McVay Fellows: 2018-2019

Hi everyone! My name is Basia, and I am currently completing my second year at Hamline University. My hopes are to graduate Hamline University with a Bachelor's degree in psychology and education, as well as with a minor in conflicts studies. A few things that I am passionate about and like to do in my free-time include connecting with friends, volunteering, going on hikes (when it’s not snowing), and being a co-creator in society. I also love meeting/getting to know new people! Hopefully five years from now I will be in a career that allows me to work with kids while also fighting for a world where poverty and inequality do not exist. Being a kind person in this world is extremely important to me, and I truly do believe it can make a difference even if it is a small one.

Hello! My name is Andrew Cin-Walker and I am a returning Fellow to the Path of Grace site. This is my senior year, and I am majoring in elementary education and global studies with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. After graduation, I would love to work in a kindergarten or 1st grade classroom and one day be a school administrator. I spend most of my time working at Hamline Elementary and in the Wesley Center, but in my free time I love reading, watching live music, and tending to my rock collection. I am so excited for another year at McVay, I cannot wait to see what this year brings!

Hello everyone! My name is Hannah and I am a senior at Hamline University with a global studies and environmental studies major. In my free time I love trying new food, gardening, spending my times outdoors, and painting. I also love to travel and just came back from a semester abroad in China. I have a passion for helping others, mentoring youth, and protecting the environment. My love for McVay has only grown over the years and it's a privilege to work with the youth everyday. I'm so excited for this year!

Hello! My name is Muhammad Bashir Imady, but I normally go by Bashir. I am currently a senior at Hamline University. I am double majoring in political science and Middle Eastern studies while minoring in both philosophy and religion. I am the head of an organization on campus, the Marketplace of Ideas-- a group centered around discussion and thoughtful exploration. I enjoy political discussions and watching movies and hope to one day return to my home in Damascus, Syria, to help with a democratic process. I am very excited to continue my journey at McVay as a fellow, and wish I would have started working with McVay sooner.

Hello! My name is Abby Sprunger, and I am going into my senior year at Hamline, majoring in social studies and secondary education. I am one of two Senior Fellows at McVay’s Grace site. In my free time, I love going on road trips, camping, and doing anything outdoors. When I’m at home, I’ll most likely be cooking, listening to music, or taking my cat on walks! I’m looking forward to another awesome year with McVay!

Hello! My name is Pa Jai Thao (PJ). I am a sophomore here at Hamline and a fellow at McVay. I'm currently deciding between a biology or chemistry major, but I am going to minor in religion. I love being active, especially being outdoors and playing sports. I do enjoy my quiet time just reading a fantasy novel or watching TV shows. I also have a lot of niece and nephews and enjoy spending my weekends babysitting them!

Hello! My name is Jordan Toth and I'm a third year at Hamline University studying psychology and biology. I am a fellow at McVay, and I'm excited and grateful to take part in an organization with so many meaningful objectives. In my free time I love to watch and play sports, specifically basketball and football, socialize with friends and family, read, and play video games.

My name is Abdi Badri, and I'm a fellow at Liberty. I'm a second-year studying political science & legal studies with a minor in philosophy. I hope to eventually go to law school and become a human rights lawyer. I'm excited to be back in McVay and to see how much the youth develop and grow within the program.

Hello! My name is Raie Gessesse and I am a junior double-majoring in public health and political science. I am deeply passionate about health equity, and advancing public health initiatives through public policy. In my free time I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, staying active, and spending time with family and friends. I have worked with McVay for the past two years and I am extremely excited to become a fellow at Liberty this year!

Hello. My name is Drake Singleton I am a communication studies major, and a senior at Hamline this year. I love playing sports, and making music and poetry. I enjoy being a role model and mentor to youth by working for McVay Youth Program. I just want to make a change in the lives of the people that I meet, and to be able to offer any and as much support as possible. Overall, I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of a program like this.

My name is James Koch, and I am a senior majoring in sociology and public health. I enjoy music and sports. Also, I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I am very excited for my second year at McVay as a fellow and to be a positive role model.

Hi! My name is Shannon Owens and this is my third year working at the McVay Youth Partnership. I am currently a junior at Hamline majoring in elementary education and psychology. This year I am a fellow at the Mounds Park UMC site and I am so excited to take on this new role and have a great year with the staff and youth!

Hi. My name is Laura and I became a fellow in 2019. I am a junior at Hamline and I am majoring in criminology and criminal justice. With my degree I hope to someday be able to work with youth within the criminal justice system. That's why I am so excited to be with McVay this year because I love working with kids whenever I can and McVay is great program for that. I am new to McVay this year, but one of the sites that I am excited to go to is Mounds because it is close to where I grew up and some of the kids that go there go to the same school I went to!

Hello, my name is Anaid Plascencia. I am a senior at Hamline double majoring in global studies and political science. It was a great experience to work in McVay during the summer of 2018. I am excited to work at different sites this coming year, especially Mounds.

Hello! I am currently a sophomore at Hamline University majoring in environmental science. I love being active outdoors with family and friends. My favorite things to do are fishing and rollerblading. My time in McVay has been the best part of my college experience. The youth at Mounds Park always know how to put a smile on my face. I can’t wait to learn and grow more with the time I have left in McVay!

Hello everyone. My name is PaDee Vue and I will be a Senior Fellow at Mounds Park. I am currently a junior at Hamline University. Right now I am majoring in public health sciences with hopes of minoring in non-profit management. Because my families are typically busy, I always look forward to family get-togethers. My favorite flavor of ice-cream is double-fudge brownie and my favorite television show is Greys Anatomy. I hope to get a yorkie one day and name it McDreamy.

Hello! I am Amber Alme and this is my senior year at Hamline. I am majoring in psychology and criminal justice with a minor in sociology, as well as working towards a certificate in conflict studies. I started at McVay in the spring of my sophomore year, and I’ve been in love with the program ever since! Outside of McVay, I am the current manager of the Hamline University Theatre Box Office, and an employee at Friends School of Minnesota. I was the past president of Students Preventing Sexual Violence, and have been active with the Catalyst Program at Hamline, as both a participant and site leader. I also really enjoy conducting research, and have presented at local conferences and symposiums. Through all of the activities I have been a part of these past four years, getting to work with the McVay kids is still my absolute favorite part about being a student at Hamline. It’s been an incredible opportunity, and I plan to take what I’ve learned from the kids and fellow staff members as I pursue a career in forensic psychology working with at-risk youth.

Hello! My name is Ray Doss and I am a junior here at Hamline. I am studying to become a high school teacher, but I have a long way to go and a lot to learn! I have only been in Minnesota for a couple years; I moved here from Orcas Island, a small island off the coast of Washington State. While I do miss the ocean, I love the snow and the people here in Minnesota. I enjoy knitting, cooking, watching movies and talking to people! I am so excited to work with everyone at McVay! Let’s get to it!

My name is Jaimen Hampton and I am currently a senior working towards my major in biology. My areas of interest are microbiology, physics, and immunology. Other than that, my interests are playing piano, anime, video games, and traveling whenever the opportunity arises. What I'm looking forward to most this year is having the opportunity to leave a positive impact on the kids involved in the program.

My name is Maxwell Smidt and I am a senior at Hamline University. I am looking forward to graduating with my degree in education and psychology. While I am excited for the future, I will miss working with the wonderful group of kids I have gotten to know at McVay since my sophomore year. This is a wonderful place to work because we get to help these kids learn and grow while also learning from them in turn. Outside of McVay I have many hobbies including wood working, video games and reading. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and working at my other job where I am a theatre carpenter.

Hi! I am Sadie May Wasberg. It is my junior year at Hamline University. My major is psychology with a minor in philosophy. My hobbies are hiking, drawing, photography, reading, and watching movies. I also very much enjoy hanging out with my friends and my cat Odin! I am an art associate and I like to share my projects with multiple sites if I can. If you wanna do something creative come hangout with me!