Announcing the Top 20 Semifinalists for the Africa Trip!

March 24th, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Pongezi (that’s Swahili for Congrats!) to the 20 students eligible to apply for OCC’s Trip to Kenya in late July or early August of this summer!

These students have worked really hard (understatement of the century) to get to this point, and they’ve earned a huge pat on the back for all they’ve done to advance ONE on their campuses and in their communities.

But we’re only taking 5 to Africa – specifically, to Kenya, this summer, for about a week. The dates aren’t final yet, but we’re looking at July or August.

These 20 will submit projects and applications to earn their spot on the trip. And we’re expecting big things! The project theme is “How will U bring Africa to the OCC?” and the Top 20 can present their program plan in the form of song, video, photo journal, written work, or anything that speaks to their unique talents. They’ve all received guidelines on their submissions already. Projects will pass under the scrutinizing eyes of not one, but TWO separate judging panels to determine the 5 going to Africa.

1 Nick Stevens, Webster University
2 Justin Kralemann, Baylor University
3 Tomas Moreno, Wofford College
4 Mike Fazzino, Sacred Heart University
5 Andrea Netti, Southern Methodist University
6 Hassan Barzani, University of Texas at San Antonio
7 Rachel Berman-Vaporis, Brandeis University
8 Kelly Wynveen, Clark University
9 Mike Weidman, Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio
10 Jessica Beckner, Indiana University
11 Steven Thai, Luther College
12 Stephanie Parrish, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
13 Eric Mayle, Missouri State University
14 Bryant Shannon, University of Florida
15 Audrey Ruark, Kennesaw State University
16 Erin Burke, Sacred Heart University
17 Harpreet Kaur, Saint John’s University, Jamaica New York
18 Christie Fleming Franciscan, University of Steubenville
19 Caitlin Harrowby, Maui Community College
20 Genevieve Gearity, Emerson College

We’ll also have 3 alternates that will submit projects as if they were in the Top 20. These students will be considered in the event that anyone in the Top 20 is unable to complete the project or unable to go on the trip to Africa. So, pongezi separately to:

21 Melissa Boles, Washington State University – Vancouver
22 Olivia Durning, Sacred Heart University
23 Victoria Roman, George Washington University

Good luck to all our semifinalists! We can’t wait to see your projects.

-Maisie Pigeon