Advisors
Chad Frey Title: Director of the Agapé Center for Curricular Service Learning Hometown: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania I have been an educator at Messiah College since 2000 and an advisor for the Northern Ireland Service-Learning trip since 2002. I am looking forward to witnessing the team create partnerships in the community within a local church, social enterprise, and school. Genna Burke Title: Higher Education Graduate Student Hometown: Bucks County, Pennsylvania I am a graduate student in the Higher Education program at Messiah College. Currently I work for a social enterprise company, Partnership Planners, LLC. My job is supervising a MakerSpace at SciTech High School. This will be my fifth adventure back to Northern Ireland. I am looking forward to the “give and take” dialogue on conflict resolution especially when it concerns racial and religious intolerance and witnessing student growth through these experiences. Student Leaders Molly Scott Title: Student Leader Hometown: Moorestown, NJ Major: Economic Development Interests: baking, watching movies, coffee shops, hanging out with friends Last year I had the opportunity to go on this trip as a team member and was blown away by how much I learned from my fellow team as well as all the amazing people we encountered in Lurgan. This year I am looking forward to making the transition into team leader and expanding our impact in Northern Ireland! I am most excited for re-connect with all the friends I made last year and make new memories with new friends as well! I am confident that our team will bring awesome new perspective to the trip and am praying that we will be thoughtful and diligent servants of God throughout our time in Northern Ireland this year. Nate Elder Title: Student Leader Hometown: Perkasie, Pennsylvania Major: Biology with Secondary Teaching Certification Interests: Playing and watching sports, cooking, singing, enjoying time with friends I am absolutely exhilarated to have this opportunity to travel to Northern Ireland. This will be my third time leaving the United States, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this team when we arrive in Lurgan. I hope to experience the interconnectedness of global education while I am at Lurgan Junior High School, and to see how God works in schools across the world. This team that has been assembled is full of amazing people, and I cannot wait to build on the relationships we have already formed both as friends and as brothers and sisters in Christ. Team Kyle Abel Hometown: York, PA Major: Youth Ministry Interests: I enjoy playing hockey on Messiah’s club ice hockey team, playing music with my roommate, going on hikes, and serving as a small group leader in Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ’s youth group. I am most looking forward to building relationships with the local people of Lurgan while learning about their culture. Matthew Bushoven Hometown: North Haledon, New Jersey Major: Youth Ministry, Junior Interests: Snowboarding, Wakeboarding, Skimboarding, Lacrosse, any and all things Disney, and spending time with my friends and family! I have never been to the other side of the world before so part of me is a little nervous. However, I am at the same time extremely excited to hop on the plane and head to Lurgan. God has done amazing things in my life. This past January, I spent 3 weeks in Southern California where I worked with a team of students to help the communities ridden with poverty. It was incredible to see God in these people and in the services that he allowed us to work towards. And I can't wait to see what He has in store for our team and the people of Lurgan as we work together and create peace. I look forward to seeing a change in myself, my teammates, and those that we will connect with in N. Ireland. Benjamin Cochran Sarah Casey Hometown: Lebanon, Pennsylvania Major: Biology Interests: Reading, playing the ukulele (though not well…), sewing, making animal friends, and spending time with my human friends This will be my first time traveling abroad and I am thrilled to be going as part of a team of such dedicated, compassionate people. I’m excited to spend time working with and getting to know the people who call Lurgan home. I’m praying and hoping that this trip will be a blessing for all involved and that we might play even a small part in helping to bring reconciliation to Northern Ireland. Darby Catalano Hometown: Woodstown, New Jersey Major: Nursing Interests: Sports, music, traveling, spending time with family and hanging with friends! I am so incredibly stoked for this trip and all that this experience will have to offer! I cannot wait to see how our team’s unique talents and abilities will come together, making this trip truly worthwhile. I hope the interactions we are able to have with the students and individuals we encounter can go way beyond the classroom and that God can pave the way for a truly unforgettable experience! Andrew Galuppo Hometown: York, Pennsylvania Major: Marketing, Junior Interests: Playing guitar, snowboarding, weight lifting, hiking, I am so excited to travel to Lurgan! I recently went on a month long trip to Loreto, Mexico, so I am very anxious to travel again and see more of the world. I am ready to meet new people in the community, as well as see what God has in store for my team and I. I am also excited to grow as much as I can during this trip, and also see as much of Northern Ireland as I can. It is going to be a great trip! Megan Harbert Hometown: Mechanicsburg, PA Major: Nursing Interests: Travel (Just got back from Zambia!), World Christian Fellowship, Coffee + Tea, Playing the guitar, and dog lover I love traveling and have visited 21 different countries all over the world! I even just got back from a cross-cultural experience in Zambia and Botswana. However, this is the first time I will be doing an international service trip. I’m thrilled to be in Lurgan and build relationships with the people who live there. I’m excited to see what God has in store for us as a team and am prepared to serve in any way I can. Lisa Monteiro Hometown: Plainsboro, NJ Major: Public Relations Interests: Travel (I’m in love with seeing a world beyond my immediate surroundings); Music (“Where words fail, music speaks.”); Coffee (Always a cup in hand); Stories (I love hearing what makes up other people’s worlds/ new perspectives) I could not be more excited for our trip to Lurgan, Northern Ireland! To visit a place that is unknown to me; be submerged in a different culture; with the privilege to do God’s work; in a country I have always wanted to visit: leaves me at the edge of my seat, thrilled and ready for the ride. I’m so thankful to the people that made this trip possible. I cannot wait to see how God is going to work during this trip and for the people we will encounter! Mentors Jon Burke Title: Warehouse Manager of Outback Toys Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland Education: B.A. in Biblical and Religious Studies, Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies from Messiah College David "Kelly" Phipps Title: President and CEO of Rider Musser Development, LLC. Hometown: Beckley, West Virginia Education: J.D. Law from University of Akron School of Law M.A. History from Ashland University/Seminary B.A. Business Management from Malone University B.A. Biblical and Religious Studies, Minor in American History from Kentucky Christian University |