 VISTA Member Biographies |
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Melissa Markstrom
Tutoring and Mentoring
Echo Mtn Primary School
E-mail
melissa.markstrom@pvmail.maricopa.edu |
My name is Melissa Markstrom, I am twenty years old and I am a Phoenix native. I graduated from Camelback High School, and am currently enrolled at Rio Salado Community College. I reside in Scottsdale right now, but I spent the last year in Washington DC with the AmeriCorps NCCC program.
I had a fantastic experience with NCCC and was able to do everything from using a chainsaw to being a counselor at a camp for disadvantaged youth. I'm not sure what I'll be doing after my year with VISTA at PVCC but I do hope to join the Peace Corps after I receive my bachelors degree.
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Rachel Hardin
NOAH Clinic
Palomino Primary School
E-mail
rachel.hardin@pvmail.maricopa.edu |
Howdy! My name is Rachel Hardin and I’ll be working in the health clinic at Palomino Elementary School. I was born and raised in a small, rural town in Missouri where I lived with my wonderful family.
I love being surrounded by people, which is good since I have three little brothers and a little sister (not to mention all the dogs, cats, hamsters, and fish found around our house). I attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and graduated with a degree in health education. I am excited to put that knowledge to use with a great program like AmeriCorp* VISTA and I am already enjoying Phoenix for its warm weather, fun outdoor activities, and plethora of things to do.
After my year here, I hope to find a health education job with a non-profit organization, start saving up for medical mission work, and maybe even start working on a family of my own!
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Corinne Buffington
Echo Mountain
Volunteer Coordinator
E-mail
corinne.buffington@pvmail.maricopa.edu |
Prior to becoming a Vista volunteer coordinator, Corinne originally hailed from Colorado where she grew up on a ranch east of Walden, and most recently from Middletown, Ohio where she became part of her daughter’s multi-generational family including her son-in-law and two grandchildren. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with a BS in Natural Resource Management. She has completed one and a half years toward a Master’s in Communication and also one year of law school.
“Becoming a Vista volunteer is the realization of a life-long dream,” she says, “as I had previously tried enlisting in the Peace Corps. Now that I am finally “enlisted” in Americorps, it is just as meaningful, if not more so. I am very much looking forward to the coming year.”
Corinne brings experience in public relations, computer graphics along with work in both government agencies and nonprofits to her new headquarters at Echo Mountain Schools. Along with her work background she also brings a small cat “Picard,” so named because he has enigmatic eyes much like his namesake. For hobbies, she enjoys tennis, coaching girls’ soccer, flying and writing.
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Jessie Turner
Assistant Site Manager
Palomino II Intermediate School
E-mail
jessie.turner@pvmail.maricopa.edu |
¡Hola! My name is Jessie Turner and I was born and raised near Springfield, Missouri. I am 23 years old and was graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with degrees in Spanish and Photojournalism in May 2004.
I am always interested in meeting new people, learning about different cultures, and finding alternate perspectives to my own. Because of my interest in the new and different, as well as a desire to improve my Spanish skills, I studied abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in Santiago, Chile, and I also worked for the bilingual news publication Adelante! in Columbia, Missouri.
Another passion of mine is working with and for children, helping them to reach their full potential. Working as a VISTA at Palomino Elementary, in coordination with the Office of Service Learning at Paradise Valley Community College, will be a great opportunity to serve the Palomino community by investing in its youth and future, while enjoying several of my special interests and broadening my national and world views.
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