Jennifer Canseco
I was born in Toppenish, WA, but I was raised in a small town called Granger, WA. I am a double major in psychology and law & justice. I chose to major in psychology because I have always wanted to help people who are dealing with mental disorders. My decision to major in law and justice was honestly out of the blue, I never thought about majoring in that subject until I sat down with my friend and he explained why he was so intrigued in this field, which made me grow an interest in the subject. I am expected to graduate in June of 2018, which is a huge milestone not only for me but for my family, since I will be the first to graduate. The job I hope to get upon graduation is to be a correction counselor or correctional officer. I am interested in enhancing my global leadership skills because I know this is something that will not only benefit me now, but will assist me in my future career. I look forward to learning from this experience and hope to be able to apply what I’ve learned in my life.
I was born in the Philippines and moved to Tacoma, Washington 8 years ago. I earned my AA degree in Business at Tacoma Community College. At TCC, I was part of the student government as a senator and was part of the Student life team as well. I served as the president of both Business Connection Club and First Generation Achievement club. During my time at TCC, I was nominated for the Transforming Lives award. I transferred to Central Washington University to pursue my B.A. in Intercultural Communication Studies with a minor in Business and Ethnic Studies. I am currently part of several clubs, including Brother 2 Brother, FASA, and Undergraduate Research Club. I have attended several leadership and activism conferences in Boston, Portland, Texas, Detroit, and have traveled to Washington D.C. three times. I have presented and attended the Students of Color Conference in Yakima three consecutive years, and also was part of the planning committee for Students of Color Summit presented by WSA. Some of my hobbies include singing in the choir or for Snapchat, or playing computer games. I am also a proud aquarist.
Justin Gil Francisco
Kristin Kensrud
I was born in Tacoma, Washington and grew up in a small town called Yelm, which is about 20 miles South-East of Washington states’ capital. I currently am attending school at Central Washington University located in Ellensburg, WA. I am a second-year student, and I am double majoring in Accounting and Leadership and Management. My expected graduation date is the Spring of 2019. As a student, I am involved with CWU Recreation, SALT, Mercer Creek Church, and the Cross-Cultural Leadership program. I also work for Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals as a trip leader, shop attendant and raft guide. I enjoy spending my time outside hiking, camping, fishing, and swimming; as well as painting and spending time with people. Upon graduation, I am hoping to find a job working as an accountant or supervisor, and later, the financial controller of a company. But before I settle into a job, I hope to spend a year or so traveling. I am interested in enhancing my global leadership skills, as leadership is important and surrounds us all; as is culture. Culture and leadership are critical pieces in building and understanding relationships, and creating strong personal morals and attributes – which I hope will translate into my professional and personal life and allow me to become more well-rounded. During this spring immersion experience, I am looking forward to meeting people, and immersing myself and understanding their culture; as well as enjoying the beauty and history of the locations we are able to visit.
Jackson Wollan
I am Jackson Wollan. I am from Spokane, Washington. I am finishing up my junior year at Central Washington University where I am working toward earning my Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Supply Chain Management and a minor in Organizational Communication. Over the years at Central Washington University I have been adamant on staying as involved as possible. I have played in over 100 intramural games including indoor and outdoor soccer, basketball, volleyball, and flag football. Freshman year I got involved with two clubs: Happiness club and Supply Chain Management Association. Sophomore year I added Brother to Brother to my list of clubs. This year I added two more organizations to my involvement: Chavez-King Leadership Institute and this program, the Cross Cultural Leadership Program. I have been an intern the last three summers and have another one lined up for this summer.
My name is Leni Halaapiapi, and I was born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawaii. I grew up in the small town of Lahaina, surrounded by ocean and amazing fresh seafood. I am pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. I chose my major because the world is constantly changing through technological advancements, and I hope to one day be a part of that change through my contributions to the CS and EET communities. I expect to graduate in 2019 because of the credit intensive courses I must take. As a college student, I am involved in many clubs and organizations. I am the Academic Co-chair for Central Washington University's chapter of the nationally recognized organization Brother 2 Brother. I am in charge of running study tables, tutoring sessions, and some academic advising for the organization's members. I am also a member of Central Washington University's Polynesian Club. In this club, we practice for months ahead of time before we do a culminating performance of cultural song and dance from six different islands in western Oceania. Upon graduation, I hope to become a back end programmer or computer technician. I want to enhance my global leadership skills because the world is so much bigger than us. If we remain close-minded and ignorant to the different people and cultures around us, then we will never progress further as a society and as a human race. During this spring immersion experience I am looking forward to interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds, as well as trying the new and amazing foods!
Leni Halaapiapi
Madai Martinez
My name is Madai Martinez. I grew up in the Yakima Valley. I am a junior accounting student at Central Washington University. I chose CWU because of the small class sizes, reputation of the accounting program, and its affordability. I knew I would receive a great education at an affordable price. I’ve had a great experience so far and I love that professors know my name. My awesome advisor, Carolyn, recommended me to the Cross Cultural Leadership Program (CCLP). I have learned a lot since joining the program. I’ve learned about intercultural communication, cultural intelligence, and cultural production. I also love learning fun facts and enjoying food from different countries every time we meet. I have already begun to apply what I’ve learned. I am looking forward to learning more about different cultures and how to better interact with people from different cultures.
Fred Aguilar
I was born and bred in Quincy, WA, a city about 50 miles away from Ellensburg, WA, our university’s hometown. So far, I have chosen to pursue two science degrees, that being Biological Medical Sciences and Bio-Chemistry. I decided to pursue these degrees because they will better prepare me for the career I ultimately want to be in, Medical Doctor – Non-Invasive, Cardiologist, since a proficient background in sciences is necessary. Being a doctor has been a lifelong dream of mine, since I know that this position helps me make a huge impact on individuals and society.
As a student in Central Washington University, I am involved in Brother 2 Brother, Pre-Med Club, Biology Club, Chemistry Club, Psychology Club, and of course CCLP. Aside from school involvement, some of my hobbies include: hiking, reading, playing the piano or guitar, and weight training.
I am interested in enhancing my global leadership skills because I know that these skills are necessary for a more well-rounded professional, as well as individual. These skills will serve me better in every aspect of my life, making me more culturally competent.
I am looking forward to learning about a different culture during this Spring Immersion experience. I want to learn about the cultural differences this state has compared to my hometown states. I want to learn about their values, their traditions, and their sources of entertainment and enjoyment. Also, I am looking forward to strengthening my relationship with my CCLP family.
Bryan Kennedy
Hello, my name is Bryan Kennedy and I am double majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Electronics Engineering at Central Washington University. I also work at the outdoor activities shop on campus, renting out equipment and leading outdoor backpacking and camping trips. In my free time, I enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, backpacking, shooting, and building stuff. Once I graduate, I hope to get a job in the alternative energy field and work towards helping to develop new ways to generate power.
