The international destinations for Shenandoah University’s 2024 Global Citizenship Project were announced during the university’s 33rd International Convocation on Nov. 15. The GCP participants who were chosen for this year’s trips will travel to one of these five locations during spring break in March 2024: American Samoa, Argentina, India, Slovenia, Zambia.
The 50 GCP participants, who include Shenandoah students, faculty and staff members, were announced in October but were unaware of their destinations until they were revealed at the end of International Convocation. The individuals included in each of the five groups are listed below.
American Samoa
Trip leader: DeShon Foxx
Participants: Mataz Alnajar, Madison Anderson, Linda Diaz Gil, Gabrielle Krystofiak, Lisa McVey, Brodie Meyers, Kirsten Mycko, Alvin Osorio Flores, Anna Shenk, and Kaylee Trump.
Argentina
Trip leader: Diego Marcos
Participants: Sha’dyamond Bond, Jackie DeLong, Kenya Doyle, Jennifer Dunnavant, John Hayes, Adrian Hoffman, Hannah Maltos, Dori Mouris, Maria Pomares, and Matthew Shakley.
India
Trip leaders: Gina Daddario and Petra Schweitzer
Participants: Caitlin Andersen, Ian Bailey, Elizabeth Corbin, Vivienne Gianneschi, Joshua McLean, Kimberly Newberry, Jaedyn Olson, Caitlin Orender, Aurora Padilla-Jimenez, Virgilio Vazquez.
Slovenia
Trip leaders: Astrid Sheil and Montressa Washington
Participants: Nadia Ali, Lacey Gordon, Reece Levin, Francisco Meza Rodriguez, Kara Mondrone, Greeley Myers, Callie Pellegrino, Rylan Phillips, Jailynn Rivera, and Mikayla White.
Zambia
Trip leader: Jean Swartz
Participants: Crystal Barchacky, Jordane Brown, Barry Helmick, Devin Hight, Elijah Immanuel, Micah Link, Alexi Plata, Sabrina Rivera, Adan Sanchez, and Liberty Tennyson.
This year’s International Convocation featured musical performances by Shenandoah Conservatory students Elias Aguirre ’23, Tzintli Cerda ’27, Juan Andujar ’24 and Doctor of Musical Arts graduate student Jian Song (pictured above), and a keynote speech from alum Ashayla Byrd ’21 (pictured below with university President Tracy Fitzsimmons).
Resolutions of appreciation were awarded to Byrd, SU Registrar Emily Hollins, and student Josephine Saikali, who graduates in December 2023. Hollins and Kyle Hooven, SU’s academic advising specialist for transfers, were both recognized for their life-saving actions when an international colleague experienced a severe allergic reaction during a visit to Winchester in October.
A livestream recording of International Convocation is available on Shenandoah University’s YouTube channel.
