Current Fellows
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Seniors
“Too often we underestimate the power of touch. A smile. A kind word. A listening ear. An honest compliment. Or the smallest act of caring. All of which have the potential to turn a life around” -Leo Buscaglia One will never forget the way another makes them feel. As Buscaglia mentioned, the smallest actions make the greatest impact. As I do service, I constantly remind myself I cannot fix someone nor their situation. Yet I can be a mentor, supportive, give unconditional love, reinforce a judgment-free zone, and simply listen. Service is about giving back with a pure heart. My service is about transformative relationships, selflessness, positive influence, genuine contribution, and spreading hope through the Lord as he is our savior, guide, and shield. I have always felt peace in helping and inspiring others. It’s the little things that truly change a person's life. Service teaches discipline, respect, communication, understanding, patience, and intellectual humility and I will forever take advantage of any opportunity to give back. “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — David S. Viscott My journey to finding love for service and giving back started when I had to start playing a bigger role in caring for my brother with special needs. This is where I realized I wanted to spend all my effort and energy giving back to others. I do service out of love, not out of obligation or because I feel the need to. I have found my greatest joy in seeing the progress and success of others, my goal is to make a small impact in every life I interact with. "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" -Mahatma Gandhi This quote by Mahatma Gandhi really captures what service means to me. For me, service is about walking alongside others, building relationships, and offering support in meaningful ways. I work with kids, and through that work, I’ve come to understand that service is about showing up consistently, building trust, and creating a space where people can feel seen and heard. Service is often made up of small, simple moments like sharing a smile, having a conversation, or just being present when someone needs you. These acts of kindness may seem small, but they are what create a real connection. It’s not about doing things for others, it’s about sharing in their experiences, listening to their stories, and making sure they feel valued. What I’ve learned is that service is never one-sided. The kids I work with have taught me just as much, if not more, than I could ever teach them. Through these relationships, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of myself, others, and my community. "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." – Booker T. Washington This quote is close to my heart because of how often I work with kids. Everyday at the Boys and Girls club or Saturday Hoops I usually have a few kids following me around either trying to learn soccer from me or get help on homework but each and every day while I am helping, I also learn something new. Children are so creative and their point of view helps me to see the world in different ways and has allowed me to discover new perspectives when facing a challenge. Since starting service through the Fellowship, I have realized more than ever how the kids I serve have helped me grow just as much as I have helped them learn, and I think that's an experience everyone should have. "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion" - Dalai Lama When we get overwhelmed with life, it’s important to step back and focus on one thing at a time in order to make progress. This strategy applies to service as well. While doing service, it is easy to feel like you are not making a difference with all that feels wrong in the world. In times like these, I like to step back, reflect, and focus on the small things. I think of my service as a pebble dropped into the water. The ripple my pebble makes spreads to others. Those that I serve pass on service to the next, and to the next, and so on. Although I am just a pebble, my service can make a ripple that impacts many. This also reminds me to be in service with others rather than for them because we are all pebbles working to make a difference. Lastly, I am a firm believer that what we put out into the universe we receive. Your attitude, mindset, and how you approach challenges in life determine the results and affects how others perceive you. It is important to spread positivity, love, and compassion in order to receive the same in return.
Gabrielle Clark
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Service Sites: Cincinnati Animal Care, Atrium (Lydia's House), Autism Connections, Su Casa 
Brendan Endre
Hometown: Northfield, Illinois
Service Sites: Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Illinois Special Olympics
Caitlyn Frey
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Service Sites: Boys and Girls Club, Imagination Foundation (AWL)
Izzy King
Service Sites: Lydia's House, Baby Bear, For The Life Of The World Cafe
“If you wish to practise midwifery successfully; do not trust implicitly to books, which can be read in your studies; neither be governed by authorities, which are often wrong; but let your study be the bedside of your mother, and your book be the book of Nature.”
I think this speaks beautifully to the heart of community-engaged learning. We have our studies, our books, and the knowledge we gain in the classroom, but some of the most formative learning happens at “the bedside of the mother”—through deep listening, presence, and relationship with our neighbors.
Showing up consistently, faithfully, and humbly—to listen, to learn, to love our neighbors, and to allow ourselves to be loved in return, is not because it is going to solve or fix systemic issues, but rather because it defines our humanity.
Mother Teresa kindly reminds us, “Not everyone can do great things, but we can all do things with great love.”
We belong to one another.
Bryson Payne
Ava Sardina
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Service Sites: Evanston Academy, Saturday Hoops, Ladies of Awesomeness
Juniors
"We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone." – Ronald Reagan When I first started serving, it was deeply personal. Coming to the United States as a Hispanic kid, I experienced firsthand the challenges of being in a new culture, language, and system. While I was fortunate to have some people that helped me, there were moments when I wished for a mentor, someone older and experienced who could guide me through the skills and lessons I needed. This became a driving force for me to become that person for others. Once I gained the tools and knowledge. I started by working with Hispanic kids because I could relate to their experiences and wanted to give them the support I had once needed. Over time, I realized how much I enjoyed helping others, so I began working with the rest of the community as well. Service has become my way of giving back and making sure no one feels like they have to figure everything out alone. It’s a simple way to show people they are not alone and that someone cares. “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” - Martin Luther King Jr. Community service is something I have considered of great importance ever since I was a kid, but I started participating and contributing to it once I moved to the USA from Germany. It’s where I found my voice and the very essence of what I value. In high school, I realized that community service was a chance to give back in a way I didn’t think I could. I was lucky to grow up in a community full of love and support, but many don’t share the same experience. Engaging in service made me realize I could spend my free time lending a hand in communities to help create a stronger, safer, and more empowering environment. I could not be more grateful for the opportunities I have had to learn from these communities, and I look forward to what I will learn down the road. “Give your hands to serve, and your hearts to love.” – Mother Teresa Service is incredibly important to me and part of who I am because it allows me to help others while also helping myself grow. Having been born in Rwanda and later moving to Canada, I have experienced the transformative power of both receiving and giving support. Through service, I’ve learned that it's not just about giving—it's about empowering others to help themselves, mentoring them to become better versions of themselves, showing them love, and offering support in a way that encourages independence. My life journey shaped my perspective on the importance of community and compassion. It taught me that when we serve others with empathy, we don’t just change their lives, but our own as well. Service has deepened my sense of purpose, reminding me of the power we all have to uplift and inspire those around us. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained." - Geoffrey Chaucer “There are no great things, only small things with great love.” – Saint Teresa of Calcutta When asked to reflect on my experiences with community service, I had to think back to why it all started. Before I was old enough to comprehend the idea of loss, I had experienced much of it. I do not come from the standard family, being that I am the youngest of six kids with an 18-year age gap between me and my oldest sister, so by the time I was 12 I had lost all my grandparents, some aunts and uncles, and even close family friends to illness and old age. I was forced into learning how to cope with the lack of certain forms of love that everyone around me still had. My parents, seeing the struggles I was dealing with, decided to begin bringing me and my sister to the local nursing homes to play the piano for residents and bring them to mass. Over time, I was able to begin to build relationships with these people, and I started to fill the hole that was left behind by all the loss I had experienced. My service has only expanded since then, leading me to work with many different populations and people. As I begin to learn more about the ways I can make a bigger difference in my community, I remember that the root of all my work is love. The quote I chose perfectly exemplifies what I believe service should be. The small interactions that I have not only benefit the people around me but also have changed the way I view the world and how I live my daily life. "A life isn't significant except for its impact on others lives." - Jackie Robinson Service is my way to connect with others and I've had the privilege of building positive relationships with all kinds of people. As I continue to grow, service expands my perspective and deepens my understanding of the world around me. It allows me to step outside of my own comfort zone and experience the joys and challenges of others. Helping others has always been something I’ve enjoyed doing. While growing up, I watched my family constantly go out into the community and that influence made me realize that I wanted to make a difference through service too. I’m very grateful to be in a position to give back to the community around me. “I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.”- Malcolm X From a young age I have always had a strong moral compass on what justice truly means. I have also always been taught to fight for those who struggle in the world especially because of systems that are not set in place for them to succeed. Being directly affected by the system that seeks to hinder my success has only fueled my determination. It intensifies my mission and deepens my understanding of how I can actively work to challenge and dismantle it, striving to create change for both me and others who face worse barriers. Working with organizations that focus on dismantling these systems further fuels my understanding of justice and deepens my passion for this cause. In other words, service means to me that I can be a part of a group like the outstanding Community Engaged Fellows, to help work against those systems and make an impact in others’ lives, just as much as they have an impact on mine.
Luciano Añez
Jenny Davis
Ganza Kim
Claire Wagner
Isaac Visser
Asia Ricks
Makayla Rausch
Sophomores
Year: Sophomore Minor: Spirituality and Solidarity “We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.” Dorothy Day I have come to recognize community to be at the heart of all that I do, and it is in the various communities of which I am a member that I have come to know the greatest love. Such love is the root of becoming people with others, in the words of Pedro Arrupe, and fuels the connection that unites us. At the most basic level, we are all one human family, equal in the eyes of God. In recognizing the inherent dignity that we each possess, we owe it to each other to care deeply about one another. In all honesty, I do not have much to offer, simply my time, love, and a sharing in humanity. However, in the communities I am and have been a part of, the Catholic Worker in Akron, Bethlehem Farm, Kino Border Initiative, and with my friends and family, such simple qualities have proved to be enough. It is belonging to a community and to each other that paves a way to justice and that is a source of hope for us all. Year: Sophomore “Change cannot be put on people. The best way to instill change is to do it with them. Create it with them.” – Lisa Bodell Year: Sophomore My passion for service began during my junior year of high school while volunteering with SAFE, an after-school program through my church for elementary school children who are underrepresented in our community. Teaching Bible studies and tutoring these kids taught me just how meaningful mentorship can be—how guiding and supporting others can inspire growth in both them and myself. Year: Sophomore
Grace Campagna
Major: Philosophy, Politics, and the Public, International Studies
Hometown: Broadview Heights, Ohio
Service Sites: Academy of World Languages 
Jendayi Gyamerah- Oliver
Major: Actuarial Science
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Service Sites: NEXUS Community Garden
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Growing up, my mom and I volunteered weekly at a local homeless shelter in my hometown. It was there that I met a student who shared my deep love for math. At first, our sessions focused only on required worksheets, and she often doubted her abilities to solve the problems accurately. Over time, she showed me that learning can also be filled with so much joy. I began to see her confidence grow as she solved problems correctly, and together we laughed through lessons that combined imagination with education.While I helped her strengthen her math skills, she gave me something even greater: a reminder to hold onto happiness and creativity, even in the face of difficulty. Gandhi’s words ring true: I found myself by serving others, and I rediscovered my own love for math along the way. Service is powerful because it creates spaces where both the giver and receiver are changed. As Gandhi suggests, true service allows us to look beyond ourselves and find meaning through connection with others. The Community Engaged Fellowship offers the opportunity to continue this work, helping us grow while making a tangible difference in the lives of others.
Katie Hoban
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Riley Mills
Major: Cybersecurity
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Service Sites: Ladies of Awesomeness, Evanston Middle School Cheer Team
This belief guides my approach to service and reflects the heart of Xavier’s Community-Engaged Fellowship. Through my internship at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, I worked alongside staff and neighbors to address food insecurity, not just as a volunteer but as a partner in lasting solutions. Tutoring third graders in the 123 Read program taught me to listen first and adapt, helping each child discover confidence and a love for reading. As a junior coach for the youth Cobra cheerleading team, I mentored girls from underrepresented communities, blending my passion for cheer with leadership development and community building.
Each of these roles showed me that authentic service means collaborating with the community rather than working for it. They deepened my empathy, strengthened my commitment to equity, and affirmed that sustainable change grows from shared effort. I was able to connect and see these people that I was working with as true companions which shifts the service experience. I hope to bring this compassion into every room I step into so that I can plant the seed of selflessness and being a warmhearted influence on my peers. My energy for mentoring, organizing, and learning will only continue to expand at Xavier which is an opportunity that I am blessed to have.
Jillian Officer
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Twinsburg, Ohio
Service Sites: Ladies of Awesomeness
While volunteering, I carry the legacy of my Dad, Michael George Officer, who before his passing, served as Executive Director of Bethesda Cares, founded his own nonprofit, and was formerly a Senior Director at the National Urban League. The National Urban League, founded in 1910, is one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the country. It has worked to support Black Americans and other underserved communities by advancing workforce development, education, housing, and health, while addressing systemic racial inequality.
My father’s career taught me the importance of empathy, authenticity, and advocacy, especially as he drew from his own experiences growing up poor to connect with those he served. His legacy instilled in me a deep passion for civil rights and social justice, inspiring me to use my own voice to confront inequities and uplift others in my community because I know and understand firsthand how these systemic barriers affect the lives of many.
For me, service is both fulfilling and a way to honor my father’s life and legacy by contributing towards the fight for equity and a more inclusive future for all. 
Donnie Patterson
Major: Economics
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2
Ever since I could remember, my parents encouraged me to stay involved. Not only for my personal experience and growth, but also for the difference that I could make in the lives of others. Growing up in my family, helping those in need was second nature. Whether it was a friend, family member, neighbor or even a stranger; if we had the ability to help in any way possible, we were there, because we strongly believe that we’re blessed to be a blessing. This mindset has continued to make an impact on my life, which has made me into the young man that I am today. God has given me the ability to serve, and I’m committed to living that out every day by making a positive impact wherever I can. 
Tanner This
Major: Biology
Hometown: New Bremen, Ohio
Service Sites: Xavier Jesuit Academy, Children's Creative Corner, Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled
If you had asked me at the beginning of high school how much service I did, I probably would have said “near zero.” Growing up in a rural town, I assumed service was limited to big organizations like shelters or non-profits — things my community didn’t have. However, as I reflected while applying for the Fellowship, I realized that the activities I chose to take on were all acts of service, even if they didn’t fit that traditional definition. My involvement wasn’t about obligation; I got involved because I cared about my community and wanted to help it grow stronger. I found the true definition of service not as a set of tasks with an end point, but as a way of building something lasting that reaches beyond myself. It wasn’t the hours that mattered, but the opportunity to serve because it felt meaningful. I found real enjoyment in leading, creating, and supporting something bigger than myself. Service, to me, is rooted in that sense of community pride: showing up not because it’s required, but because it matters. Through the Fellowship, I hope to inspire others to find that same joy in building up their communities and realizing that service, at its core, is infinite.
Will Unger
Major: Philosophy, Politics, and the Public
Hometown: Madeira, Ohio
"The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action"-- Mother Teresa.
My journey in service has been woven all throughout my educational experience. In elementary school, I helped collect hats, mittens, and gloves for our annual Giving Tree to benefit foster youth served by Lighthouse Family Services. In middle school, I explored what compassion in action meant by packaging meals with classmates at Matthew 25 Ministries and participating in Empty Bowls to raise awareness about global hunger. By high school, service had become an important part of who I am. Through my school’s annual Day of Service, I discovered how even small acts can create meaningful change. I also found a way to connect my love of Spanish with community engagement by volunteering at Su Casa’s Vacaciones Útiles, a summer camp for children learning English as a second language. Each of these experiences has deepened my understanding that love, when put into action, builds stronger, more compassionate communities. I am deeply grateful to continue this journey as a Community Engaged Fellow at Xavier University, where I can further grow in service, learn from others, and live out compassion through action.
First-Years
Ryan Adams
Alex Alphonso
Major: Finance
Hometown: Colleyville, TX
Service Sites:
John Brady
Major: Business Undecided
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Cam Conroy
Major: Economics, Sustainability & Society
Service Sites:
Elle Heinbaugh
Year: First-Year
Major: Communication Studies
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Service Sites:
Izzi Hydzik
Major: Philosophy, Politics, and the Public
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Alyssa Martin
Year: First-Year
Major: Philosophy, Politics, and the Public
Hometown: Edgewood, KY
Service Sites:
Megan Parzymieso
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Hometown: Orchard Park, NY
Sophia Clever
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Liberty Twp, OH
Lydia Temple
Major: Marketing
Lilah Yeager
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Perry, OH