Lucas Bishop

Hometown: Maryville, TN
Liberty University: History
Employer: Cardinal Valley Industrial Supply
Host: Cesar and Stacey Bravo
Mentor: Scott Scheuer

Lucas enjoys discovering and cultivating new passions. At Liberty University, Lucas majored in History as a member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and minored in Philosophy, helping to grow his passion for critical thinking and problem solving.  This can be seen in his role on the Liberty University Debate Team where he won national awards on the Novice and JV level. Leaving debate during his sophomore year Lucas focused on Christian Ministry on campus where he served as a Community Group Leader and a Resident Assistant. Throughout college Lucas sought to analyze the values and ethics of the cultures around him by writing papers on race, gender, and sexuality and presenting for Liberty’s research week on the psychology of social media. In the future, he hopes to continue loving others by building meaningful relationships and critically engaging the environment around him in ways that promote the love of Jesus. While in Roanoke, Lucas is working for Cardinal Valley Industrial Supply in their operations and sales departments with the hope of growing his skills in problem solving and communications. Lucas enjoys reading, writing, cooking, yoga, sports, and long lists.

Chris Clemens

Hometown: Bar Harbor, ME
Rochester Institute of Technology: Business Management
Employer: Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Host: Judy and Harry Walker
Mentor: Don Steinweg

Chris is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology where he majored in Business Management with a minor in Mechanical Engineering. Chris worked in the Supplier Engineering Department – Chassis Department at Toyota’s North American headquarters in Kentucky, before deciding to change majors from Mechanical Engineering to Business Management. At this time during his junior year, Chris became involved with Cru, a student led campus ministry, at RIT. He was Assistant Manager of Cru’s weekly meeting coordination team. Chris also worked with Bridges, Cru’s ministry to international students, primarily with Indian and Middle Eastern RIT students. For the summers and winters of college, Chris was Assistant Manager at Woodland Park Cottages, a cabin rental business in Bar Harbor, Maine. Chris currently works as a Sustainability and Efficiency Fellow at Carilion Clinic. In this position, he will be spearheading efficiency and “Green Practices” in Carilion’s Engineering and Maintenance Department in hopes of saving Carilion significant sums of money.

JAMES KNIGHT

Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
Marymount University: Biochemistry
Employer: Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital: Medical Scribe
Host: Dan Felton-Petry
Mentor: Dan Felton-Petry 

James grew up in Chesapeake, VA twenty minutes away from the beach where he came to love the sport of volleyball. His love for the sport brought him to Marymount University where he competed on their NCAA program all four years and earned a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. While at Marymount, James volunteered in the biochemistry lab where he worked to publish a paper on protein interactions in the brain. James finished his time at Marymount volunteering for VITAS, the nation's leading home healthcare company, where he furthered his passion for helping people who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of academics, James worked as a Resident Assistant for freshman guys and served as a student leader for a campus ministry, Cru. James looks to continue his education and become a Physician Assistant with a special interest in neuroscience due to his history of research and relationship with his grandmother who passed away after suffering from dementia. Some of James' favorite hobbies are reading, grabbing coffee with a friend, and of course, playing volleyball.

Kristen Levering

Hometown: Columbus, OH
Miami University: Psychology with a minor in Child Studies
Employer: Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital: Medical Scribe
Host: Walt and Meggan Derey
Mentor: Sarabeth Kerr

At Miami University, Kristen competed on the varsity women’s basketball team for four years, where in her last two seasons the team totaled over 20 wins each. Early in her college experience she learned the importance of community and quickly became involved with CRU and Athletes in Action. Balancing her time commitment to basketball, Kristen took on a leadership role in Athletes in Action, helping to increase group attendance and participation, mentoring younger athletes, as well as partaking in a mission overseas to the University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras. Outside of athletics, Kristen loves to go hiking, experience new places, people and food. She has a great passion for people and helping others and hopes to pursue a career as a Nurse practitioner, allowing her the privilege to thoughtfully engage with patients and improve their overall health and wellbeing.

SHANE MERCY

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
West Virginia University: Music Education
Employer: Faith Christian School
Host: Jason Pelletier, Josh James, and Daniel Patton
Mentor: Bob Williams

While attending West Virginia University, Shane was actively involved as a leader in Cru, a campus ministry organization, as well as several musical ensembles in the College of Creative Arts. While in Morgantown, Shane fostered his affinity for teaching others by mentoring men in Cru, leading bible studies on campus, and embracing opportunities to meaningfully invest his classmates both musically and spiritually.Equally passionate about performing, Shane gave numerous solo and ensemble performances throughout the country as both a Saxophonist and Organist in a variety of venues, including New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. Shane believes music is transformative to both the performer and the audience, and desires students reach their full potential under his tutelage by helping them experience lasting joy through both the performance and appreciation of music. In the future, Shane wishes to build a formidable school band program

GENEVIEVE PACIOUS

Hometown: Richmond, VA
Wake Forest University: Biology
Employer: Rescue Mission of Roanoke
Host: Nick and Tara Floyd
Mentor: Jamie Lee

Genevieve is a graduate of Wake Forest University where she majored in Biology and minored in Psychology and Health and Human Services. She was a member of the Tri Beta Biology Honors Society and the Mortarboard Seniors Honors Society. While at Wake Genevieve served as the Director and Business Manager for the Christian women’s a cappella group ‘Minor Variation’, and recorded two albums. She was a member of the Tri Delta Sorority, and was the Head Recruitment Chair for the Panhellenic Council, the Co-Director and Community Outreach Chair for the Panhellenic Breast Cancer Fundraiser, and the Tri Delta Philanthropy Auxiliary Chair. Gen was part of the student leadership and worship team for Reformed University Fellowship, and was a member of the Women's Club Soccer team. For two summers she was a counselor with Summer’s Best Two Weeks, a Christian Sports camp in Pennsylvania. Gen is currently developing the Agape Aftercare program for the Rescue Mission of Roanoke. With a long-term desire to serve others, Gen plans to attain her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and work in a college counseling center, overseas in missions, or within a nonprofit.

CECI RICHARDSEN

Hometown: Palmyra, PA
Penn State University: Biomedical Engineering
Employer: Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Host: Michael and Suzanne Dalton
Mentor: Elisa Scheuer

Ceci is a graduate of the Schreyer Honors College at the Pennsylvania State University, where she studied biomedical engineering. During her time at Penn State, she invested in experiences that focused on solving problems and building relationships. Ceci has worked as an EMT and ambulance driver, taught EMT and CPR classes, served as a worship leader and President of Cru, completed an honors thesis on her research with artificial hearts, stood for 46 hours straight to raise money for childhood cancer treatment and research in the Penn State Dance Marathon (the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, raising over $10 million annually), and competed in powerlifting. She also enjoys playing the guitar, competing in baking contests, and traveling to new places. Ceci is presently applying to medical school, where she hopes to develop the skills to serve others as a physician of emergency medicine.

HANNAH SILVER

Hometown: Charlotte, NC
The King’s College: Humanities
Employer: The Taubman Museum of Art
Host: Brad and Christine Broughton
Mentor: Ashley Fellers

Hannah is a recent graduate of The King’s College in downtown Manhattan where she studied the humanities and minored in philosophy and literature. While in school, she worked as a communications assistant in the college’s Office of Career Development and interned with the Acton Institute, a think-tank based in Grand Rapids, which seeks to promote a free and virtuous society. Here in Roanoke, Hannah is using her skills in organization, research, and communication to create spaces at the Taubman Museum of Art where curiosity and creativity can flourish. When she is not at work, Hannah enjoys hosting meals around the table, reading the classics and poetry, running, and playing the harp.

HARLEY TAYLOR

Hometown: Glen Allen, VA
Full Sail University: Digital Cinematography
Employer: Virginia Furniture Market/Church of the Holy Spirit
Host: Mike and Shenna Massey
Mentor: Mike Massey

While studying film at Full Sail University, Harley has been able to hone his skill as a filmmaker all the while growing in his passion to work with and serve people. Over the last four years Harley has served as a volunteer leader for Young Life, an organization dedicated to befriending and reaching high school students with the gospel. He spent many hours each week engaging and mentoring students, leading bible studies, and organizing events. Between leading Young Life and classes, Harley also managed to run a freelance film business for the past two and a half years and has been able to build a reputation across the state. He spent the latter half of college as an intern working for Rockbridge, a Young Life camp in Lexington, VA. Harley is a lifelong learner and hopes to have a prominent career in the film industry. He enjoys surfing, snowboarding, competitive team sports and being outside.

JULIA WILSON

Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Samford University: Classics
Employer: Carilion Community Hospital
Host: Caleb and Rachel Cutherell
Mentor: Lindsey Ray

Julia brings a unique perspective to healthcare with her education in Classics and her experience living overseas in China and England. She desires to bring her global perspective, critical thinking, and compassionate personality together to empower others to reach a better quality of movement. As a student, Julia volunteered at an early intervention center and shadowed Occupational Therapists in multiple settings in the states as well as a private setting in London, England. She also taught Latin to elementary school children and lead college students in her university ministry, all while balancing a consistent nanny job. Currently, Julia works at Carilion Community Hospital as a Rehabilitation Aide where she assists Occupational, Speech, and Physical Therapists. Julia is planning to serve underprivileged communities in London for two years beginning in January 2021 before she pursues a career in either Physical or Occupational Therapy in the U.S.