Beenish Urooj
Beenish Urooj is a first year student of the Social Service Worker at Centennial College. Beenish is extremely passionate about her mission of becoming a social worker. She is also an active member of her society. Prior to coming in Canada, she has spent three years as a teacher in her home country. Using that experience and culture sensitive knowledge, she is empathetically working with women of her community struggling for empowerment.
Kaycee Leigh ZhaoKaycee Leigh Zhao is a Broadcasting and Film student at Centennial College. Having been in the entertainment industry as a singer/dancer for several years, she decided to try her hand at TV hosting and producing. She discovered her passion for documentaries during her study at Centennial and is in the process of making a documentary about the experience of going to the Dominican on our current Global Citizenship Expedition. Zhao looks forward to being a part of this once in a life time opportunity.
Tim G. ChenTim came from the People’s Republic of China and has experience teaching in elementary school. After immigrated to Canada, he worked in the IT industry for a couple of years and tried different career paths. Recently, he has found an interest in law and decided to enrol in Centennial College’s Law Clerk program. He believes education can make difference and loves offering help to kids while learning from them at the same time.
Dania Weinstein Dania Weinstein is a Tourism Management student who loves traveling. When she heard Centennial was organizing this trip, she knew she has to be part of this once in a lifetime experience. As an avid traveler, Weinstein is excited to be going to the Amazon to experience Peru and it's culture for the first time. She looks forward to making lifelong friendships and hopes to gain a good understanding of how the Amazonian ecosystem works.
Rachel Larabee With her years of living and working in the Dominican Republic, along with her extensive experience in social activism, Rachel is well-equipped to guide the participants on their Caribbean adventure. Interestingly, Rachel is also a spoken word poet and a budding author. Her first novel, (En)Compassing Heart, is a modern-day allegory, laced with Rachel's poetry throughout the story, that traces the journey of a young antagonist who travels abroad as a service volunteer searching to discover her own unique gifts, and in turn she learns to understand what greater purpose she has to offer her local community.
Connie ZehrEnvironmental Technology Professor, Connie Zehr, has a vast interest for environmental issues and conservation. A trip to the Amazon will allow Zehr to explore conservation strategies that are being studied in the Pacaya Samiria reserve (Peruvian Amazon basin). She'd like to find birds like the scarlet tanager which flies from the forest just down the street from our Morningside campus to the Amazon for the winter.
Zehr hopes to stay at Centennial for quite a while but will be studying some new kinds of environment monitoring techniques this summer in addition to her teaching at the College.
Craig Stephenson
Craig Stephenson, Dean of Students, will be leading the group on the Global Citizenship and Learning Expedition journey to Peru. Stephenson hopes for a safe return and wishes for the group to be inspired by what they'll see and experience.
Woosung Nam is a Aviation Technician student is travelling on the expedition in efforts to gain a better understanding of different cultures by communicating with locals. Nam views this journey as a life changing experience and believe that if he can provide hope to locals, his travel will be all the more memorable. Upon graduation, Nam would like to pursue a career as a Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.
Ashley Mayers
Ashley Mayers, Child and Youth Work student, is going on the expedition with a clear goal in mind, to help children. This opportunity will give Mayers a chance to interact with children and teach those living in the Dominican Public about her culture. In return, she'd like to learn as much as possible about theirs. Mayers plans to work with children in Australia or New Zealand upon graduation.
Samuel Wong
Samuel Wong, Nursing student, hopes to utilize the knowledge and skills he has obtained throughout his nursing education in the Dominican Republic. He believes this experience will make him further aware cultural differences. Wong approaches this trip as a learning opportunity to learn more about a different culture and grow as an individual. Wong hopes to continue his education in Nursing with a degree from Ryerson University.
Bonnie JasperBonnie Jasper, Chair of Health and Wellness Studies programs, considers herself extremely fortunate as she is participating in both the Health Care and Teach to Learn expeditions. She has been to the Dominican in the past, but only as a tourist at a resort and is thrilled to experience the beautiful culture in a different context along with her colleagues and Centennial students. Jasper is excited about contributing to the well being of others and hopes to expand her commitment to global citizenship.
Carollynn San JoseCarollynn San Jose is a Bridging to University Nursing student at Centennial College. She is going on the Global Citizenship and Learning Expedition to gain a better understanding of health care in a different part of the world. She hopes that this expedition will strengthen and encourage her to pursue nursing on an international level. After graduation, she plans on working in a variety of settings, particularly acute and community, to prepare for her goal to work with non-government organizations (NGO) in promoting and providing health care to communities around the world.
Tanisha Mills
Tanisha Mills, a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in the Bridging to University Nursing program has always had a passion for international community work and global citizenship. While in the Dominican Republic, she hopes to build a partnership with locals and make a difference in the community, she would also like to challenge herself and step out of her comfort zone. Mills is excited for this expedition and is looking forward to the experience. After graduation, she would like to work as a nurse in developing countries.
Katie Bowser
Fine Arts Studio student, Katie Bowser, is going on the Global Citizenship and Learning Expedition because she has always wanted to exchange skills and learn from others. Bowser is really excited to give these children an opportunity to get creative and put together a collage of images using self expression. Bowser hopes to leave a lasting impression behind and wants to be able to make long lasting relationships with memorable experiences. She plans on turning her passion for the arts into a successful career.
John Harris
John Harris believes it is important to make a contribution through volunteership and is looking forward to experiencing another country and environment/culture. Harris believes that the college's GC&E initiative is very important and worthwhile. Harris will assist the students in providing teaching in an effective way (much of week one) and all students/staff will assist with physical projects (volunteerism) during the second week.
John Oughton
John Oughton, Professor of Learning and Teaching, has helped train the students going to the Dominican Republic and hopes that students, staff and faculty will grow from this experience. Oughton has a BA and MA in English Literature from York and is now pursuing a PhD in Education.
