CENTER for STUDENT MISSIONS

Alison Bisesi

Alison is from Twinsburg, OH. She currently attends Cleveland State University, majoring in Urban/Non-Profit Service Administration. She’s been on missions trips to Toronto, Philadelphia, spent a summer in high school traveling the southern states, and traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi two times to assist in hurricane relief. In Cleveland, she’s tutored and played sports with kids and spent an incredibly fun summer as a Jr. High camp counselor in MI. One day, Alison hopes to use sports as a tool for development in a low income area. She loves playing tennis, basketball, frisbee, watching reality shows, documentaries, and tea. Alison served with CSM as a city host the summer of 2007 and excited to join the 2009 team as well! “I cannot wait for this summer in DC; to grow because of the people I encounter and to be encouraged by staff and students who are excited to love God and the people of DC.”

Afton Cappello

Afton grew up in Rockwall, TX, just outside of Dallas. She wanted to go to college out of state and ended up at Virginia Tech where she is a junior majoring in Psychology. She hopes to pursue a higher degree in family and marriage counseling. In her free time she enjoys tennis in an intramural doubles league and dancing with her amazing, wacky roommates. Service and mission trips are very important to Afton. She has traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild houses after Hurricane Katrina and to the mountains of North Carolina to restore homes and hearts. Some of her most moving mission work was as a youth intern for her home church. She was able to spend time in inner-city Dallas setting up a VBS in an area of great poverty. She was amazed to watch how her junior high students were impacted. They felt so passionate about what God helped them do and were motivated to do more. "I believe that mission work is important for all youth to experience. As a summer host with CSM, I hope to help guide youth in their journey through inner-city DC, experiencing what it really means to serve."/p>

Alanna Dailey

Alanna Dailey is from Richmond, VA, but goes to school in Newport News, VA at Christopher Newport University. At CNU she is a sociology major with a double minor in psychology and religious studies. She has been going on mission trips since sixth grade, including West Virginia, Savannah, Pittsburg, Tijuana, Mexico, Chicago, Guatemala, and Toronto. Her mission trips to Chicago and Toronto were with CSM! Alanna loves working with high school and middle school student and has experience working with them by being a leader in her youth group and Richmond Chrysalis. Two of her all time favorite things to do are rocking out to music – though she has absolutely no musical talent – and laughing until she can’t breathe. “"My goal this summer is to get people passionate about serving God by serving others. I am staying in D.C. because it is supposed to be the place where things happen and with the help of youth and CSM it will be.”

Joshua Griep

Josh was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He finished his degree in Music Production and is working on a BA in Youth Ministry. Josh has been on a slew of missions trips to Mexico and West Virginia where he built houses, connected with people and worked with VBS. He has traveled the US doing sound and production for youth conferences. During the summer Josh works at various camps and volunteers at an after school program with the most awesome (and wild!) inner city kids. Things that Josh enjoys are the aggressive sound of the Fender Rhodes, shady looking bus stops and Joy. Josh was a city host for CSM in Chicago this past spring and is excited to join Washignton DC's summer team. “I am passionate and fired up to help youth serve, grasp the urban culture, and fuel their love of Jesus. I hope to grow my own love for people, youth, culture and challenge myself through serving at CSM. Most importantly I want to draw closer to God.”

Minnie Nelson

More info coming soon!

Cassie Noland

Cassie is from Vincennes, Indiana and recently graduated from the University of Evansville with a degree in Theological Studies. For the last year she has been interning with a local youth group, which has given her the opportunity to work closely with middle school and high school youth. During this time Cassie led her youth group on mission trips, to conferences, and during lock-ins. The youth captured her heart and taught her what it is like to have faith as a child. While in high school, Cassie participated in many mission trips including a CSM trip to Los Angeles that changed her life. In college Cassie was active in a service fraternity on campus where she was on the executive board for three years. Cassie loves to travel and recently spent one semester studying in England. She enjoys hanging out with friends and playing Frisbee. She likes history and helping others. Cassie served with CSM as a city host in Washington DC the summer of 2008 and is excited to return for the summer of 2009! “I have a passion for helping youth discover Jesus through service. I am excited to work in Washington, DC because this is the headquarters of our country and what better place to share the good news than in our nation’s capital?”

Kera Package

More info coming soon!

Alex Thompson

Alex is from Paynee, IL and is attending the University of Evansville majoring in Archeology/Biblical Studies/Classical Studies. He has been on mission trips to North Africa (a prayer trip), Arkansas, New Orleans, Minnesota and southern Illinois. Alex played drums for various worship bands and at conferences. He was a Christian camp counselor for middle school youth in 2007, led a high school youth group in 2008 and was a college ministry small group coordinator in 2009. Alex has led college Bible studies on topics including spiritual discipline and Jesus' call to social action. In his free time, Alex enjoys solving Rubik's cubes, riding his big wheel, shopping at thrift stores and playing the drums. At school, he calls himself a nerd and loves to study ancient languages like Latin, ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. In the spring of 2008 he had the chance to travel around Europe and cannot wait to do more traveling. "My goal this summer is to grow in the understanding and living out of Jesus' vision of the Kingdom of God, and to invite others to follow me on the adventure. I'm excited to be in Washington DC, knowing God has brought me here to challenge and mold me more into the image of Christ."