Meet Our Interns

Spring 2013 WorldLink Intern

Research Intern

Kira Elliott
San Dieguito Academy

Kira is a junior at San Dieguito Academy (SDA). As a journalist for her school newspaper, “The Mustang,” Kira loves to write and has attended several camps and programs for creative writing, such as John Hopkin’s Center for Talented Youth and Bard College at Simon’s Rock Writing Workshop. In the summer of 2012, Kira served as a teacher’s assistant at the University of California, San Diego’s Young Writer’s Camp, which she has attended as a student since she was in the fifth grade. In addition, Kira served as a WorldLink summer research intern and helped produce the 2013 WorldLink Reader, on the topic: "Media's Power and Influence." As WorldLink's spring intern, Kira will serve as Editor-in-Chief of WorldLink's youth newspaper, a bilingual publication detailing WorldLink's 16th Youth Town Meeting. She is now a member of the SDA WorldLink Club and is founder of the Daraja Academy Club at her school. In her free time, Kira enjoys reading and swimming on the YMCA Riptides swim team, and volunteers every Sunday at the Rescue House – a non-profit organization that rescues cats who are either strays or have been abandoned.

 

Fall 2012 WorldLink Interns

Research Intern

Marian Dorst
La Jolla High School

Marian is a senior at La Jolla High School (LJHS), who first discovered her great interest in international relations upon joining the LJHS Model United Nations (MUN) club in eighth grade, of which she is now president. She also recently participated in the Rotary MUN. Marian has been involved with WorldLink since her first year in high school, attending the Youth Town Meeting (YTM) as a freshman and serving as a YTM moderator in her sophomore year. In her spare time, Marian has been recognized for her talents in writing and music. She has earned accolades from the United States Institute of Peace and from the La Jolla Literacy Society. Marian has sung for many groups including the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera and the San Diego Chargers. During the summers of 2011 and 2012, Marian taught at Gateways Summer School as a chorus aide. Now in her final year in high school, she intends to pursue a career in international relations and medicine, and hopes to work with Doctors Without Borders to provide medical aid to developing countries.

Media Intern

Troy Chatterton
Rancho Bernardo High School

Troy is currently a senior at Rancho Bernardo High School (RBHS). As an active member of his school and community, Troy serves as the vice president of the RBHS Link Crew and vice president of communications of the RBHS California Scholarship Federation, for which he is also a 100% Life Member. Troy is a member of his school's National Honor Society and the local district of KIWIN's club - a component of Key Club International. He also enjoys being an active volunteer in his community through the local Rancho Bernardo Library and as a San Diego County poll worker. With an interest in pursuing a career in business, Troy is a dedicated member of DECA, an organization focused on preparing high school and university students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. He recently placed first at the Southern California District DECA Competition. In his free time, Troy enjoys photography, playing tennis and being part of the track & field team.

 

Summer 2012 WorldLink Interns

Research Interns

Alexander Dey Bueno
CETYS Universidad

Alexander is an incoming senior in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at CETYS Universidad, Tijuana. He is passionate about global topics, activism, green entrepreneurship and Science. Alexander has participated in state competitions in Chemistry and Mathematics, and was selected to compete in the national entrepreneurship competition Clean Tech Challenge Mexico, alongside university students and business professionals. Alexander is also actively involved in environmental awareness programs in his local community, including Salvemos la Playa. Along with his classmates, he established a WorldLink Club at his school in order to raise consciousness on the environment in local elementary schools. In addition, Alexander has served as student moderator for two years at WorldLink’s Youth Town Meeting (YTM) and was also selected to be a student speaker for the 15th YTM Closing Plenary. After graduating high school, Alexander plans to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering.

 

Kira Elliott
San Dieguito Academy

This fall, Kira will be a junior at San Dieguito Academy (SDA). As a journalist for her school newspaper, “The Mustang,” Kira loves to write and has attended several camps and programs for creative writing, such as John Hopkin’s Center for Talented Youth and Bard College at Simon’s Rock Writing Workshop. This summer, Kira will be a teacher’s assistant at the University of California, San Diego’s Young Writer’s Camp, which she has attended as a student since she was in the fifth grade. Last year, Kira attended her first WorldLink Youth Town Meeting as a student journalist and also served as copy editor of the 2012 WorldLink Youth Newspaper. She is now a member of the SDA WorldLink Club and is founder of the Daraja Academy Club at her school. She plans to visit the Daraja Academy in Kenya in the coming year, and is eager to work with its student-run Media Club. In her free time, Kira enjoys reading and swimming on the YMCA Riptides swim team, and volunteers every Sunday at the Rescue House – a non-profit organization that rescues cats who are either strays or have been abandoned.

 

Tsion Fikre
Scripps Ranch High School

Tsion is an incoming junior this fall at Scripps Ranch High School. Born and raised in Ethiopia until the age of 11 and fluent in Amharic, she moved to the United States with her family in 2008. Today, Tsion is active in Mock Trial, the Key Club and the Christian Club, and is the founder and president of the Reading Club at her school. She also tutors and reads to children at her local library and volunteers for various community events, including those hosted by the Church Recycling Ministry. Tsion plans to study medicine and become a cardiologist, in order to return to her home country and provide medical assistance to those who cannot afford health care. During her spare time, Tsion enjoys reading, writing and playing basketball.

 

Ellie Molise
Francis Parker School

Ellie is an incoming senior at Francis Parker School. She realized her passion for social justice and conflict resolution after participating in the Youth Ambassador Program of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). She is currently an intern for the IRC, and is co-president of the IRC Club and a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Club at her school. Ellie has traveled to many countries, including Colombia and Guatemala, where she volunteered with local organizations and experienced life from another perspective. Ellie is also an intern for the Women’s Global Network (WGN), where she contributes to the WGN Newsletter that profiles social entrepreneurs and is sent to over 12,000 readers throughout the U.S. Ellie believes everyone has the responsibility and capacity to make the world a better place. She hopes to accomplish this by studying conflict resolution and social justice, and then joining the Peace Corps. In her free time, Ellie enjoys reading, traveling and participating in community service projects.

 

Brandon Wachs
La Jolla Country Day School

Brandon is an incoming junior at La Jolla Country Day School. He is interested in international affairs and finding solutions to global conflicts and problems. Fluent in Spanish, Brandon visited the Dominican Republic in the fall of 2011, where he volunteered at an orphanage teaching English to children. Brandon also volunteers with local community organizations, including Special Olympics. For the 2012-2013 year, Brandon will serve as Junior Class President, and will continue to participate in various community service events that his school has to offer. Outside of the classroom, Brandon plays Varsity football and baseball, and volunteers as a coach for his school’s baseball and basketball camps.

 

Catherine Zuniga
Herbert Hoover High School

Catherine will be a senior at Hoover High School this fall. She was born in Michoacán, Mexico and moved to the United States with her parents at the age of three. A fluent Spanish speaker, she possesses several academic achievements streaming back to her years in elementary school. Catherine is a member of the Eco-Club, a campus club that aims to improve conservation awareness and increase environmental action, and the Octagon Club, a youth-driven community service organization. She is also an Aaron Price Fellow, Editor of the Literary Club, participant of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs and a member of the Link Crew and girls’ volleyball team. Catherine is also one of the student leaders coordinating and fundraising for a school trip to Europe for fellow students of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program. After graduating high school, Catherine hopes to attend the University of San Diego, and pursue a degree that will help her better the lives of others.

 

Media Intern

Colin Czech
The Bishop's School

This fall, Colin will be a senior at The Bishop’s School. He is an active member of his community through his experience with Hand Up Youth Food Pantry – an organization that provides food to low-income families in San Diego. Since 2008, Colin has been involved with the WorldLink Program, and served as assistant to the Editor-in-Chief for the 2011 WorldLink Youth Newspaper. That same year, Colin was selected to be media intern and helped produce the WorldLink documentary, Where Worlds Change: A Girls School in Kenya, featuring the girls of the Daraja Academy in Nanyuki, Kenya. Colin strongly believes that volunteering for justice in this world is not only a gift to others, but also to himself, since it is an honor in knowing that he can make a difference. Colin’s favorite subjects are Physics and History, and he has enjoyed traveling to distant countries, such as France, Italy and Japan. During his free time, Colin also enjoys playing basketball, soccer and piano.