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ARIEL MITTLEMAN is a junior at Elon University studying Accounting and Finance. She serves as a multifaith intern and is Hillel president. When Ariel is not working or in class, you can find her at a coffee shop, on the tennis courts or walking around campus enjoying the views.

Just follow your arrow wherever it points. Yeah, follow your arrow wherever it points. – Follow your Arrow, Kacey Musgraves

CHRISTIAN VAN DYKE is co-president of the Interfaith Student Council at Utah Valley University where he studies English Literature and Religious Studies. When Christian isn’t reading, writing, or doing interfaith things you can usually find him with his wife, Emily, running, weight lifting (so he can eat junk food, another passion), hiking, or sitting on the couch watching Netflix.

Never hold back your step for a moment, never doubt that your courage will grow, hold your head even higher and into the fire we go! – The Scarlet Pimpernel

EMMA WONSIL studies biology, psychology, and history at Aquinas College and is part of Interfaith Aquinas. In her spare time, you can find her simultaneously working out and complaining about working out, or just reading a book next to her giant fluffy dog.

Walk like warriors, we were never told to run. Explored the world to return to where my soul begun. Never looking back or too far in front of me. The present is a gift and I just wanna be. – Be, Common

FOUAD ALKHOURI is a senior at St. Norbert College where he is finishing his studies in International Business & Language Area Studies and Organizational Leadership. As an international student from the Gaza Strip, Fouad is a community organizer at the SNC Peace & Justice Center where he works towards interfaith dialogue and action. On a Sunday afternoon you can find him playing soccer, his favorite sport.

I was the seed planted by lovers, in a refugee camp overseas. I grew free I grew more roots and became a tree, so now they never gonna cut me down. – Seed, K’naan

NATIONAL ORGANIZING TEAM 2016-17

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JULIA BURKLEY is a junior at Davidson College studying Religious Studies and Gender & Sexuality Studies. Julia has been actively leading her campus’s Better Together and leads the Visibility Project initiative. Julia believes in walking through life with a smile, and brings that smile to situations that are simple, and situations that are challenging.

And the sun, it does not cause us to grow/ It is the rain that will strengthen your soul. – I Have Made Mistakes, The Oh Hellos

LAURA BOHORQUEZ was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and a leader in Better Together at Loras College. She is a senior majoring in International Studies and Media Studies. When she graduates she hopes to work for diversity, human rights, and social justice. Her favorite book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry because it reminds her to dream big and to always be a child at heart.

So just remember to smile, smile, smile, and turn the world around. – Smile, McFly

LAUREN TASSONE is a senior at the University of Michigan where she studies Cognitive Science and Organizational Studies and serves as an interfaith intern. When she is not in the classroom or engaging in interfaith work, she works as a Resident Advisor and spends time at the Center for Positive Organizations on campus. Her favorite way to express her creativity is through singing.

Love what you have and you’ll have more love. – Firewood, Regina Spektor

MELISSA JENKINS attends Meredith College in Raleigh, NC and engages with interfaith work because of her belief in the power colleges have to make an impact on the local community. Melissa is made most alive when surrounded by laughter, and in the rare times when she’s the one making people laugh it’s even better. She also enjoys watching the Classic Movie Channel on the weekend, and finds it to be the best way to relax.

If happy little blue birds fly beyond the rainbow, why can’t I? – Over the Rainbow, Judy Garland

RACHEL KERN is a senior at Stockton University studying Religious Education & Interfaith Advocacy, and Childhood Studies. She is the President of the Campus Religious Council and in her spare time Rachel can be found outside practicing her hooping or spending time with close friends and family.

Listen to the words I’m singing in this line that your life will be just fine and troubles do not stay, they get replaced with good times. Now you’ve got a great life, smile as you walk by thinkin’ ‘bout the day’. – When It Rains It Pours, Twiddle

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RACHEL SONDGEROTH is a sophomore in Religious Studies at Arizona State University. She self-identifies as a grassroots organizer, a workaholic, and a dog lover. Her greatest passion is to bring discussions of social and global awareness to the dinner tables of everyday people.

Where you invest your love, you invest your life. – Awake My Soul, Mumford & Sons

REBEKKA ROSEN is a sophomore music education major at Susquehanna University where she is the founding president of their Better Together group. Rebekka has done much work to combine her passion for interfaith with her love for music. Rebekka performs in various choral ensembles on campus and leads Shabbat services.

When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you. – Louis Armstrong

RYAN SCHUBERT is a senior studying Information Systems at Elizabethtown College. Ryan divides his time between many different groups on campus, including running a weekly conversation group called Fake Fireplace: Real Conversation where he attempts to teach students to recognize and celebrate their differences. Ryan spends the rest of his time running, playing hockey, and going to concerts.

Find some solace, at least a little piece of mind. – Silver Couplets, The Districts

VANESSA OCEGUERA studies Public Relations and Religion at University of La Verne. Vanessa can be found spending her time with the Baha’i community near her college, and is grateful for their welcoming her into their prayer gatherings. When Vanessa is not writing articles for her college’s newspaper, she is attending her salsa dancing class because she feels that dancing is the best way to express her love of living and learning.

Because I’m happy…clap along if you know what happiness is to you. – Happy, Pharrell Williams