Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Where are the graduated players today?

 After being here over 5 years, I have had the privilege of coaching certain girls since they were in 8th grade!  I have seen them work hard and graduate from high school. For most girls here in the Dominican Republic, just graduating from high school without getting pregnant is a huge feat in itself.  So where are these girls now?  Some of them are in college, some are working and some need help to be sponsored to start college in January.  We are so proud of all of these girls and wanted to take some time to highlight each girl to show you what they are doing now!

Rosangely Pichardo- Graduated June 2014
* Currently volunteering in the Students International Physical Therapy site.
* Responsibilities: Opening and cleaning  facility, making appointments for patients and keeping patient records
* Future college goals: Go to the college in La Vega in January
* Sponsorship Needs: 1 Tuition Supporter ($100/mo) and Partial Transportation Sponsor ($35/mo)

Caroly Trinidad- Graduated June 2013
* Will be starting her second year as Rachel's assistant at the SI Community Health site
* Responsibilities: Fills out patient records, measuring blood pressure and taking pulses, training Shakira to be an assistant for a nurse that will be coming on staff in January 
* College:  Has received excellent grades and will be a sophomore this year studying Dentistry 
* Sponsorship: FULLY SPONSORED! 

Shakira Calderon- Graduated June 2014
* Currently volunteering at the community health site
* Responsibilites: Same as Caroly
* Future College Goals: Shakira hopes to start college in La Vega in January to study medicine
* Sponsorship Need: Tuition Sponsor ($100/mo)

Mabelis Acevedo- Graduated June 2013
* Currently volunteering as an assistant coach for the new Varsity team. She is also very involved in church as an usher and leader of the youth group.
* Responsibilites: Helping facilitate practices
* College: Has received excellent grades and will be a sophomore this year studying Psychology
* Sponsorship Need: 1 Transportation Sponsor ($60/mo)


Esther Hernandez- Graduated June 2013
* Esther started studying this Fall at the local University in Jarabacoa.
* Currently volunteering as an assistant coach with Chelsie at her alma mater, Anija (local school in town that is part of the Kid’s Alive ministry).
*We have recently started seeing a renewed passion in her to follow the Lord and to be more involved in church!
* Scholarship needs: Fully Sponsored! Ester is fully sponsored through the Kid’s Alive! We are thankful that this need is covered and that we also are able to stay in contact with her through her time as an assistant coach.

Estephany Victoriano- Graduated June 2014
*Studying on the weekends in Santo Domingo to be a flight attendant! This is something that she has dreamed of doing for a couple of years now!
* This past summer, she was volunteering at “Genesis” (special education school through SI). As a result of her work ethic and commitment, she was offered a position to work there as a full-time employee!
* She will also be volunteering as a coach with the Anija volleyball team.
* Scholarship needs: Fully Sponsored! Just like Ester, she grew up in Anija through Kid’s Alive and is being sponsored through them!

Loreidy Hernandez- Graduated June 2013
* She has been studying since the fall of 2013 as a psychology major.
* She is volunteering two days a week at Genesis, working in the preschool classroom.
* Loreidy also helps coach volleyball in Corocito one day a week.
* Scholarship needs: Fully Covered by monthly donors!

Dianny Moronta- Graduated June 2013
* She is a Dentistry major and has been studying since the fall of 2013.
* She is also volunteering at Genesis in the preschool classroom.
* Scholarship needs: Tuition ($100/mo),Transportation ($60/mo)

Loreidy, Dianny and Estephany pictured above

If you are interested in helping sponsor these girls, you can donate directly at 

Here are some highlights on other seniors that are not directly involved with Students International, but are still doing great things with their lives!

Leslie Polanco: Studying English at a college in Santiago, practicing volleyball in La Vega and will be going to the States to play volleyball in a junior college in January.

Keysi Marte:  Working full time at a Optical Center here in Jarabacoa and hoping to study in the states in January.

Anna Lanier:  Studying and playing volleyball at Harper College, coaching at Top Flight Volleyball Club in Chicago and will be transferring to Moody Bible Institute in January to study and play volleyball!