Kenya: Meet your Alum Leaders!

Hey Kenya  team members! We are excited to start the 2016-2017 Service Year with you. We know you met your Team Leader and Assistant Team Leader at General Orientation (pssst …  read more about them here). We also want to make sure you’re familiar with the awesome Alum Leaders on your team!

Alum Leaders are another link in the chain of command on a Youthlinc team. They serve as role models for student participants, specialize in creating a positive atmosphere for their team locally and internationally, work in partnership with mentors to oversee students in their appointed committees, and help Youthlinc instill a lifetime service ethic in young people. These individuals will be great resources for you throughout the year!

 

“Hi my name is Amanda Bywater, I go to Olympus high. I have been on the Cambodia Youthlinc trip last year. I did 80 hours of service. I applied because I loved my last trip and I really fell in love with the people, and I want that again. I love the feeling I get when I serve and the difference I can make in people’s lives. I am really interested with a career in medicine and hope to find my specific interest in college. I am really excited to be on the Kenya trip this year!!”

 

 

 

 

“My name is Ben Butcher and I am a senior at Judge Memorial Catholic High School! Throughout my whole life I have loved to lead, serve, and help others in any way. Being on Student Council at my school has allowed me to do so. However, Youthlinc has allowed me to do all three in a whole other way! I spent my time volunteering with the Real Life Program last year as well as serving in Guatemala over the summer. The experiences and relationships I developed were like no other, I could not be more thankful for what I learned! Creating more experiences and relationships is what has inspired me to become an Alum Leader. My passion for protecting and discovering new things about the environment has inspired me to study environmental sciences in college. I plan to participate in field studies all around the world by volunteering locally and internationally!”

 

 

“My name is Stephanie Buckner. I’m 18 years old and attend Cyprus High School. I love art and pottery along with getting to help and meet new people. I love service and I’m excited to serve internationally again this next summer!!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

“My name is Jack O’Neal and I’m a senior at Judge Memorial. I hope to someday become an Environmental Lawyer, but my mind is open to new paths! Service has always been an important part of my life, taking form in school assigned service projects to family service outings.  Last year I participated in the 2016 Youthlinc Service year (my specific team being Cambodia July), and I can easily state that it was the most exciting and rewarding experience I have ever been a part of. I applied to be an Alum Leader in order to take the skills I brought from my local service and out of country service to a leadership level, while also gaining a bunch of new skills from the position. My favorite part of service is the bond you form with others when you truly make a difference in their lives, it is something that is rarely found. For that reason I will continue to serve my community as well as others!”

 

 

“My name is Lindsey Van Buren. I go to Skyline High School. I have volunteered with the Red Cross, Rotary’s Interact and RYLA programs, as well as Camp K, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Bad Dog Arts, and Real Life. All of these places that I have served and continue to serve have inspired me to create my own service group, which I’m extremely passionate about. Youthlinc has changed my outlook on life completely. I applied to be an alum leader this year to be an example to my team just as my mentors, alum leaders and team leaders were to me. Their example influenced my perspective of what humanitarian work is all about. Service has filled my heart with love, compassion, courage, and pure happiness. I can never replace that feeling I have when I’m serving others so I plan on continuing to serve throughout my life. One of my goals is to pursue my humanitarian passion and build a foundation to serve others by improving their health care concerns in places around the world that is needing assistance.”