McVay Interns and Associates: 2012-2013

Hi, my name is Fatima. I am a junior majoring in Sociology and double minoring in Women and Conflict Studies. This is my second year working with McVay. I love working with kids and it's something that I want to do in the future as a career. I'm the oldest of nine children so I feel right at home when I work with the kids. This program has helped me gain more experience working with kids and has made me a stronger leader.

My name is Jake Blanchette and I am a first year student at Hamline. I went to high school at Main Street School of Performing Arts. I enjoy television, being social and drinking coffee. I like working at McVay because it lets me spend time working with youth and being a positive mentor.

Hey everybody, my name is Will and I am a senior at Hamline this year. This is my first year working with McVay. I've heard a lot of good things about the program and am excited to be an addition and contribute as a mentor and role model for the kids, who are highly energized and great to be around. I am currently a Criminal Justice major graduating with a paralegal certificate. Outside of my schooI work I enjoy playing sports and being outside, and love listening to music, mostly hip hop and R&B.

Hi My name is Courtney and I am a sophomore at Hamline this year. I am majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology and the intent of going onto Medical School. I am really excited for this opportunity to join and work for this program. I enjoy many sports and hanging outside by the lake that I live by. Watching movies are also a favorite pass time of mine. In addition to sports I am a huge crafts fan. I am always up for new experiences and am excited to working with the students and making a positive impact in their lives.

Hi there!  My name is Lynne Chung and I will be a senior this year. I'm co-majoring in English and Secondary Education and minoring in Psychology. I'm extremely excited to be able to work with such a great staff and diverse group of students! Working with kids is my passion and I'm so lucky to be able to share that with all of you. I also love being outdoors, reading/writing, staying active, and chit chatting away with anyone who's willing to listen!

Greeting to all! My name is Jamesetta Collins and I will be a sophomore at Hamline this coming fall (2012-13). I am currently double majoring in English, Criminal Justice, and pursing a Paralegal Certificate. This fall will be my first year working for McVay. I enjoy dancing, playing volleyball, church, writing, having a good time with family and friends, and of course shopping. I am overly excited to get to work with these kids and hopefully make a difference in their lives as they make a difference in my life. Growing up in large household has made me very passionate about giving back. Since high school I have always worked/volunteered in environments involving youth. Through all the different programs I have participated in, I have become very passionate about working with kids. I am glad to know that I have this chance to work with other brilliant Hamline students collectively and effectively to make a difference in our society.

Hi, I’m Corbin or T or Corbz or any variation of Thurgood Marshall Corbin Nigel Conliffe-Thompson will do. I’m a junior working on creating the International Legal Studies major at Hamline. I’m really excited to be coming back to work for McVay as I had a blast over the summer wrestling, playing, chilling and throwing (into a lake!) the young people of McVay. When I’m not hiding in the library or being climbed on by kids, I swim on Hamline’s swim team, sit on Hamline’s student council’s executive board or hanging out with my brothers at Theta Chi Fraternity. You will probably find me curled up under a blanket hiding from responsibility, reading a book, listening to music or all three.

My name is Falhad. I will be a junior this fall and I am majoring in Chemistry.  I am so excited to be a part of the program this year officially. Last I volunteered with the program in the spring and I had a great time. I truly look forward to working with the youth and creating a fun educational environment. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, crafting, and hanging out with friends.

Hi! My name is Saswat Gorkhali and I am an international student from Nepal. This is my third year at Hamline University and I'm planning to major in Computer Science and Economics. My interests are playing sports (especially basketball and soccer), watching movies, and everything that involves being outdoors. I've been working for the McVay Youth program since Spring 2011 and I’m glad that I’ll be working for McVay this year too. I feel more confident and experienced from working last year and I am sure I will be able to learn a lot more from the youth this year.

My name is Christian Kibler and I am an associate for McVay and I work mostly at Arlington. I enjoy playing soccer and I run track and field here at Hamline. This will be my third year with McVay. My favorite part of working for McVay is getting to build relationships with students and helping them in any way I can. I hope that in my future I will work as an adaptive physical education teacher or an occupational therapist in Minnesota schools.

Hey! My name is Robb Miller, I'm a senior at Hamline and major in Business Marketing. I play baseball for Hamline and enjoy listening to and making music, drawing, and being active. I am excited to work at McVay's program this year and be a positive role model for the youth.

Hey, I'm Deric Moffitt and am a first year student at Hamline University. I'm originally from Southbend, Indiana but I've been living in Saint Paul, Minnesota for quite a while now. I graduated from Harding High School. I like to play soccer and the guitar. I also run track and love to play basketball. Other things I enjoy are working with kids and playing games.

Hi there! My name is Whitney and soon I will be a third year student here at Hamline working on majors in Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Women’s Studies. Some things I love to do are painting, reading, being outdoors, and being involved. I am so glad to be a part of the McVay team because after I graduate I also plan on working with youth. I’m looking forward to meeting the kids and having a wonderful school year!

I'm a junior at Hamline University. I am a Communications major and Religion minor. I plan on graduating and going into event management. I have been a part of the Hamline Women's Soccer Team for three years and play defense for the team. I'm also on the Student Alumni Broad Event's team and have been for three years. My hometown is Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I graduated from Kennedy High School where I participated in varsity soccer, dance team and show choir. I love to be outside doing all kinds of activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, tennis, and basketball. I'm always up for going on adventures! I enjoy working with youth and hope to make a positive impact on their lives.

Hi everybody, my name is Keeren Quayat. I am currently a sophomore studying International Business at Hamline. I am an intern at McVay and the best thing I like about it is working in a mutually learning environment where both the kids and the staff learn from each other. I was born in Brazil and moved to the U.S. at age 15 and it's wonderful to meet kids with the same experience I had. When I am not working or studying I like to dance, cook, and ski.

I am a sculptor and ceramist working on a teaching license. I teach these students by offering age-appropriate projects to open the world of possibilities art brings. I strive to present art as limitless: an end to which hard work, resourcefulness, and dedication is the only means. I have also tried to teach concepts and techniques in a modern sensibility. For example, to emphasize the importance of line and communication in a piece, graffiti was used. I hope to inspire the students to think of art as an attainable industry and possible career path.

My name is John Vang. I am a senior this year at Hamline University majoring in English Education and hoping to get into ESL education. This year I am the president of the Hmong Student Association (HSA), so I oversee all that goes on in the Hmong community at Hamline. In my free time, I love to break (b-boy), draw and just relax with my friends. I love meeting new people and I love my position here at McVay!

I was born in Minneapolis and half of my life I grew up there. ever since I was young I was always interested in sports and wanted to play sports. So now I play football, a little bit of soccer and basketball, a lot of volleyball, and very little tennis. I love food just as much as I love sports, if I could eat good food all day, I would definitely do it. I volunteered at Mcvay a couple times, and all the times that I had volunteered, I loved it. So I joined the Mcvay family. Now that I am part of the Mcvay family, I can join in on all the fun!

My name is Wah, Wah and this is my first year at Hamline. I am a First Generation student. I was born in Burma and I speak three different languages. When I was little, I lived in refugee camps because it was a safer place for us to be away from our enemy. It was hard there because there were not many opportunities for us. I came to the United States when I was 12. I didn’t speak any English at all and it was very difficult for me. What I knew about America was that there were so many opportunities and freedom. If I think about living in a refugee camp, I can’t ever compare it to living in the United States.

Doing volunteer work is one of the top things that I love to do. I work with people a lot and I am really good with solving problems. I like to be on time and plan out things before I do anything. I hate to be late. I mostly do well in my school and get good grades. I like being a leader but I like team work more.

I came to Hamline University because it was close to my house and they gave me a good scholarship. I really like the place and the people. I love my class and my teachers are really nice and helpful. It is a small college and that is what I want for my college. I have three jobs right now with Hancock Elementary school, McVay, and Get Ready. I really love my job and I am glad that I came to Hamline because it was a really good fit for me.

Hello my name is Jessany. I will be an intern this fall for the McVay Youth Voice Program. I'm very excited to start! I found out about this program  about 6 years ago when I first joined myself. Going through the program I got to see firsthand how amazing the staff and the program is. I knew when I graduated and got accepted into Hamline that this is something that I'd like to be a part of! I have just recently come back from my year abroad in Japan. I've learned many new things about the Japanese culture, world, and myself. Someday I would like to go back to Japan as an English teacher. In my spare time I like to bake, hang out with friends and family and try new things. I'm looking forward to this year!

I am a transfer senior at Hamline University. I am interested in becoming a professor of Spanish. I have worked with youth at my high school in Costa Rica by teaching soccer, and being a role model and friend to many of them. I was also an ESL teacher for four months in my hometown. Over the summer, I was a camp counselor in Wisconsin. I enjoy working with youth and sharing experiences with them.  I am a Pentecostal Christian.  I enjoy playing soccer and living a healthy lifestyle. This is my first year working as a McVay Fellow and I am thrilled to be in such a diverse community here in Saint Paul.

Hey! My name is Mandi. I am a junior majoring in Legal Studies with a minor in philosophy and a paralegal certificate. I am planning on going to law school after I finish undergrad. I love music and singing. I also love love playing sports-volleyball, basketball, and golf in particular. I also love to run. I absolutely love working with kids! I have taught Sunday school, Bible school, assisted in a summer kindergarten readiness program, and babysat. Kids have always been a big part of my life. I am a kid at heart. I have heard a lot of great things about the program. I know how big of a difference having a mentor and a role model can be for kids. I am exciting to help make a positive impact in their lives.

My name is Jean Xiong. I am a junior at Hamline University and my major is Criminal Justice. I have been part of the Mcvay team since spring 2012. I'm a intern and I work at all the sites Emma, Liberty, Arlington, & Wheelock. 

Hey guys! My name is Tong Xiong. I am a freshman in college and I am currently a McVay intern working at one of the site called Wheelock/Hmong Community Church. My major at Hamline University is business and I am probably minoring criminal justice/law. Other than talking about school, I like to play a variety sports from football to basketball, and also volleyball. If there's a problem, I would love to discuss it with anyone. This year I'm hoping to have an awesome year with the McVay staffs, kids and awesome events that we will be hosting!

Hi Everyone! My name is Michelle Yang and this will be my first year at Hamline and working with McVay.  I have heard so many wonderful things about this program.  I'm very excited to be a part of the McVay Youth Partnership! I love working with kids, so I can't wait to meet them and have lots of fun together! On the other hand, during my spare time I enjoy going fishing, playing sports, and spending time with my family and youth group.