Leaders in Service 2018

LEADERS IN SERVICE

ALL

DREAMS WELCOME

Service is not just an extracurricular activity at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Service is an essential component of the College’s mission, and the charism of its founders, the Sisters of Charity of New York.

Opportunities to serve can be found across the campus and throughout the curriculum.

At the Mount, students engage in service to pursue knowledge, develop an understanding and appreciation for individuals from diverse backgrounds, and prepare themselves to address the challenges facing our communities, both locally and globally.

Through an integrated and broad range of programs, the College inspires its students to be Leaders in Service—individuals who respect the dignity of every person, freely share the benefits of their experiences and education, and who understand that true charity is an act of love and respect between equals.

CAMPUS MINISTRY Campus Ministry serves the entire College as a center for spiritual enrichment and personal development, fostering a spirit of service and sense of responsibility as modeled by Saints Vincent de Paul and Elizabeth Ann Seton. All faith backgrounds are encouraged to share in advancing a vibrant faith community while empowering servant leaders.

“My heart has opened up to care for so much more outside of myself...I plan to actively serve wherever I may be. Service has become something I can’t live without.”

—Jessica Gamez ’19

SETON SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Exemplifying the College’s most fundamental values, the Seton Service and Leadership Program welcomes Mount students to join a like-minded community of peers who serve together, nurturing servant leadership skills.

As diverse as their interests are, students find commonality in service. Program participants engage in frequent spiritual and faith-based reflections, which allow them to think about life’s bigger questions.

Reflection helps our students thoughtfully process their spiritual commitment. It helps them understand what they are seeing and helps develop the whole person—a key element of the College’s mission.

The Seton Service and Leadership Program also offers a competitive scholarship—providing full room and board for four years to 12 incoming freshmen—sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of New York. Those with high academic profiles and outstanding community service and leadership skills are encouraged to apply.

Being in the Seton Service and Leadership Program is much more than an outward appearance—it is a deep and total commitment to what the Mount believes is our obligation to help others in need.

“Being part of the Seton Service and Leadership Program has given me endless opportunities to help not only the Mount community, but also the communities throughout NYC. I’ve met new people, made new friends, and most importantly, I’ve created memories that will last me a lifetime.”

—Jose Mendoza ’19

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UNDERTAKING SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH SERVICE

Our students complete over 10,000 hours of service annually. They respond to the immediate needs of the disenfranchised and most vulnerable—the disabled, elderly, homeless, working poor, and youth—while pursuing advocacy and policy work to address the causes of inequities.

HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER Mount students work with numerous organizations to mitigate the needs of the homeless and working poor, including the All Saints Food Pantry, the St. Francis Breadline, Part of the Solution (POTS), and the Life Experience and Faith Sharing Association (LEFSA). Students also leave campus overnight for the Midnight Run, allowing volunteers to travel to midtown Manhattan to hand out food, clothing, and engage in conversation with the homeless.

GRAND CENTRAL OUTREACH Jonathan Ramirez ’18 works tirelessly to tackle the homeless epidemic in New York City. Jonathan and numerous students travel to Manhattan each week, where they assemble bag lunches for distribution to the homeless in Grand Central Station. Volunteers introduce themselves to those in need and sit with their visitors as they eat, asking about their lives and sharing stories.

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“Our purpose is more than just giving them food,” Jonathan said. “We try to show them that someone cares.

The conversation they have with us might be the first one they’ve had all week.”

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP Students participate in a range of activities to preserve the natural environment and to foster sustainable and nurturing communities, including Hudson River cleanups, service with the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, and efforts to promote local food sourcing and community gardens with Sisters Hill Farm.

YOUTH MENTORING AND TUTORING Students serve as tutors and counselors at several educational institutions and afterschool programs, including Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, Park Ledge, and the Mexican American Students’ Alliance (MASA).

TACKLING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MODERN DAY SLAVERY From educating hospitality industry employees of the signs of trafficking to organizing conferences that bring together thought, religious, relief, and civic leaders, Mount students are working to prevent human trafficking and other forms of slavery.

The College hosted “Migration, Trafficking, and Freedom: We Are All Migrant Peoples,” a one-day conference connecting student activists with experts in the field to discuss why and how migration leads to trafficking, and what can be done to ensure freedom to those suffering.

CARE FOR THE SICK, INFIRM, AND ELDERLY The Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, New York–Presbyterian Hospital, the Sisters of Charity Clinic, and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center are a few of the healthcare facilities where Mount students offer assistance, care, and joy. Students work with organizations like Dance for PD, the Hebrew Home by RiverSpring Health, and the New York Blood Center.

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GLOBAL CONCERN: LEARN, SERVE, IMMERSE Service is not just limited to our campus or immediate community. We live out our commitment on an international level, partnering with Concern Worldwide, health clinics in Guatemala, and through service in a variety of countries including Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Thailand. The College has expanded its array of study abroad opportunities, which empowers students to cultivate equitable relationships, engage in social justice, support sustainable change, and deepen a commitment to our shared humanity.

LEARNING AND SERVING AROUND THE WORLD Nearly every college student has an opportunity to study abroad, but Mount students have an additional advantage: they can imbue their study abroad experiences with meaningful work.

Mount Saint Vincent’s study abroad programs unite nationally recognized academics with ethical service learning, creating greater access to high-quality international educational opportunities. Students enroll in rigorous interdisciplinary courses, live with a host family, and benefit from placements with leading service organizations.

Students can pursue study abroad and service learning in more than 15 countries. From exploring the history and culture of the Andean Highlands to studying the hill tribes and elephant camps of Chiang Mai, our students’ experiences change the world for the better.

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“On mission trips, participants always gain so much more than they can ever give. We frame these trips to let students know that they are only a link in a chain, working together and with others for the greater good.”

–Kathryn O’Loughlin, Campus Ministry

MISSION AND MINISTRY TRIPS These trips are not simply service projects—they are a way to actively live our faith and a testament to the College’s mission. Students are able to engage in a new culture and come to a broader understanding of service and community.

Students help surrounding communities and families around Bethlehem Farm in West Virginia, repairing homes and connecting with homeowners in the Appalachian Mountains.

They work in teams to repair substandard housing and build new homes for low-income families in Kentucky through the Christian Appalachian Project. They help people facing homelessness and poverty at the St. Francis Inn, a ministry that serves the local Philadelphia community. They work with the Sisters of Charity’s House of Charity in New Orleans, volunteering with the St. Bernard Project to rebuild homes that are still destroyed from Hurricane Katrina. And they travel to the Sololá region of Guatemala to work in health clinics, responding to the medical needs of the Guatemalan people.

SUMMER SERVANT LEADERS For many students, summers are spent volunteering around the country and the world. Through this extended service initiative, our students develop meaningful relationships with local people and make a significant impact on the communities they serve.

Owen Smith ’18 and Damarcus Williams ’18 served those who live in poverty in Ethiopia with the Vincentian Lay Missionaries, while working alongside the Daughters of Charity in Africa.

Victoria Burel ’18 served for six weeks in West Virginia at Bethlehem Farm, a Catholic community in Appalachia that transforms lives through service with local communities and through teachings of sustainable practices.

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CONNECTING THE CLASSROOM TO THE WORLD Students are also encouraged to integrate service with their scholarly and professional interests. They can start their own service project, travel and serve internationally, take courses from the College’s degree program in Public Policy, pursue research related to social injustice through the Center for Undergraduate Research, and conduct internships with nonprofits and non-governmental organizations at the United Nations.

Todd Gable ’15 knew that he wanted to be an English teacher and work with economically and socially underserved teenagers, but student teaching was disheartening—especially his experience at a Bronx high school where test preparation trumped learning about literature. “It was not what I thought being a teacher should be about,” he said.

“It revitalized my ambitions for teaching and what that can mean.

It shared the qualities that make me love the Mount.”

Todd enrolled in a service project that sent him to Thailand to teach English to Burmese refugees at a CDC Migrant School in Mae Sot, a city in western Thailand that shares a border with Burma. He spent seven weeks at a school that housed students and teachers alike. To Todd, it was more than a school—it was a community seeking a better life through education. The experience made him want to do more.

After graduation, Todd applied and was accepted into the Peace Corps. He is currently a volunteer and English language teacher in Ukraine.

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Leslie Peralta ’19 spent nearly five months studying and serving abroad. A recipient of the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Leslie traveled to to Cusco, Peru, where she studied Spanish courses in language, human rights, and environmental sustainability, as well as sociology courses based on service and social activism.

“You have to study abroad to truly understand what I experienced. I would have never understood the culture of a place like Peru, but now I do.

You’ll only know how it feels if you go—this trip changed my life.”

During her time abroad, she would take trips and explore historic sites such as Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley in Peru’s Andean highlands, and she even picked up a part-time job as an English language tutor at a local school. But that wasn't all—she also had the opportunity to imbue her experiences with meaningful work.

With plans to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy after she graduates from the Mount, she was excited for the opportunity to spend time volunteering in a Peruvian clinic, providing care, education, therapy, and counseling to hospitalized children—ranging from infants to young adults. “Helping individuals from such an unfamiliar culture prepared me for the connections I will have with patients in the future,” she said.

Now that she’s back in New York, Leslie is excited to share her experiences and hopes to inspire other students to go abroad and learn about new ways of living.

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LEADERS IN SERVICE Jessica Bunch ’16 received her master’s degree in International Development and Service from the Mount. During her time at the College, she launched a chapter of Rotaract, a Rotary International program that brings together adults ages 18-30 to engage in meaningful service in their local communities, nationally, and internationally.

Jessica is also the founder of Geaux Lead, a youth development program that supports individuals through global travel opportunities.

Selina Macias ’17 studied abroad in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where she volunteered with the Father Damien Foundation, providing care to elderly patients who suffered from leprosy.

Zahedi Castillo ’14 propelled his volunteer experience at Leake and Watts into a career with the organization. Leake and Watts and the College’s Office of Campus Ministry work with many exceptional students who generously volunteer to help support the children, adults, and families in Leake and Watts programs.

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Danica Luc ’16 served in Thessaloniki, Greece, where she helped students improve their English language skills.

During Danica’s study abroad experience, refugees began arriving on Greece’s shores to escape civil war in Syria. She joined the cause to help the refugees and volunteered at a distribution center that provided food, clothing, and shoes to those in need.

Mahabir Samuel ’13 pursued a master’s degree in International Development and Service after graduating from the Mount.

Mahibir’s studies and volunteer service have taken him to Thailand and Cambodia.

Karen Cantor ’15 traveled to Vietnam during her senior year, conducting research and performing community service. She interviewed doctors and traditional healers about how they treat pain and learned about herbal remedies that figure significantly in Vietnamese medicine.

Carolyn Sepulveda ’14 completed an internship with the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a non-governmental organization at the United Nations, which works to influence policymakers to promote social justice.

Spencer Bode ’18 traveled to the Galápagos Islands, where he learned about the delicate and complex natural environment and the impacts of human settlement, fisheries, and tourism. While studying abroad, he worked with organizations to develop communities that can sustain the lives of residents while preserving the ecosystem.

Llocasta ‘Jojo’ Duran ’20 received a Gilman Scholarship to study and serve abroad in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She worked with Fundación Gracias Maria, an educational center for children, where she taught English and prepared lesson plans for children aged 7-12. She also spent her time abroad advocating for ocean conservancy by cleaning up a beach near Cabalonga.

Kaitlin McGeown ’18 studied abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece, where she learned more about the refugee crisis that led to vast numbers of Syrians—as well as nationals from other locations—to seek asylum in countries including Greece. While studying international business at Perrotis College, she volunteered and helped care for refugee families’ young children during services at Thessaloniki Church Anagenesis.

Karen Vallejos ’17 traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, where she conducted an original service project titled, “Recognizing SelfIdentity Amongst Youth in Vietnam.” While abroad, she facilitated various workshops related to her research, inspiring collective leadership, self-learning, and innovation.

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“We want to give children a chance to have fun, shoot some hoops, and hopefully learn skills that will allow them to really love the game of basketball.”

BE YOU STAY TRUE Like Facebook and many great enterprises, Be You Stay True began with friends developing an idea in a college dorm room. Those friends, Andrew Curiel ’18 and Franciso ‘Neeko’ Zeno ’18, wanted to create a youth basketball group that was an alternative to the Amateur Athletic Union.

Knowing many families might not have the resources to pay for leagues and camps, Andrew and Neeko worked hard to create a fun, free camp for children to shoot hoops and learn skills that will allow them to love the game of basketball.

The success and impact of Be You Stay True over the years has also allowed the co-founders the opportunity to link their program with the Jr. NBA, the official youth basketball program of the NBA. The cooperative program encourages and supports youth basketball participation and allows Be You Stay True to host an annual Jr. NBA Skills Challenge at the College. The event, which replicates the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge, invites participants to show off their skills by dribbling, shooting, and scoring points, while learning the fundamentals of basketball.

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A MOMENT OF MAGIC FOUNDATION Kylee McGrane ’17 and Margaret McAndrew ’17 established A Moment of Magic to give children an experience that can lift them above the everyday—especially important to those who are hospitalized over long periods of time. By restoring the magic of believing at a time when a child needs to ‘just be a kid,’ the group inspires children to be brave, strong, and fearless.

“Everyone needs positive attention, a moment that’s special for them.

These kids need it more than most.”

The organization—which is recognized as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization—invites volunteers to dress as popular princesses and superheros and visit children in hospitals, schools, camps, and social service agencies throughout New York and beyond.

A Moment of Magic also encourages the initiative to be adopted far beyond the gates of Mount Saint Vincent—the group has over 50 new chapter applications coming in from all over the country. Colleges and universities across the U.S. can participate as either The Fairytale Force, which focuses on characters from the world’s most famous fairytales, or Mission Superhero, which allows volunteers to visit children as caped crusaders.

The co-founders spread hope on campus, too. The group currently has over 40 volunteers—and continues growing.

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CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT

Opportunities to engage in service can be found across campus. Numerous departments and student clubs participate in and lead service projects. A thriving community of student leaders ensures that service is an integral part of life at the Mount.

Month of Service Each Fall, the Mount challenges the entire College community to participate in the Month of Service. Last year, the initiative tallied over 500 participants serving over 1,500 hours. Students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumnae/i work together annually in a variety of areas—from environmental efforts to homelessness outreach—to make an impact on the greater community.

First Year Experience First Year Experience (FYE) introduces freshmen to college life, academic expectations, and the various support systems at the Mount. During FYE, you’ll also be encouraged to coordinate service projects with campus ministry, helping to give back to those in need. Students are required to engage in service during their first semester, which helps them learn more about the College’s mission.

Athletics Annually, each athletic team sponsors a service project, including working at the Matthew Sapolin Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, assisting with the NYC Mayor’s Cup and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Long Island’s Annual Golf Classic, supporting Yonkers Parks and Recreation, and partnering with the Bronx Tourism Council at the annual Tour de Bronx, New York’s largest free cycling event.

Concern Worldwide The Mount works with Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian organization dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. In recent years, the College community has raised over $50,000 to support Concern Worldwide’s efforts to respond to natural disasters in the Philippines and Nepal.

“Volunteering gave me the opportunity to work with students and faculty to beautify Van Cortlandt Park. It showed me that we as a community can have a tremendous impact not only on the College, but our surrounding neighborhoods.”

— Kelli Bodrato, Dean of Students 12

ROTC As one of the country’s top leadership programs, ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) offers lifelong benefits by preparing young adults to become officers in the U.S. Military.

Mount Saint Vincent connects interested students with the U.S. Army ROTC at Fordham University and the U.S. Air Force ROTC program at Manhattan College.

ROTC students develop specific military skills in the classroom and in fields that are applicable to life outside the service, gaining the respect of peers and potential employers.

ROTC programs help students earn a college degree, requiring a single term of military service in return. Students can apply for merit scholarships that help to defray the cost of tuition, books, and other education expenses. Participants gain an exceptional Mount Saint Vincent education, launch a career, and expand their commitment to servant leadership.

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A rigorous and inclusive liberal arts college committed to the Catholic tradition and ecumenism, the College of Mount Saint Vincent boasts nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate programs. We combine a strong core curriculum with a full array of majors.

Small class sizes and personalized attention provide our talented students with an exceptional academic experience. Education here goes beyond knowledge, skills, and preparation for work.

At the Mount, we seek to develop the whole person—the heart as well as the mind.

MOUNTSAINTVINCENT.EDU

For more information about service at the Mount, or to speak with an advisor, contact our Admission staff.

COLLEGE OF MOUNT SAINT VINCENT 6301 Riverdale Avenue Riverdale, New York 10471 OFFICE OF ADMISSION admissions@mountsaintvincent.edu 718.405.3267 OFFICE OF CAMPUS MINISTRY campusministry@mountsaintvincent.edu 718.405.3229

@MountStVincent