Meet the Fellows of 2012

In partnership with our founding community colleges, Houston Community College (TX), Jackson Community College (MI), and Red Rocks Community College (CO), we are delighted to introduce the first group of US-Brazil Community College Fellows who traveled to Salvador, Bahia, in June 2012!  Read about their experiences or learn more about the Partnership and criteria for participating.

Catarina Williams

College: Honors College at Houston Community College

Major: Fine Art in Sculpture

Words of Wisdom: “To become truly immortal, a work of art must escape all human limits: logic and commonsense will only interfere. But once these barriers are broken, it will enter the realms of childhood visions and dreams.” – Giorgio DeChirico

International Experience: Traveling through Europe for over two months last summer. Just my older sister and I, a few change of clothes and many countries ahead of us!

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? Learning through teaching has always fascinated me, as well as traveling to new places. By traveling to new places, we learn more about our world around us and the people living in it.

Stephanie Blissette

College: Honors College at Houston

Major: English

Words of Wisdom: My grandfather always says to me, “Enjoy it while it lasts, kid.” He’s made me realize that life doesn’t go perfectly all the time, so it’s so important to enjoy it when it does – those good memories will get you through the tough times.

International Experience: I do not have any international experience at this time. However, I will be traveling to Paris and Barcelona March 8th, so I will gain some experience before the trip to Brazil! I’m super excited to experience life overseas.

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? The actual interactions I will be having with the students in Salvador. I am also interested in learning about the culture. I feel so lucky that we get to be there for a month and really immerse ourselves in the Afro-Brazilian city of Salvador.

Cara Darling

College: Red Rocks Community College

Major: Elementary Education, emphasis in foreign language, ESL

Fun fact: I am a professional singer of soul music!

International Experience: I have lived in Mexico for just over one year. I have traveled through parts of Central and South America, Europe, as well as throughout the Caribbean. Machu Picchu in Peru tops my list!

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? To learn of Brazilian culture from the local residents, the Portuguese language, and to return with knowledge I can implement into my future professional career as an educator.

 Katie Phelan

College: Jackson

Major: I studied International Relations and Spanish at Grand Valley State University.  Now I’m pursuing a Studio Arts Certificate at JCC.

Words of Wisdom: Don’t take things too seriously, especially yourself.

International Experience: I visited Italy on an art/photography trip in high school, and my rowing team raced in England and Wales.  The most impactful trip I’ve taken was to Mali, West Africa, to build a school.  I probably learned more in that month than I did the whole rest of the year.

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? Language.  I’m interested in culture and business and economics, but the acquisition of language (and the beauty of it) is what most compels me to be a part of this adventure.

 Lauren Prebenda

College: Jackson Community College

Major: Elementary Education, English/Middle Eastern Studies; also interested in ESL certification

Words of Wisdom: “If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.” –Leo Tolstoy

International Experience: I spent several weeks in Nosara, Costa Rica, exploring the location and culture. During the beginning of the Arab Revolution, I was fortunate to interview individuals from various associated countries. Through this interaction, I have maintained strong friendships with those in countries such as Egypt, Libya, and Israel.

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? I am equally interested in the culture, language, and educational system of Brasil. I am passionate about spreading cultural awareness and understanding through education. I hope to explore this desire and learn as much as possible in Brasil.

 Christopher Keyes

College: Red Rocks Community College

Major: Civil Engineering

Words of Wisdom: Do not fight the flow of life.

International Experience: I have visited Brazil once before.  I hope to do much more traveling in the not-so-distant future. 

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? I am interested in seeing the new technologies and ideas currently being utilized in this growing nation.  I am excited to network and build lasting relationships within the sustainability industry in Brazil.

Nick Fox

College:  Honors College at Houston Community College

Major: Computer science

Words of Wisdom: I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to both Mexico and El Salvador, where I spent most of my time rebuilding homes or drilling for water. I have also traveled to Italy visiting the history rich cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Assisi.

International Experience: I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to both Mexico and El Salvador, where I spent most of my time rebuilding homes or drilling for water. I have also traveled to Italy visiting the history rich cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Assisi.

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? The ability to connect with people in another hemisphere and to both teach and learn from them. What could be more exciting than to reach across thousands of miles, both virtually and physically, to interact with students who are learning the same subjects as you, only in an entirely different context?

 Harley Rowan

College: Red Rocks Community College

Major: Outdoor recreation with an emphasis on natural resource management

Words of Wisdom: “Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold.” – Ancient Hebrew Sage 

International Experience: I have traveled to Mexico, China, Ireland and have lived in Brazil for two years in the southern state of Parana.

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? The chance to see the northeast of Brazil and spend time on the beach. I also am looking forward to teaching English to the students in Bahia and at the same time polishing-up my Portuguese.

 Sorcha Moldauer

College: Red Rocks Community College

Major: I will receive my AA, and then move onto either a degree in law or a certification in sign language interpreting.

Words of Wisdom:  “Be who you are and say what you want; because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind” – Theodor Seuss

International Experience: Traveling to England in 2010 for an international gymnastics meet with my little brother and my mother!  

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? I am most interested by this fellowship because of how unique it is.  Many people will never get the chance to go to another country and completely change other peoples lives which is the basis of this fellowship.  Upon arrival home I will have two stories to tell, my story, and the story I created for my ten students.

 Deva DeAngelis-Lowe

College: Red Rocks Community College

Major: Environmental Studies

Words of Wisdom: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother Theresa

International Experience: I traveled to Italy in 1995, to Central America and Mexico each a couple of times between 2000 and 2006, and to India and Israel in 2007.

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? I look forward to this opportunity to expand my teaching experience and broaden my knowledge of sustainable practices, particularly within a new culture, while assisting Brazilian students to improve their English skills; a tool guaranteed to be an asset throughout their lives.  The music, dance, and food provide a nearly-equal allure.

 Tyiana Atkins

College: Jackson Community College

Major: Nursing

Words of Wisdom: “Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgment difficult.” – Hippocrates

International Experience: My family and I drove through Canada to to get to Maine and back when we moved there for a while when I was younger. 

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? I am interested in this fellowship because it will help me meet new people and experience new things. It will also  provide me with the extra knowledge needed to be a more productive and decisive leader. This fellowship will help me gain experience for international travel for my future and my plans for my career.

Paloma Salazar

College: Honors College at Houston Community College

Major:  This upcoming fall 2012 I will be transferring to the University of St. Thomas and I will be majoring in Nursing.

Words of Wisdom: Take any opportunities that come your way, and be open to new things.

International Experience:  I usually travel to Mexico at least twice a year. I traveled to South America (Panama) in 2008. I’ve also been able to travel to Barcelona and Paris in March 2012.

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? The chance to help out society and to give back in some way; to give these high school students the chance to learn something new. While doing this, I will also learn some Portuguese, learn about Brasil and its culture. I also want to eventually travel around the world, and this experience will help me see what it feels to be away from home and to equip me for this goal.

 David Gonzalez

College: Jackson Community College

Major: Accounting

Words of Wisdom: Hakuna matata.

International Experience: Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico 

What Interests You Most About the Fellowship? I’m excited for the opportunity to help others learn the language which I speak natively.