Tearing Down Walls!

The 2017 D.C. ABST Family 

Has Been Gathered

From the supporters at home, from all our friends here at Gannon University, to us, the ones going down to Washington D.C., we are all part of the team, the family, that wants to help improve our community and those who are less fortunate. To all our supporters and friends at home or at the university, we have decided to introduce ourselves to this family so that we all can feel closer to together, and get to know each other a little better. Here is the team of students that is going to be going down to our nations capital to serve those who are in need of a helping hand. 

Student Trip Leaders:

Jennifer Hepler

Major: Criminal Justice

Hometown: Vandergrift, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I am excited to learn about how to be an advocate for those who experience homelessness.

Ilya Kharkovskiy

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Girard, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I am very excited to come back to Washington D.C. for a second time. I went last year as a student, and while I was there I learned so much about our community and some of the many underlying problems in homelessness. What I am most excited about is being able to go back down there, and create new friendships with the men at the homeless shelter, I'm excited to make many new memories, and mostly excited to help those that may have less than I may have. 

Student Team Members:

Mary Lohitai

Major: Foreign Language: Government Option

Hometown: Erie, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I choose this ABST because homelessness is a problem you see a lot in Erie. I'm excited to learn more about this incredibly prevalent issue and what I can do to help and serve the homeless population in Erie. 

Leanna DeMartino

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Girard, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I am so excited to go to D.C. because I have never been there before so this should be quite an experience. I am nervous for this trip but ready to take on whatever it may bring. I chose this trip because I joined the group OPEN this semester at Gannon. OPEN tries to educate the community about hunger and homeless while volunteering at several soup kitchens and creating multiple events during hunger and homeless week. Our trip is going to deal with hunger and homeless people in D.C., so I thought that this would be a good experience for me.

Tiffany Taccone

Major: Legal Studies

Hometown: Erie, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I am excited to serve others and impact lives in another community. I chose this trip because it was a great service opportunity while experiencing Washington, D.C.

Mallory Sarkis

Major: International Studies

Hometown: Nazareth, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I am excited for this trip because it embodies aspects of what I want to do for my future career. Also, I'm excited to work with the homeless, to hear their stories and lessons. I think this is going to be an amazing experience and I am very excited for the end of the school year.

Cody Feikles

Major: Theology Major, Philosophy and Psychology Minors

Hometown: Erie, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I went to DC freshman year and was asked to accompany this trip for round 2. How could I say no to such a beautiful opportunity?

Korey MacIsaac

Major: Legal Studies

Hometown: Girard, PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

I’m going on this trip to become better informed and see firsthand the issues facing those in poverty, men and women who are homeless, and Americans who are hungry.

Emily Schweitzer

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Hometown: Cranberry Twp., PA

Your thoughts on the trip (what you are excited, how you feel about it, why you chose it): 

This trip seemed like the perect choice for me because I want to help those whoe are in need, and also because I wanted to travel.