Gerald Alston, Chaperon
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
College: Winston-Salem State University
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I plan on taking advantage of the many natural wonders that are exclusively offered around the island.
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
College: Winston-Salem State University
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I plan on taking advantage of the many natural wonders that are exclusively offered around the island.
Mattie Gaddy-Parks, Chaperon and Admissions Counselor
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
College: Fayetteville State University and NC Central University
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope everyone traveling to this beautiful state will have a deeper appreciation for the natural wonders it shares with us.
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
College: Fayetteville State University and NC Central University
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope everyone traveling to this beautiful state will have a deeper appreciation for the natural wonders it shares with us.
Sandra Jackson, Chaperon and Admissions Office Coordinator
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
College: Shaw University and NC Central University
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I am thrilled to be a part of this trip, and I am looking forward to seeing the natural wonders of Puerto Rico.
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
College: Shaw University and NC Central University
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I am thrilled to be a part of this trip, and I am looking forward to seeing the natural wonders of Puerto Rico.
Jack Allen, Senior
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Greenville, Pitt County
College: Yale University
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: In Puerto Rico, I hope I can connect with another culture and learn about a unique part of my family's heritage.
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Greenville, Pitt County
College: Yale University
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: In Puerto Rico, I hope I can connect with another culture and learn about a unique part of my family's heritage.
Courtney Bell, Senior
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Rougemont, Person County
High School before NCSSM: Roxboro Community School
Plans for college: Attending the Florida Institute of Technology in the Fall of 2014
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: By travelling to Puerto Rico, I hope to gain a better understanding of the culture, along with the people that live in it. Also, I hope to inspire future NCSSM generations to visit and share the experience in travelling to a new place and gaining new experience.
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Rougemont, Person County
High School before NCSSM: Roxboro Community School
Plans for college: Attending the Florida Institute of Technology in the Fall of 2014
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: By travelling to Puerto Rico, I hope to gain a better understanding of the culture, along with the people that live in it. Also, I hope to inspire future NCSSM generations to visit and share the experience in travelling to a new place and gaining new experience.
Marlisha Blakeney, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Monroe, Union County
High School before NCSSM: Union County Early College
Plans for college: Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I will help the kids, experience life as a Puerto Rican, learn about marine biology, as well as learn about the Spanish culture! Whoop whoop!
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Monroe, Union County
High School before NCSSM: Union County Early College
Plans for college: Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I will help the kids, experience life as a Puerto Rican, learn about marine biology, as well as learn about the Spanish culture! Whoop whoop!
Angel Chukwu, Senior
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Clayton, Johnston County
High School before NCSSM: Cleveland High School
Plans for college: University of Texas, UNC Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: On this trip, I plan on gaining a worldly and cultural experience. I want to see and understand all that Puerto Rico has to offer intellectually and socially with the help of my NCSSM peers.
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Clayton, Johnston County
High School before NCSSM: Cleveland High School
Plans for college: University of Texas, UNC Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: On this trip, I plan on gaining a worldly and cultural experience. I want to see and understand all that Puerto Rico has to offer intellectually and socially with the help of my NCSSM peers.
Carrie Emerson, Senior
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Conover, Catawba County
High School before NCSSM: Newton-Conover High School
Plans for college: Emory University, UNC Chapel Hill
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to gain a better understanding of Puerto Rican culture, and to experience life there first hand.
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Conover, Catawba County
High School before NCSSM: Newton-Conover High School
Plans for college: Emory University, UNC Chapel Hill
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to gain a better understanding of Puerto Rican culture, and to experience life there first hand.
Elliott Holliday, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
High School before NCSSM: Northern High School
Plans for college: Virginia Tech, MIT, Harvard, Duke
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I want to see the world as it is. I want to get as much experience as I possibly can in life.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
High School before NCSSM: Northern High School
Plans for college: Virginia Tech, MIT, Harvard, Duke
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I want to see the world as it is. I want to get as much experience as I possibly can in life.
Hope Jania, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Clinton, Sampson County
High School before NCSSM: Clinton High School
Plans for college: Wake Forest, Western Carolina University, East Carolina University, NC State, University of South Carolina
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to learn more about the Puerto Rican culture and come away with memorable experiences from the trip.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Clinton, Sampson County
High School before NCSSM: Clinton High School
Plans for college: Wake Forest, Western Carolina University, East Carolina University, NC State, University of South Carolina
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to learn more about the Puerto Rican culture and come away with memorable experiences from the trip.
Samantha Michael, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Lexington, Davidson County
High School before NCSSM: Central Davidson High School
Plans for college: Duke, University of Southern California
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to gain a higher understanding of Puerto Rican culture and have experiences that I will never forget.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Lexington, Davidson County
High School before NCSSM: Central Davidson High School
Plans for college: Duke, University of Southern California
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to gain a higher understanding of Puerto Rican culture and have experiences that I will never forget.
Erika Munshi, Senior
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Chapel Hill, Orange County
High School before NCSSM: East Chapel Hill High School
Plans for college: Emory, Brown, Tufts
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: During my time in Puerto Rico, I want to explore another country with some incredible friends and learn more about Puerto Rican culture.
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Chapel Hill, Orange County
High School before NCSSM: East Chapel Hill High School
Plans for college: Emory, Brown, Tufts
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: During my time in Puerto Rico, I want to explore another country with some incredible friends and learn more about Puerto Rican culture.
Matthew Nichols, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Haw River, Alamance County
High School before NCSSM: Southern Alamance High School
Plans for college: Georgia Tech University, NC State University, and Columbia University
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: While in Puerto Rico, I plan to practice my Spanish, help the people of Puerto Rice through the volunteer work that we will be doing, and make some memories that I won't soon forget.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Haw River, Alamance County
High School before NCSSM: Southern Alamance High School
Plans for college: Georgia Tech University, NC State University, and Columbia University
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: While in Puerto Rico, I plan to practice my Spanish, help the people of Puerto Rice through the volunteer work that we will be doing, and make some memories that I won't soon forget.
Lamara Parnell, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Morganton, Burke County
High School before NCSSM: Freedom High School
Plans for college: Stanford, University of Miami, or UNC Chapel Hill
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: While in Puerto Rico, I hope to experience and learn about Puerto Rican culture. Also I look forwar to volunteering, and giving back while there.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Morganton, Burke County
High School before NCSSM: Freedom High School
Plans for college: Stanford, University of Miami, or UNC Chapel Hill
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: While in Puerto Rico, I hope to experience and learn about Puerto Rican culture. Also I look forwar to volunteering, and giving back while there.
Andrew Peterson, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Elkin, Surry County
High School before NCSSM: Elkin High School
Plans for college: Duke, University of Chicago, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Davidson, Wake Forest, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Virginia
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to enjoy an experience I will never have again. I will never have the opportunity to travel to such a beautiful place with people who have changed my life and the world as much as my fellow Smathers! I want to learn about another country and culture, experience the world from a different perspective, and to have a memorable experience with friends.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Elkin, Surry County
High School before NCSSM: Elkin High School
Plans for college: Duke, University of Chicago, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Davidson, Wake Forest, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Virginia
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I hope to enjoy an experience I will never have again. I will never have the opportunity to travel to such a beautiful place with people who have changed my life and the world as much as my fellow Smathers! I want to learn about another country and culture, experience the world from a different perspective, and to have a memorable experience with friends.
Marcus Ramos-Pearson, Senior
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
High School before NCSSM: City of Medicine Academy
Plans for college: Davidson, Duke, Queens University of Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, Hampden-Sydney
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: To explore the roots and be immersed into a culture that is a part of my heritage.
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Durham, Durham County
High School before NCSSM: City of Medicine Academy
Plans for college: Davidson, Duke, Queens University of Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, Hampden-Sydney
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: To explore the roots and be immersed into a culture that is a part of my heritage.
Hunter Rideout, Senior
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Hickory, Catawba County
High School before NCSSM: South Caldwell High School
Plans for college: MIT, University of California, Berkeley
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I plan to learn about the culture and history of Puerto Rico as well as provide any help I can to the orphanage we are going to visit.
Age: 17
Hometown and County: Hickory, Catawba County
High School before NCSSM: South Caldwell High School
Plans for college: MIT, University of California, Berkeley
What he hopes to accomplish on this trip: I plan to learn about the culture and history of Puerto Rico as well as provide any help I can to the orphanage we are going to visit.
Hannah Sloan, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: New Bern, Craven County
High School before NCSSM: Arendell Parrott Academy
Plans for college: Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, Stanford, Wake Forest
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I'm looking forward to exploring the culture and biology of Puerto Rico, getting to know and spend time with classmates and leaders, and returning with a bit of perspective from our trip.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: New Bern, Craven County
High School before NCSSM: Arendell Parrott Academy
Plans for college: Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, Stanford, Wake Forest
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I'm looking forward to exploring the culture and biology of Puerto Rico, getting to know and spend time with classmates and leaders, and returning with a bit of perspective from our trip.
Nicole Ward, Senior
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Kernersville, Forsyth County
High School before NCSSM: Robert B. Glenn High School
Plans for college: Western Carolina University, FIT, West Virginia University
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I am hoping to broaden my horizons with this trip. I have been to other countries before, but never Puerto Rico. I am really wanting to learn about the culture and everyday life of these people. I want to leave a mark on the orphanage and to have an experience to remember for years to come.
Age: 18
Hometown and County: Kernersville, Forsyth County
High School before NCSSM: Robert B. Glenn High School
Plans for college: Western Carolina University, FIT, West Virginia University
What she hopes to accomplish on this trip: I am hoping to broaden my horizons with this trip. I have been to other countries before, but never Puerto Rico. I am really wanting to learn about the culture and everyday life of these people. I want to leave a mark on the orphanage and to have an experience to remember for years to come.