McVay Fellows: 2019-2020

 I’m a fellow at Grace. I’m studying communications and sociology as a sophomore at Hamline. When I’m not in class, I love to skate, take photos, and chill with my friends.

I am a junior pursuing a double major in Global Studies and Political Science with a minor in Philosophy. I am involved in various student leadership positions such as New Student Mentor, Hamline Undergraduate Student Congress, and Hamline African Student Association. When I'm not on campus I love spending time with family, hanging out with friends, and listening to true crime podcasts. What I am looking forward to with McVay is being a role model for young students who will be great leaders of our society one day.

I am a senior at Hamline University and am pursuing a major in Marketing and minor in Chinese. My hobbies include journaling, reading, aerial yoga and spending time with loved ones. I love to try new things and listen to other people's experiences/story. I am grateful for being a part of the McVay family. The team is extraordinarily welcoming and the kids are full of energy, it's amazing!

I am a third year student at Hamline University. Originally from Queens, New York, I moved to Minnesota during my early childhood. I’m a Business major with a concentration in Technology & Innovation. This will be my second year on the McVay Staff team and I will be serving as a Fellow at the Path of Grace site. I love the kids at Grace. I’m inspired by the youth—they are our future!

I am a Senior at Hamline University majoring in Digital Media Arts. I can't do a backflip but that doesn't stop me from living my best life.-

I am a junior majoring in Psychology, and I am also a Senior Fellow at Path of Grace. During my free time I love going to concerts and also love to read. I'm excited to see what this year will bring me!

I’m a senior this year majoring in psychology with minors in biology and religion. Aside from my studies, I love to spend time with my two dogs, read, play basketball, exercise, and spend quality time with family and friends. McVay has been the best opportunity that I’ve had at Hamline, and I’m very grateful to be a part of this partnership.

I am an Art Associate at McVay and will be working in-between Liberty and Mounds. I am a third-year at Hamline University. I am a Religion major with a minor in Business Analytics. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. We normally watch a movie, visit Gold Medal Park, or eat out together. I feel like we have a great group of student mentors this year and can't wait to build connections with the students!

My name is Abdi Badri, and I'm an Fellow at Liberty. I'm a Third-year studying political science. 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.

I am a fellow at Liberty. I am a junior studying Finance and Economics. This is my second year at McVay. Before McVay, I hadn’t had much experience working with children, but after working for Mcvay for a year I found that I really love working with kids and would love to continue doing so in the future.

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!

I am a senior fellow at the liberty site. I’m a third year at Hamline University and I’m majoring in Political Science and Communications. I love to read and play basketball in my free time.

I am a fellow at Mounds Park. I am currently a junior majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Psychology. I like singing, playing guitar and tennis, volleyball, basketball, and I love to watch Chinese historical drama and listen to Hmong folktale. What I am looking forward to with McVay this year is to being a good role model for the students. I am eager to build a strong relationship with them and excited to see them!

I am returning for my second year with McVay but for the first time as a Sr. Fellow at the Mounds Park site. I am also a senior at Hamline this year 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 again this year because I love working with kids whenever I can and McVay is great program for that. I love working at Mounds because it is close to where I grew up and some of the kids that we have served in the past go to the same schools I went to!

This is my third year at Hamline and working with McVay. In my free time I enjoy fishing and hunting as well as raising pigeons and fish. I love the outdoors so much that I am majoring in Environmental Studies. The site I am committed to is Mounds Park, and I love the energy there. A random fact about me is that I like playing PUBG which is a mobile gaming app.

I’m a third year here at Hamline and I will be majoring in psychology. I’m super excited for this year as I will be a fellow at the Mounds Park site this year. Super excited to be a part of McVay this year!

I am a senior at Hamline this year majoring in Public Health and minoring in Sociology. I was born in Akron, Ohio and moved to Minnesota when I was seven. I am the fourth oldest out of my eight siblings. In my free time, I like to learn new songs on the guitar, longboard, and bullet journal. I’m looking forward to my last year with our youth in McVay.

I am a junior at Hamline University pursuing a degree in Philosophy and a minor in education. With plans later to be professor, I love working with youth and learning from them just as much as I teach them. In my spare time I love to paint, skate and draw.

I am a sophomore at Hamline University. I plan to major in chemistry and also do pre-med. I love playing sports, fishing, and playing the piano. This will be my first year with the McVay program so I plan to learn a lot from everyone, even the students!

My name is Emily Nkauj Hli Lyfoung. I am a third-year first generation Hmong-American student majoring in Political Change & Advocacy and double minoring in Education and Non-Profit Management. I am passionate in the reformation of schools and education policies. I hope to dedicate all my efforts to improving the lives and education opportunities of students who come from new, disregarded, and or disadvantaged communities.

I am a junior studying Criminal Justice and Sociology. This is my first year with McVay and am really looking forward to being a Fellow at Washington. In addition to McVay, I am involved with food access initiatives at Hamline. When I am not working, doing school or organizational work, I really enjoy being outside or being creative!

I am a Sr. Fellow at Washington. I am currently a senior studying religion and anthropology. McVay is one of the many things I look forward to during the school year, and I am so ready for this year to get started.

I am a senior studying Education and Social Studies. I grew up on a small island off the coast of Washington, but Minnesota has been a great home for the past few years. I am thrilled to be a part of McVay for my second year!

It is my senior year at Hamline University. My major is psychology with a minor in philosophy. My hobbies are hiking, drawing, photography, reading and movies. I also very much enjoy hanging out with my friends and my cats! I am a senior fellow at our Washington site!