Carolyn Ta, born and raised in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In 2022, She graduated with a B.S. in Public Health at Coastal Carolina University and a minor in Spanish in Healthcare Professions. While at Coastal Carolina, she interned with the LiveWell Office and Tidelands Health to explore ways to improve community health After serving with Impact, she has the aspiration to advance her career through continuing education with a degree where her strengths can be highlighted.

Tia Gordon was raised in Trenton, South Carolina, and graduated Cum Laude from the
College of Charleston with a degree in Anthropology. During her undergraduate years,
Tia volunteered as a Cougar Ambassador for the Center of International Education and
as Treasurer for the College of Charleston Gospel Choir. After serving with Impact
America, Tia plans to pursue her MS in Medical Anthropology.

What do you like to do for fun?
I love to listen to music, read, and go on spontaneous adventures. I also love trying new
foods so eating is always a favorite pastime of mine.

Name and describe a memorable place you’ve been.
A memorable place that I have been to is Carcassonne, France. The city was absolutely
beautiful, and it was interesting to see and learn about the history of the city. I truly
enjoyed shopping and exploring the town markets because I was able to connect with
some of the locals in the city and buy tons of fresh produce. The architecture and
culture within the city itself was beautiful to experience, and inspired me to want to
travel the world more to discover more beautiful places.

Born and raised in Ridgeway South Carolina, Sabrina Samuel graduated Cum Laude from the College of Charleston with a degree in Anthropology, a minor in African studies and a certificate in Cultural Sustainability. As an undergraduate, Sabrina served as Vice president for the Residence Hall Association, and Creative Director for S.C.O.P.E. at the College of Charleston. After serving with Impact America, she plans to pursue her masters in Cultural Anthropology.

What is your favorite quote from a book, film, or song?

– My favorite quote is from the book Every Word You Cannot Say by Iain S. Thomas. “It takes time. But time is all it takes.” This quote reminds me to be patient and gentle with myself in times of self-doubt or frustration.

What is your biggest strength?

– My biggest strength is my ability to persevere and stay optimistic, even on my bad days.

What do you like to do for fun?

– I like to try new things any time that I can. This can range from eating new cuisines, different fashion styles or simply trying unique skincare products!

Spending his childhood in Houston, Texas, and growing up in Southeast Asia, Max Dossey returned to the US in 2018, graduating from Furman University in 2022 with a degree in history. After serving with Impact America, Max plans to attend law school.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Hiking all the way up the mountain to the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru.

What do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy watching movies I haven’t seen before, as well as going biking on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Emma Carruth, a Texas native, graduated from Furman University with degrees in Studio Art and Educational Studies. With these experiences, Emma hopes to become an Art Therapist for children with exceptional needs and long term goal is to run her own non profit. During her time at Furman she served as a Young Life Capernuam Leader, several positions in Best Buddies including Vice President, and was a member of Delta Gamma where she also had the role of e-communications.

What do you do for fun?

During my free time I enjoy spending time with my animals and biking both indoor and outdoor. Every September, I bike 200+ miles to raise money for kid’s cancer research through a non profit called the Great Cycle Challenge.

Name and describe a memorable place you have been.

While in college, I had an incredible opportunity to spend time in New Zealand and Australia. During my time in these countries I worked hands on with children to further their knowledge in the arts and they taught me the connection sustainability has to their everyday lives.

Born in Florida but raised in Woodstock, Georgia, Sydney graduated summa cum laude from Wofford College in the spring of 2020 with degrees in both Accounting and Political Science. She finished her time at Wofford by serving as Student Body Secretary and dedicated a lot of her time working with the Accounting department as both a peer and lab tutor. She served as an AmeriCorps Service member with Impact for one year before moving into her current role.

What do you like to do for fun? 

I enjoy spending time with friends, playing with my dogs, and biking whenever I have the chance!

Name and describe a memorable place you’ve been.

During college, I had the opportunity to travel to Scandinavia and visited Kiruna, Sweden. There was snow and ice everywhere – and I slipped more times than I can count – but the dogsledding and scenery were worth all the bruises.

What is your biggest strength? 

I am extremely organized and live by my agenda and reminders app (if I don’t set a reminder, it probably won’t get done).

Peter Nielsen, born and raised in Denver, Colorado, graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in business and political science. At Northeastern, he was a member of the Club Roller Hockey team and the NU hiking and outdoor society. Before serving as a team lead in South Carolina, he served as an AmeriCorps member at Impact’s Birmingham office. After Impact, Peter plans on attending law school.

What do you like to do for fun?

Fitness and athletics are what I enjoy most, especially playing a round of golf or rollerblading, Additionally, I am an avid cook and traveler who enjoys making mostly healthy recipes in addition to the occasional extravagant cheat day meal.

Who is someone you admire and why?

Anthony Bourdain is the person I most admire. Aside from his cooking prowess, I think Bourdain was an exceptional writer and communicator who helped connect me to different cuisines and world cultures through his books and tv shows. Bourdain was admirable for his ability to overcome adversity and addiction in his life in order to broaden his own worldview and develop an unmatched level of empathy for those he met.

Name and describe a memorable place you have been.

I was fortunate to live in Munich, Germany for six months while I was doing an internship. While there, I was able to travel throughout Europe and one of the most memorable places I visited was Lake Bled, Slovenia. Nestled in the Slovenian alps, this lake was one of the most picturesque I have been to. I was able to swim in the lake with locals, hike to a nearby castle, and take a boat trip to a historic monastery located on a small island in the middle of the lake.

Davy Hardie grew up and went to high school in Lebanon, Ohio. Upon graduating high school he attended Miami University, where he graduated with a degree in kinesiology. He majored in public health and minored in geography, attempting to bridge his love of helping others and helping the planet. Both in high school and college Davy was an avid runner, participating in cross country and track during high school and then the running club on campus at Miami.

What do you like to do for fun?

For fun I enjoy reading, playing games with friends (board games and video games), and watching funny T.V. shows.

What is your favorite quote from a book, film, or song?

My favorite quote from a fictional work is “There is some good in this world Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for”, from Lord of the Rings. “Phrasing” from Archer is a close second however.

Name and describe a memorable place you’ve been.

The most memorable place I have ever been is Glacier National Park. I visited there 10 years ago, and the natural beauty and abundance of the mountains, lakes, forests, wildlife, and of course the glaciers convinced me that man will never be able to create anything close to as beautiful as mother earth. From that day forward I have been committed to doing my part to combat climate change, prevent pollution, and protect the earth as much as I can.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Something most people don’t know about me is that I love to cook! I enjoy cooking almost as much as I enjoy eating the great food that I make.

Catherine McIntyre, born in upstate New York, was raised in Anderson, South Carolina since she was five years old. In 2017, she graduated from Clemson University. She majored in psychology with a minor in legal studies. While at Clemson, she devoted her time to YoungLife, a mentoring program for middle school students. During her summer months, she was able to travel the country with a camp and influence elementary school kids, teaching them that they are valued.

What do you like to do for fun?
During my free time, I like to be outdoors hiking to inside curled up with a good book and cup of tea. My favorite thing to do is spend quality time with friends and family, creating memories and moments filled with laughter and joy.

What is your favorite quote from a book, film, or song?
My favorite quote is one my nana has always said to me: “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think page.” A. A. Milne