Past WorldLink Interns
2010-2011

2010 Fall & 2011 Spring WorldLink Interns

Elena Bellaart
Patrick Henry High School

Elena Bellaart is a senior at Patrick Henry High School (PHHS). She has been the president of the PHHS Invisible Children club since her sophomore year, involving students in the effort to rebuild areas of Uganda damaged by war. The club is partnered with Sacred Heart Secondary School in Uganda, and all fundraising proceeds go to improving the quality of the school. Elena’s involvement with this organization has inspired her to become more involved in efforts to preserve global human rights, an interest which led her to WorldLink. She also participates in her school’s Academic League and is a member of the California Scholarship Federation.

Outside of school, Elena volunteers at the Mission Trails Regional Park visitor center and has been involved with Mama’s Kitchen in the Spring Valley area. She enjoys photography, soccer, playing guitar and reading. She also loves the humanities and is especially interested in history. After high school she hopes to study English and peace and justice.

Elena is an intern for the full 2010-2011 academic year.

 

Katie Athis
Academy of Our Lady of Peace

Katie Athis is a senior at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP). Katie has been thoroughly involved with her school's ASB throughout her high school career and this year she is the ASB President. She is also a leading representative of OLP's Peace Commission and an active member of the Peer Counseling Program. Throughout her time at OLP, she has done many fundraisers and awareness campaigns regarding the planet's lack of clean water. Through the program, H20 For Life, she has planned events to raise over $5,000 to send to a sister school in Kenya to provide for clean drinking water and sanitation supplies. This year, Katie is working to raise another $5,000 to send to the same school to continue to help more students be able to attend school.

Katie is an intern for the full 2010-2011 academic year.

 

Summer 2010 WorldLink Interns

Holly Cramer
La Jolla High School

Holly Cramer is recent graduate of La Jolla High School. She decided to defer college for a year in order to do volunteer projects in Mexico, Peru and Cambodia. While in high school, Holly was actively involved in Model United Nations and Youth and Government. She also interned for the San Diego Asian Film Foundation and produced her own short film. As WorldLink's first-ever social media intern, Holly is thrilled to find an avenue where she can combine two of her greatest interests: film and international affairs. She sees the WorldLink internship as a jump start to the volunteer projects she will be working on in the coming year, a way to focus at home on the cultural experiences that she will be encountering while abroad. She could not think of a better way to begin her journey this year than to spend the summer building a tool for global understanding as a WorldLink intern.

 

Brittany Keegan
Connections Academy

Brittany Keegan is a recent graduate of Connections Academy. She became involved with WorldLink over a year ago and has since attended many of the WorldLink Youth Leader Meetings and the 2010 Youth Town Meeting. Brittany is ecstatic to be a WorldLink intern because of the unique opportunity to study and discuss the most pressing global issues.

Brittany is an active community member, participating in several events centered around her passion for the environment and peace studies. She recently created a website, “The Common Ground Project,” which strives to promote peace through an understanding and respect for diversity and acknowledge each individual’s role in creating a better world. Brittany is also involved with the Indigo Lotus group, distributing food and providing services to the elderly and homeless. 

This summer she will be attending various conferences focused on social justice. Her future goal is to study transpersonal psychology or peace studies. In the meantime, she is taking the year off to volunteer and document the work of peacebuilding individuals and organizations in various regions.

 

Sara Linssen
Francis Parker School

Sara Linssen is a rising senior at Francis Parker School. She is the ASB President and an editor for the school magazine, The Scribe. Sara works with Hand Up Youth Food Pantry, organizing fundraisers and events and spreading awareness about hunger in San Diego. She is on the executive committee of Hand Up for the second year in a row and loves it. Sara plays soccer and lacrosse for the Parker Lancers.

 

 

 

Marygian Rebullar
San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

Marygian Rebullar is a junior at the San Diego School of Creative And Performing Arts. She is an active member of her school, taking part in the Associated Student Body, Academic League and Environmental Club. A proud member of the Schools For Schools Foundation, Marygian enjoys using her passion for dance and music to plan and choreograph performances to benefit child refugees in Uganda.

Marygian strongly believes in the IPJ’s peacebuilding efforts. Born in the Philippines, Marygian is especially interested in this year’s WorldLink topic since it hits close to home, having experienced the fear and grief of gangs. The incidents in her life have sparked a deep interest within her to learn more about the poverty cycle, global issues and development.

In addition, Marygian enjoys participating in productions at school and around the community as a dancer and stage manager. She is an avid sports fan and dedicated martial artist and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

 

Adia Sykes
Academy of Our Lady of Peace

Adia Sykes will return to the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (OLP) this fall as a junior. Adia is an active member in her OLP community, being a member of the Amnesty International club and other leadership positions both inside and outside of her school.  As a choreographer for her class’ annual Spring Sing production, her piece won the award for best dance and choreography.  Last year, Adia traveled to Europe to learn about different cultures and country history as a Student Ambassador for People to People.  She volunteers with the International Rescue Committee, Catholic Charities and the San Diego Food Bank. In her spare time Adia enjoys playing volleyball, piano, reading, cooking and traveling.

Next year Adia will serve on OLP’s ASB as the Commissioner of Social Justice. In addition to holding this office she will also be the leader of the Peace Commission, educating the OLP student body on both local and global issues pertaining to social injustice. Adia hopes to continue her education in international affairs and ultimately become an attorney specializing in international law.

 

Olivia Williams
Torrey Pines High School

Olivia (Liv) Williams will begin her senior year at Torrey Pines High School in the fall.  She is an avid dancer and runner, as well as a dedicated member of her school’s National Honor Society and TP Relief Team. Through her position as president of Torrey Pines’ Amnesty International club, Liv extends her passion for human rights to help local organizations such as the Southern Sudanese Community Center and Invisible Children. She often writes letters to her local government representatives about issues she feels are unrepresented and encourages others to do the same.

In her free time, Liv is a part of her school’s track and cross country teams, dances seven days a week and is a delegate in California’s Youth and Government program.  She also loves to read and sew. In the future, Liv plans to attend a four-year university and major in International Affairs.  She hopes to participate in the Peace Corps and work for a global organization that works for the protection of human rights.

 

Ardis Zhong
La Jolla High School

Ardis Zhong is both excited and honored to be a part of the WorldLink team and contribute on the topic of terrorism. She will be entering the 11th grade in the fall at La Jolla High School. At school, she participates in many clubs, such as Model United Nations, California Scholarship Federation and the Science Team, in addition to playing varsity tennis and swimming on the junior varsity team. Recently, she donated 8 inches of her hair for women facing cancer through an event she organized at her high school.

Her hobbies include reading, listening to music, playing piano, playing sports, meeting new people and traveling. She aspires to become an international human rights lawyer.