional Medal of Honor Dedication Ceremony.
Favorite Americorps Moment: My favorite moment thus far was seeing everyone “dolled up” and in their “Sunday’s Best” for the Winter Wonderland Formal.
Why did you Join: I served for a separate AmeriCorps organization last year where I had the opportunity to meet US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former Chancellor of Washington, D. C Public Schools Michelle Rhee. It was not until then that I realized I too have strong opinions about the American educational system and I sought to become actively involved in closing the achievement gap.
Favorite Project: Leadership Club at Woodward Elementary
Future Plans: Furthering my education, getting involved in Youth Advocacy
Hobbies: Arts & Crafts, Spoken Word, Dance, Bargain Shopping, playing Taboo with friends and family

“Men do less than they ought, unless they do all they can” –Thomas Carlyle

Sarah Hicks- 1st Year Member

Age: 21
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Education: Missouri Southern State University/University Missouri St. Louis – Pursuing BA Special Education, Minor in International Studies
Resume Highlights: Minor in Spanish, rebuilt houses in Mississippi for two years
Favorite Americorps Moment: My favorite AmeriCorps moment was Quest. Quest was extremely fun and was an experience I always wanted to take, but never got the chance until joining AmeriCorps.
Why did you Join: I joined AmeriCorps because I wanted to make a difference. Ever since the age of twelve or thirteen I wanted to either be in AmeriCorps or Peace Corps. During one of my trips to Mississippi to rebuild houses, I saw AmeriCorps members and the idea of joining AmeriCorps was implanted in my head. From then on joining AmeriCorps was my greatest ambition.
Favorite Project: My favorite project thus far has been Father Dickson’s cemetery. I enjoyed the history and the ability we had to make such an impact in such a short amount of time.
Future Plans: My future plans are to graduate from University Missouri St. Louis with my Special Education degree and International Studies Minor. I plan to move to Chicago where I can hopefully legally marry my fiancée. I plan to teach in inner city school districts or work with a non for profit organization
Hobbies: Antiquing, Garage Saleing, Crafting, Roller Derby, Dog Walking, Roller Skating

“A dream dreamt by one person is just a dream, a dream dreamt by multiple people is a reality” -John Lennon

Christopher Stewart – 1st Year Member

Age: 22
Hometown: Muscat, Oman
Education: University of Missouri: St. Louis – BA Communications with journalism emphasis.
Resume Highlights: Teaching experience in five countries. Diamond auctioneer’s assistant in Manhattan. Tutor at “African Hope” in Cairo, school for Darfur refugees, live-in volunteer at Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission orphanage in Banbassa, India, tutor for the children of the United States ambassador to Sweden.
Favorite Americorps Moment: Watching the members of our Leadership Club grow, take positions of responsibility, step up to challenging tasks, and make decisions as a group.
Why did you Join: I looked into AmeriCorps after having a past service member recommend it. I was impressed by the organization’s ethos as presented on their site and even moreso by the members that I eventually met.
Favorite Project: After school support with Youth in Need. It has allowed me to feel more broadly connected to my service site, Woodward Elementary, as a whole, to get extra time with some of my students, and to meet the excellent team doing similar service.
Future Plans: I would love to return to India and continue my service there.
Hobbies: Each time that I A) ride a bike, B) crack into a good book, C) call my sisters, D) study quantum mechanics, and E) watch or read anything science-fiction-related; I am always struck with an ache to do it more often.

“There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.” – Douglas Adams

Become A Member!