Past Students

The following American University students were part of the 2015 class.
My name is Dorian and I am the program assistant, which means I help to plan the laboratory classes for Makengue students, guide them through their semester-long projects, and assist in their travels. I am an environmental studies major at AU and an alum of the Makengue Project from last year. In my previous endeavors I have coordinated environmental science lessons at a Boys and Girls Club as part of a tree-planting community restoration effort, completed a year with Jumpstart (an AmeriCorps program) working in an Anacostia preschool, interned for the Bipartisan Policy Center, and spent my summer with the National Air and Space Museum. When not working on the Makengue Project, I work for the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General as a student trainee. I am originally from Portland, Oregon and have a love for the great outdoors (especially climbing trees). I know that during our time visiting the 190 acres of virgin rainforest at Makengue, students will have a profound connection with nature and develop a stronger sense of their footprint in the global community.

My name is Alexa and I am currently studying at American University in Washington, D.C. I grew up in Schuylerville, New York and have been enjoying this crazy adventure called college. My major currently is an interdisciplinary major, Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government (CLEG for short). I am extremely excited to experience the Makengue Rainforest located in Nicaragua. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me!

My name is Vincenzo. I’m from Old Bridge, New Jersey. I am currently a freshman at American University, studying Film and Media Arts in the School of Communication. I am really excited to be going to the Makengue Reserve in Nicaragua over Spring Break!!! This will be my first time being out of the country and I’m a little nervous. But this is such a great experience to have my freshman year and I can’t wait! Makengue, here we come!!!

I am Brianne, a freshman at American University in Washington, D.C. I am originally from Rhode Island. At AU I am currently studying biology however, I may decide to switch my major to neuroscience. I am ecstatic to go to Makengue and have the opportunity to do research in another country for the first time. I look forward to interacting with the locals as well as to experiencing the abundance of wildlife that the rainforest has to offer. This is the beginning of my career in scientific research and I am excited to apply the skills I learn on this trip throughout my career in science.

They call me Sam, but I am more than just a name.  I am an adventurer, a romantic, a fool, a champ, a chump and an enigma.  But you can call me Sam (or Samwise).  I am currently in the SOC as a film and media arts major.  It has been a dream of mine ever since I was a mere infant to see a world not confined to the borders of America.  Much like a baby finally venturing out of his crib, or Lewis and Clark crusading through western America, or Neil Armstrong blasting off to the moon, I will take this odyssey to a far away land and battle/befriend the exotic animals and unknown creatures of the dark woods.  It shall be a trek similar to Star Trek, but with more walking and less warp speed.  They shall write about it in years to come.

My name is Jacob and I’m a freshman Psychology major at American University. I grew up and have spent my whole life up until this point in scenic Lansdale, Pennsylvania. I’m extremely excited to spend my spring break and my birthday (March 12th, save the date) at Makengue! I think that it’ll be a great experience especially because it will be my first time out of the country and just such a great adventure in general.

 

My name is Kailey and I am a freshman at American University in Washington, D.C.  I come from a small town in New Hampshire.  I am currently a Spanish/ Latin American Studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences.  I’m thrilled to be going to Makengue!!  I can’t wait to interact with the people there and learn about the culture in Nicaragua.  I have only gone out of the country to travel to Costa Rica, so I am really interested to see how the two places compare.

My name is Matthew. My home town’s name is Sandwich, a small town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. I am currently employed by my best friend who owns an ice cream boat and if I could do that for the rest of my life I would. But because selling Sponge Bob popsicles to little children cannot support me as an adult, I have come to American University to pursue a degree in something that I have yet to determine. I am very prone to injury (shattered my collarbone in rugby in the first semester) and one of my top goals for the Makengue Project is to not get bitten by a poisonous snake.

My name is Marlena, and I’m from New York City. I’m an undeclared major at AU, and took the Cross-Cultural Communication University College Program with Professor Groen last semester. As a non-native but fluent Spanish speaker, I’m really excited to go to Makengue and interact with the locals there.

 

 

My name’s Oksana and I am studying International Relations in the School of International Service, and double minoring in Law and Society and Philosophy.  Originally, I am Russian and Ukrainian, but I was mostly raised in the amazing New Jersey. I am fluent in four languages and can understand many more. I’ve been to five continents, but this will be my first time visiting Nicaragua. I love adventure and traveling, and this was one of the many reasons I chose to apply for the Makengue Project. Likewise, I have always been really interested in the environment and biodiversity. Makengue will hopefully give me the opportunity to explore those topics with a research component. I’m super excited to travel to Central America, speak in Spanish all the time again, and gain first-hand experience with nature and ecology 🙂

My name is Chaw and I’m a student at American University at D.C . I was originally born in Myanmar, but have been living in Ukiah, California for about 3 years before moving to D.C.  I am majoring in International Relations and Pre-Med.  I am excited to go to Nicaragua because traveling and trying new things have always been a passion of mine.

 

I am Pooja. I am an International Studies major pursuing minors in Spanish and Psychology as well. The human brain fascinates me more than anything, therefore, I greatly enjoy reading neuroscience articles. My “academic” hobbies include watching TED Talks, reading, and learning languages (Spanish, Gujarati, and Hindi for now). Currently, I am reading Ubuntu by Desmond Tutu and When Elephants Cry. My other hobbies include playing outside, volunteering, dancing, and socializing. I was born in Baruch, Gujarat, India, but raised in Bensalem, PA. I have spent over 6 years working with children in multiple settings (YWCA, Jumpstart, Urban Adventure Squad Leader, etc) and it brings me joy like nothing else.

I’m Allie, a sophomore at American University in Washington D.C. I’m a public relations & strategic communication major with a minor in marketing. Since I’ve grown up in a military family, I’ve lived in five different southeastern states before moving to North Carolina. Like Dorian (our Program Assistant), this will be the second stay at Makengue and I could not be more excited. I’m hoping to not only build off of my previous marketing and branding projects from last year, but to complete an independent project during our visit. I would like to conduct interviews with adults (and potentially teenagers) in local towns to better understand the concept of ethnobiology throughout the region. The interviews, profiles, and insight I gain from these interviews could help contribute to blog posts, social media content, and info graphics/posters to be displayed on the Makengue property. During the trip I also hope to add to my photography portfolio and create educational posters for the reserve. I’m ready to take on the rainforest for a second time!
I’m Angela and can’t believe I’m going on my third Makengue adventure.  In addition to facilitating the weekly labs and maintaining this site, I assist students in their research projects and contribute my photography, filmmaking and cross-cultural communication skills to the group.  Nearly done with my Masters of Fine Arts in Film and Electronic Media, I am also the Associate Director of Discover the World of Communication and founder of Constant Movement Cinema.  As a Miami native, I’m eagerly counting down the days until the trip to escape the DC cold.

The following American University students were part of the 2014 class.

Hi! My name is Caitlin and I am freshman at American University in Washington D.C.  I am originally from North Haven, Connecticut. I am a Biology Major on the pre-med track within the College of Arts and Sciences. I became interested in the Makengue project because I have a strong desire to travel the world and explore. Throughout this project, I would like to incorporate the information that is collected during the BioBlitz to create educational bilingual posters with the help and guidance of  the Youth Leaders of ProJoven. One aspect of the Makengue project that I love is that the work does not end when the semester concludes. All of the research, connections, and plans that we work on during the semester and while we are in Nicaragua will forever make a positive impact on the Makengue Reserve and give the reserve a promising future.

I’m Allie, a freshman at American University in Washington D.C. I am currently planning to major in Public Communication with a double minor in Marketing and International Studies. Since I’ve grown up in a military family (my dad is currently a Lieutenant Colonel stationed at Ft. Bragg), I’ve lived in five different southeastern states before moving to North Carolina. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and then moved to Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia subsequently. I have not, however, traveled outside of the U.S. and am extremely excited to have found such a unique abroad opportunity through the Makengue Project. My interest in communications and marketing came about during my time working with my high school’s student-run newspaper, where I eventually became Editor-in-Chief. I love taking pictures and keeping up with current events. I can’t wait to develop my photography skills in Nicaragua and document our research. I hope to also help lay the groundwork for marketing Makengue and create Public Service Announcements.

Hi! My name is Frankie. I am from Littleton, CO and I am pursuing a dual degree in History and Film & Media Arts at American University. I have always loved film…and I am a secret nerd. So feel free to hit me up if you ever want to chat about Star Trek, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Superheroes, ect. I am looking forward to traveling this semester, and enriching this program for the future! I am involved in the Makengue Project because as a future film maker I think when things are documented on film the viewers get a more hands-on experience of things they cannot actually go out and experience. Oh yeah, and I am excited to see what life is like in a rain forrest, if only for a week!  I cannot wait to share my experience with you and I hope ya’ll read my posts!

Hi! My name is Emma. I’m a freshman at American University, and I’m from Altavista, Virginia, which is a small town in southwest VA. I’m currently an undecided major, just seeking as many opportunities as possible to figure out what I want to do. I work for a local after-school program for kids called The Elements, which takes kids through the woods and trails of DC (surprisingly, there’s many!) during the winter months. I am very excited about hiking through the Nicaraguan rainforest since the forest and wildlife will be so different from the Appalachian Mountains I’m used to! I am anticipating a great time and an unforgettable experience in Makengue; there is nothing better than exploring and learning in the wild.

My name is Patrick, I am a student at American University, straight out of Cleveland, Ohio. I am very adventurous and love to travel which is why I am so excited for the Makengue Project. Traveling through the rain forest and hanging in the triple canopy seems like the perfect way to spend a spring break. I really enjoy traveling around D.C. and seeing all the cool things in the city, however, when I’m not in the city I can be found on campus usually causing some sort of “mischief”. I am very friendly and I am always in a happy go lucky mood so if you see me around say hi. Or, if you want to have an actual conversation my interests include sports and politics. This can be explained in my double major in Anthropology and International Relations.

My name is Dorian and I’m a student at American University in Washington, D.C. I am originally from Portland, Oregon, and am enjoying my first year on this side of the country. I am majoring in an interdisciplinary program covering communication, law, economics, and government. I was excited to hear of my acceptance into the Makengue Project as I have never been out of the country and am interested in environmental sustainability. I am most excited to participate in the bioblitz project and photograph plants and animals I have never seen before.

My name is Katie and I was born in Washington, D.C. I have lived in D.C. my whole life.  I am a freshman at American University.  I am a Film and Media Arts major with a minor in Environmental Science. I want to become an Environmental Filmmaker when I graduate. I grew up around many animals and loved to photograph nature. The Makengue Project is a wonderful opportunity for me because I get to do what I love in a new setting. By filming and taking photos in Nicaragua, I will have experience for future jobs. It will be a pleasure to work along side of other students with different interests. Each student brings a unique set of skills that will be valuable to move the Makengue Project forward. I can’t wait to finally travel to the reserve!

I am Nicolas from Germany and a biology student here at AU. I love wild animals and wildlife science that is why I am really excited about the trip to Nicaragua. I love working outside and getting dirty, I especially love reptiles and sharks, I hope we see a lot of snakes during our hikes! I think we are a great group and going to have an awesome time in the lab and, of course, during the trip to Makengue. I would like to focus on the science aspect of the project, researching the ecosystem and finding ways to “make it a paradise” for wild animals is a great task!

My name is Jamie and I am a freshman at American University. I am majoring in Biochemistry and intending on minoring in Mathematics. I was involved in the University College program and I was in the U.S. Society program. I was interested in participating in the Makengue Project because I wish to pursue a career in scientific research in cardiovascular medicine and ailments at the Texas Heart Institute. I hope to gain from the Makengue Project the experience in scientific research in a new setting and apply that to my future schooling and career.

I’m Camille, a freshman at American University majoring in international studies and minoring in biology and public health.  I grew up in Reno, Nevada, but spent ten months in Brazil as a foreign exchange student through Rotary International, so I speak both Portuguese and English fluently and am currently learning French.  My older brother has been my role model to become a traveler and to learn different cultures and languages.  I ran cross country throughout high school and have been interested in health and fitness since, particularly after working at a local fitness center for about a year and a half.  My interests to travel, study plant diversity and promote a healthy lifestyle have spurred my choice to sign up for the Project.  I am excited to be working closely with a small group of students and faculty and hope that together we will be able to come up with viable research and proposals to make Makengue a more well-known nature reserve.  Additionally, I expect this experience to be something very unique and unforgettable.

Hi there! My name is Jack. I’m a freshman at American University in Washington DC. I run, volunteer, work, participate in clubs, and hang out with friends. I’m studying International Relations and plan to study abroad. Why not start in Nicaragua? I’m interested in seeing a new part of the world, and the idea of going to a rainforest has always fascinated me since The Magic School bus went to one. I’m most nervous about knowing no Spanish whatsoever, and most excited about being in a new place so foreign to me!

 

Lorraine — I am a freshmen student at American University. Though I enjoy the city life here in Washington D.C., I hail from the Bay Area in California, where I spent the first eighteen years of my life. I currently study International Studies, hoping to concentrate in Latin America. After first discovering the opportunity for this project in Nicaragua, I was hooked due to my love of traveling and desire to explore new parts of the world. By the end of this year, I hope to have contributed to a much more advanced project that will have seen great progress in the Makengue Reserve.

The following American University students were the first to travel to Makengue in 2013.

I am Alison, fresh from the PHX, and I am a freshman here at American University. I am studying International Studies and Arabic. My initial interest in the project was sparked by love for adventure and exploring, as well as my commitment to serving my community and the greater good. However, as I read into it more, I developed an acute interest in how to fund the project. Fiances can make or break any project, and are often the reason why growth and development in certain regions are stagnant. By researching how money can flow into this project, and streamlining the process, we can make Makengue sustainable. Additionally this model can (hopefully) be used throughout the rest of the world. There are certainly complexities with this streamline as regions and projects change. Technology and policies towards funding are also always changing. We do not have the complex financial education as a group necessary to create a flow of funds on our own. Despite this, I am hoping to walk away from this project having substantially researched and shared how we can get and maintain grant money to fund operations at Makengue.

Hello! I’m Adrian and I am a freshman here at American University in Washington D.C. I’m from Las Vegas, Nevada and during my high school years I was very involved in sports, debate, and was a law major at my high school. During this time I spent a lot of time thinking about how I wanted to make a living. Did I want to make money and have a big house? Of course! But at the end of the day, I knew I wouldn’t be happy unless I was making people I worked for/with happy. With this in mind I applied, got accepted, and packed my bags for D.C.  I am majoring in international relations/development and I will be double majoring in either biology or public health next year. Among many, my interests mainly include social injustice issues, public policy regarding those issues, healthcare accessibility, education opportunities, and overall advancement for those in impoverished areas around the world.

Boomya – Hi! I became interested in Makengue project because I have always wanted to explore the rain forest. Throughout this project, I would like us to come up with a plan that would  spread awareness of the wild life in Makengue, as well as serve American University Biology, Physics or Chemistry major students to practice and experiment in this rich land. Sending students to Nicaragua will strengthen  the AU – Makengue bond and also allow us to see the unique qualities of Makengue. This land should be used for multiple major projects rather than one cause. For instance, we shouldn’t just focus on sustainability or environmental  policy. As a group of eleven students, we should explore all the qualities/features of Makengue and find ways to help us reach our final goal.

Claudia – Hey everyone! I am a freshman at American University and an International Studies major. I grew up in the little state of Delaware, but the Makengue Project is especially important to me because my dad and his entire family is from Nicaragua. It’s been a number of years since I’ve visited the country, so I’m pumped for our trip to Makengue! I am looking forward to practicing my Spanish and hopefully getting to hear some stories from the locals there. I’m particularly interested in speaking to local educators, students, or artisans.

Hey! I’m Emma and I’m really excited to get started on the Makengue Project. I’m a freshman at American University. I’m interested in women’s issues and film. I love photography and documentaries and tend to be drawn to social issues. While working with the Makengue Project, I’m hoping to be able to focus on the social issues the country and area faces whether it’s in education, women’s issues, or anything inbetween. I’m hoping I will be able to document the trip with my photography as well as video so I can put a Documentary together to show the research panel. I’m also interested in the availability of potable water to the residents. Basically, I’m excited to learn more about the country and find out how I can make a meaningful difference!

Emily – From small town to big city, my first year at American University has been a whirlwind of new opportunities. The biggest one I have yet to face I believe will be the Makengue Project; not only will I get to work in Communications (what I like to think of as my field of work) but I also must immerse myself in those of the passions surrounding me, like environmental studies, physics or even education and business. We are working to touch on every type of different school within American University and I need nobody to tell me that this is going to be difficult. However, a challenge like the Makengue Project is exactly the type of challenge I better myself from, and so the only emotion that seems to overlap my anxiety to succeed is my excitement. A change of landscape is a change of perspective. A change of perspective is a change of heart. I am eager to see where my team and I will take the people, the land and the environment of Makengue to, but I am also anxious to see where Makengue will take me.

Hi, I’m Jennie, a freshman at American University. I am currently studying International Relations with a focus on International Development and China/Asia. I am interested in getting local students to Makengue and using it as a tool to help them learn about the land. I am also interested in the sustainability aspect of the land because global warming is a huge issue that we face today. I am really excited to explore the land and learn more about the culture in the area and hope to make Makengue a vibrant place for people to use and enjoy!

Hello, my name is Karriea!! I guess I should start out with that I am a Latina and a country girl.  I was born and raised in the backwoods part of Idaho, however my mother is a first generation immigrant from Ecuador, as is most of her family.  I have one biological sibling, my brother Shane, however I have 3 sisters that were foreign exchange students from around the world.  I am almost fluent in Spanish and am good with camcorders and their basic editing, however my three major focuses for this project are law, environmental protection, and educational of locals.  I want to research how the local and international laws will effect what and when we are able to implement our plans for the Makengue Project, and how it will effect our availability for grants or tax exceptions.

Hello! I am Lisa, a freshman at American University. I am currently studying in the Kogod School of Business, studying Business, Language, and Culture. When I found out about the Makengue Project I was excited to say the least.  I am gifted with the opportunity to expand my horizons and discover more about the world around me through research and travel. It is exciting to see what is in store for the Makengue class and the outcome of the project  that will be available for future students and even the people of Nicaragua. Personally, I am interested in the communications and business aspects of this project in designing a logo, creating website, and researching the financial viability of this plot of land. However, I am approaching this project with an open mind and hope to gain an even broader perspective.

Hi, my name is Michelle and  I am a freshman in the School of International Service. (SIS)   I am interested in the history of Nicaragua and how their history has influenced their culture and perceptions of the environment. I am also interested in the environment; I think that my policy concentration in SIS is going to be International Environmental Policy.    Specifically, I am interested in sustainable resources and making them more available to people,  educating the people about their local environment and why it is important to preserve, and finally how to make these projects economically viable for years to come.

Paige – Hey! I am from Tulsa,Oklahoma and am a Physics Major in the College of Arts and Sciences at AU. I love traveling anywhere and everywhere and having new experiences. I lived in Russia last year in a town called Novocheboksarsk and I am exploring the possibility of a Russian Regional Studies double major as I have loved Russian since I was in middle school. I am mostly interested in the many opportunities Makengue presents for scientific research especially in the areas of sustainable energy. I also love photography and am looking forward to bringing my camera on our trip!  I am super excited to be a part of this project and can’t wait to see the results of our work!

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.”- Emerson