ICHS senior selected for prestigious service program
Immaculate Conception High School senior Bridget McCann already has a lot to do this summer as she prepares to head to DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. She now has to make room in her schedule for a trip to Peru as part of DePauw University's Servicio en las Americas program. Bridget was just one of only 17 students invited to participate in this highly selective program.
Bridget will spend the first two weeks at DePauw camping outdoors and attending daily Spanish classes in preparation for their trip to Peru. Additionally, the group will be involved in small community service projects around Greencastle.
Once in Peru, Bridget will spend the first half of her trip in Cusco living with a Peruvian family. The group will work on a construction service project with the help and assistance of program coordinators and engineers. The second half of the trip will take place at the Manu National Park in the jungle region of Peru. The focus of this project is the preservation and conservation of the environment and the recuperation of natural resources.
It can't be all work and no play during the trip, so the evenings will be filled with fun activities such as salsa dancing, going to Peruvian restaurants, and shopping. During the weekends, the group will go on numerous outdoor excursions such as white water rafting, hiking, zip lining, or biking. The program will then wrap up with a hiking trip on the famous Incan Trail. The group will take a four day hike (with experienced guides, porters, cooks,) on the most preserved trail of the Incas. “I am incredibly excited to have been selected for this program” said Bridget “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity”.
As a Christian Service leader, Bridget has traveled with the Immaculate Conception Parish Youth Group on mission trips for the past two summers. Bridget has also participated in the Relay For Life event in 2008 and 2010, while joining the Crop Walk and volunteering at the Special Olympics in 2009. In addition, Bridget is a two year member of the National Honor Society, four year member of the volleyball team, participates in the Knights Theatre along with the ICHS Super Squad, Yearbook staff, Math team and Spanish Club. For more information on Immaculate Conception High School, please visit the website at www.ichsknights.org.