richter research grant proposal and project outline
TRANSCRIPT
Application (please print or type)
Student Name: Benjamin Magee Date_2/22/2012
Mailing Address: 121 Bartlett Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787 _
Telephone Number _828.658.0310__________________ Email [email protected]
Class at time of application (circle) Fr So Jr Sr
Cumulative GPA _3.6____________ Major Department ___Health and Exercise Science_
(Attach current Wake Forest transcript; Deacon sheet is acceptable)
Anticipated Date of Graduation _May, 2013______________________________
Faculty Mentor/Department Dr. Sam Gladding/Counseling _________________
Will credit be awarded in association with this project? Course number? _No_______________
Are you applying for other funding for this project? What source?_No_________________
Synopsis of Proposed Independent Study Project:
I propose to shadow and interview healthcare providers in Nagaland, India, to better understand
how they integrate both traditional healing practices and conventional medicine in order to serve
a large population with limited resources.
Richter Scholarship Program
A. 2-page Summary.
I propose to shadow and interview healthcare providers in the medically-understaffed
region of Nagaland, India. As the great-great-grandson of revered missionaries to this mountainous
village in eastern India, I have been invited by local leaders to come and observe public and private
clinics to see how they welcome an integrative approach to healing, drawing from traditional
healing practices of both Averyedic medicine men and the Lotha-Naga herbalists alongside western
approaches by university-trained doctors. Since I aspire to be a naturopathic doctor serving rural
populations, this unique opportunity would show me how clinics in the most financially-depressed
areas leverage their resources to treat infectious disease and how physicians there communicate
with patients. An experience of this nature will inspire me to think more holistically, creatively, and
realistically in my own studies and in my future practice of medicine.
Nagaland, a community of two million people comprised of sixteen tribes in the foothills of
the Himalayan Mountains near Burma, has a special place in my family’s history. When the
missionary movement came to Nagaland in the late 1800s, my great-great-grandfather, Baptist
minister William Witter, felt called to leave his home in Virginia and move there with his wife.
Together they transferred the tribal oral language into a written language and created the first
rendering of the Gospels in that language. While the imperialistic missionary movement was not a
gift to Indian culture, in Nagaland the natives benefitted in ways they still appreciate today. This
month, in fact, they are dedicating the newly-built Witter Bible Institute, named after my great-
great-grandparents, and our family has maintained ties with both local leaders there and families
who moved to the U.S. from Nagaland. (See appendix for a fuller description of the family history
there.) It is through this connection that I have secured a home-stay and medical contacts in the
village. Should I be awarded a Richter, a Baptist missionary there will meet me at the airport in
Kolkata and accompany me to Nagaland. My Uncle Ted Hodge, a hospital chaplain who traveled
there in 1982 for a celebration of his grandparents, has also agreed to join me for two weeks.
The medical issues my missionary-ancestor identified more than a hundred years ago still
flummox Nagaland. Political corruption has contributed to the disarray of the public clinics, and so
immediate medical attention must be sought at private clinics. Still these private clinics are often
insufficient to treat patients, and villagers must travel several hours to Assam, Mumbai, or Kolkata
for more complicated procedures. Because of this tangled situation, patients often seek the help of
tribal medicine men for ailments rather traveling such long distances. The practice of traditional
medicine, combined with the diet of the people there, may partly explain the lower rates of chronic
disease (e.g., cancer and cardiovascular illness) among its population, as compared to that of
Western countries. Critically, though, this type of care is inadequate for the treatment of many of
the common infectious diseases. Through interviews and observations, I seek first to learn about
how conventional clinics operate fiscally and technically to treat infectious disease. Then, I will
explore how this tribal Indian culture practices alternative medicine—how, for instance, medical
institutions in Kolkata teach traditional healing methods, and how these methods are integrated by
physicians and by health policy. Further, as I seek to gain greater cultural literacy, I wish to
examine the dis-connect between conventional doctors’ orders/instructions and patients’ practices.
Finally, I seek to understand the medical philosophy employed by healthcare workers in rural India,
and how they approach the use of technology. My overarching goals, of course, are to open my
mind to a radically different, integrative approach to medicine in order to broaden my
understanding of global, rural medicine in ways that should benefit me in my future career.
I propose a four-week study, focused in Nagaland, with time spent in Kolkata upon arrival
and before departure. Since Kolkata is on my access route to Nagaland, time spent there will serve
both to acclimate myself to the culture and time differences while giving me the opportunity to
explore some of the oldest medical institutes in India. (The proposed calendar below is for this
summer; I am prepared to go in the summer, but please see the Appendix for an appeal to conduct
the study in December.)
Nagaland, India (July 19 - Aug. 11): interviews with practitioners and shadowing at the
following hospitals: Zion Hospital in Dimapur (private); Kohima Hospital (government-
operated); Wokha Hospital (government-operated); and Vankhosung Mission Hospital (operated by
the Lotha Mission Church). Additionally, I will conduct interviews with medicine men of various
Naga tribes and their patients (see letters of support for details).
Kolkata, India: (July 12-18th
-August 12-15th
.): With the help of Kolkata-native Dr. Ananda
Mitra (WF Department of Communications), I have identified medical training institutions in the
city that I wish to observe. Given that I am currently a resident at a homestay in Salamanca, Spain,
I have not been able to firm up the specifics of this part of the trip, which is secondary to the
research in Nagaland, but with Dr. Mitra’s support, I feel confident that I’ll be able to pin down
specifics in the next few weeks (see his letter of support). The training institutions we are soliciting
include the Medical College of Calcutta, the Institute of Alternative Medicines Kolkata, and the
Calcutta National Medical College.
The brother of Jan Nienu, (see letter of support), Dr. Nsan Ezung is the main medical
contact in Nagaland. His son will be able to travel with me. While in Nagaland, I will shadow
with Dr Ezung and many of his associates there and in the before listed hospitals. They have
assured me that they are glad to answer my questions while shadowing. In every tribe there are
herbalist. Likewise, I will have the opportunity to meet with them and view their work, but will be
finalized at the beginning of my trip while shadowing with Dr. Ezung. The specific areas I will
spend time apart from being with Dr. Ezung are in the following:
(*note, this was explained by my host)
Dimapur, Nagaland, Staying with Jan’s sister. It is forty-five minutes by plane from Kolkata.
After visiting hospitals in Dimapur for two days I will proceed to Kohima, the capital city.
It is about two-hours by bus from Dimapur. In Kohima I will have to stay at a hotel that she knows
and will visit and shadow in the hospital with a friend of Dr. Ezung. After Kohima, I will proceed
to Wokha (a three- hours bus ride) and stay at the guest house which will be not as expensive as
Kohima to stay. Vankhosung is just an hour ride from Wokha. Vankhosung is where my great,
great grandfather lived. It will be quite nostalgic for me to experience this journey and walk where
he and his wife stayed and lived.
B. Budget & Materials:
Round-trip flight (RDU-to-Kolkata) = $1,615 Total cost
Round-trip flight (Kolkata-to-Dimapur, Nagaland) = $222
33 days Lodging expenses, total= 2796
(6 nights in Kolkata(see below for per dium),6 nights traveling in Nagaland ($300)
33 days Food expenses = 1837
Immunizations = $91
Tips = $ 91.85 (%5 of food)
Materials:
Digital Camera & audio recorder
Notebooks for journaling and notes
Wake Forest ThinkPad
According to the U.S. Department of State, the per diem for Calcutta is: lodging: $297; meals and incidentals: $119 The per diem for non-specific, other, non-big cities in India is: lodging: $200; meals and incidentals: $91 http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem_action.asp?MenuHide=1&CountryCode=1155
Total = $ 6,652.85
C. Relevant Experiences:
(*Please see appendix for full family history and resume)
My strong experiences in practically understanding healthcare in the US is essential in order
to integrate the research and shadowing I will do in India. Having a very early exposure to the
research my parents did in integrative medicine to treat her chronic illness with cancer was
instrumental in steering my interest to integrate conventional and alternative medicine in an internal
medicine or family practice specialty (see appendix for family history). My goals to work in global
health and family medicine both require conventional medicine and have sought practical
experience in this field.
In addition to studying health science curriculum as a summer scholar at Chapel Hill, it was
arranged for me to shadow in the family medicine clinic there as well the Neo Natal Intensive Unit.
Both of the doctors I shadowed worked with the school of public health and were involved in
global missions. However, I was disappointed to find that the family medicine practice was unable
to elevate the functional problems of the patients without side effects. The experience helped me to
seek out an independent study with my mentor to better examine the changing healthcare system
and how my interests could work to advance the field.
Among my numerous interviews, was Dr. Kathi Kemper who chairs the Center for
Integrative Medicine working with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. In my two hours of
interviewing, I learned the path and strengths that Dr. Kemper found by researching what
naturopathic remedies had validity for her work in pediatrics. While her book made her famous as
the world’s expert on integrative pediatric medicine, she was criticized by her mentors when first
deciding to write it. The main take away was that it is necessary to have conventional experience,
but you can do much more in my specialty by taking the time to sort through the naturopathic
treatments that have valid potential to help your patients.
After interviewing four separate Naturopathic Doctors (accredited graduates) from the
recommendation of Dr. Kemper to investigate my interest more, I have found that the reality is that
the traditional medicine of India demonstrates positive results and there is a lot of promise in that
area. While there is a lack of proof for such a broad term (it does depend on what area), with the
literature article by Mutheeswaran et al., it shows a glimpse of working in integrating and
categorizing the work of herbal medicine men. No research has been published for the Nagaland
tribal herbalist. My goal is not to produce a scientific paper categorizing the species and disease
used to treat them, rather to gain a perspective in this area of the field to add to my conventional
experiences. I hope to motivate others with my story to get greater interest in the field. My greater
perspective will allow me to work in public health with more realistic solutions and greater share
this story to help motivate others to pursue aiding the poor in medical ways.
In addition to my practical experience, the interdisciplinary aspects of my education will be
utilized in this project. By studying the fictional work of Indian trained doctor and writer, Abraham
Verghese, I have begun to see the interesting parallels in medicine in a country with third world
parts. Serving on the board of ethics at Michigan State University, he sought to share his life
experience being trained in Madras, India by using fiction to tell a great truth. Reading his work
along with other pieces in a literature course focused on improving our knowledge of the power of
stories; I hope to use my medical experiences to show a unique story that conveys where my
passions to serve have come and allows other to see value in this type of work.
D. Works Cited:
1. Bodeker, G. ―Lessons on Integration from the Developing World’s Experience.‖ BMJ: British
Medical Journal 322.7279 (2001): 164. Print.
2. Forster, E. M. A Passage to India. New York: Harcourt, Brace and, 1924. Print.
3. Mutheeswaran, S., et al. ―Documentation and Quantitative Analysis of the Local Knowledge on
Medicinal Plants Among Traditional Siddha Healers in Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu,
India.‖ Journal of Ethnopharmacology 137.1 (2011): 523-533.
4. Sharma, Dinesh C. ―India to Promote Integration of Traditional and Modern Medicine.‖ The Lancet
358.9292 (2001): 1524. Print.
5. Verghese, A. Cutting for Stone: A Novel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print.
E. Dates:
July 12-Agust 15
*see appendix for appeal (Dec. 1st – Jan 3
rd)
F. Contacts (Letters of support follow appendix):
Mentor:
Dr. Samuel Gladding*, Chair, Counseling Department
Supporting Faculty:
Dr. Gary Miller, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Exercise Science,
Faculty Liaison, Allied Health Student Association, (also my major advisor)
Dr. Ananda Mitra, Chair, Communication Department
Jan Nienu
Family friend and native of Nagaland
Rev. Dr. E. NRIO EZUNG)
Executive Secretary. Lotha Baptist Churches Association
G. Implications:
I plan to document my experiences there and to create a photos-and-reflections presentation
for Wake’s Allied Health Student Association, but of course open to the public. I will invite Dr.
Kathi Kemper, M.D., to speak on the importance of integrative medicine.
Additionally, I would like to pitch my story of the rich family history and the career
interests that led me to Nagaland to Wake Forest Magazine. I believe there’s a compelling human
interest angle to the experience that should attract more than just those interested in global health
and integrative medicine.
Appendix: 1. Family History
2. Appeal for Winter break
3. Photos and primary documents
4. Resume
Full Family History:
My great-great-grandparents, William and Mary Witter, were Baptist missionaries
stationed in in India. Beginning in 1883 they worked around the area of Assam and headed to the
area most wild and in need: the Naga Hills. They were the first missionaries to stay and work in
Nagaland. The previous few attempts had been unsuccessful because of the dangerous head hunting
practices of most of the tribes. Past attempts, though, paved the way for the Witters to make the
journey and to remain with the Nagas. They successfully transferred the oral Naga language into
written form and wrote a simple translation of the Gospels, as well as a few simple grammar books.
In the extant correspondence, the Witters vividly describe life working with and among the natives,
as well as their hopes, fears, aspirations, and the love that inspired them. In Nagaland, my native
Virginian great-great-grandmother gave birth to my great-grandfather, Ted Witter.
During his stay in Nagaland, William Witter was shaken by the death of an English soldier, who
died in his arms. In reflecting on the experience, Witter lamented not having had access to anyone
with medical training; he had tried to send messengers to the nearest village sixty miles away, but
in vain. After his wife fell ill with what turned out to be breast cancer in 1888, Witter decided they
should return to the U.S. These experiences helped prompt him to pursue a degree in medicine
from Chicago Homeopathic Hospital, which he received in 1890 (see attached primary document).
After Mary’s death in 1911, William and his 25-year-old son did not wait long before returning to
India to continue the work she helped start. William remarried and Ted found a wife, and they all
traveled to India. Ted and his bride, Mildred, were stationed in the South of India. In Nellore, they
gave birth to my maternal grandmother, Vera Witter, and I grew up hearing stories about her
childhood and adolescence in India. I have always been yearned to see the land that so inspired the
ancestors. In reading primary sources in preparation for this application, I discovered how many
personality traits I share with those men-of-faith who so boldly relocated to a faraway land.
My Grandma studied at a boarding school for missionary kids in Kodaikanal, but when she
was approaching 18, she decided to move to the U.S., where she met my grandfather. As a
missionary kid, Grandma was a confused amalgam of several cultures, and she never fully happily
assimilated to life in the U.S. Her life experiences influenced me. I grew up thinking every U.S. kid
ate curry and rice, for instance. More importantly, though, she taught her children and
grandchildren the value of making sacrifices and of helping those in need.
On a fateful day, twenty-five years ago, Grandma and my Uncle Bill were in California
visiting my immediate family, who was then living in Claremont. While attending Sunday School
at the local Baptist church, they coincidentally met a missionary who had spent time in India near
Assam. This missionary, had used the Witters’ translation of the Gospels during her work there,
and she was thrilled to connect my Grandma with Jan Nienu. Being first woman from her Nagaland
village to study in the US, Jan had grown up hearing the history of my great–grandfather, and she
had been looking for any of the Witter decedents to learn more about them. She is currently
working on a book of the missionary history in Nagaland. She and my Grandma were very fond of
each other and always felt as if they were kin, Jan tells me.
I have attached just a few primary documents and pictures to demonstrate this family connection to
a village in India that must otherwise seem a curious choice for a travel destination. Through my
connection with Jan—and given the financial opportunity provided by a Richter—I would have a
unique and powerful opportunity to leverage my family’s contacts in the Baptist Mission there, and
to interview and shadow medical providers in the conventional clinics and talk with the tribal
herbalist. Jan’s nephew will shepherd me around, get me access to these facilities, and introduce
me to people who can tell me for themselves what my ancestors’ legacy means to them. (Indeed,
the Baptist Mission in Nagaland has remained in contact with my Grandma and Uncle Ted over the
years, inviting us to attend events in the village, most recently a dedication this month of the Bible
Institute being named after my great-great-grandfather.)
My commitment and interest in both rural and global health stems, in large part, from my
upbringing. In a family that lacked access to good medical care, my six siblings and I were on
Medicaid, and I qualified for free lunches when I left homeschooling and transferred into my local
public high school. Since aid expires when you turn 19, my older siblings and my parents (who
often lacked insurance) had to go to the free clinic sponsored by the Asheville-Buncombe
Community Christian Ministry. While I did not have extreme hardships in healthcare, our family’s
burden was often eased by ministries working to help us. I have wanted to use the advantages I am
gaining with my education to pay forward all the aid my family and I received. My church gave me
scholarships to go on mission trips to rural counties of North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and
Alabama. We partnered with Habitat for Humanity as our main goal, but I saw the healthcare
problems. Growing up with a clear experience with the health problems has shaped me to be
committed to working to help those in need.
Perhaps, though, my greatest inspiration to work in this field is my own mother. She
graduated with a nursing degree from UVA, volunteered with various health clinics in Micronesia
through the Peace Corps, and then devoted the rest of her career to working in mental health in
several hospitals in North Carolina, and in camp and recreational areas occasionally during the
summer (with benefits for my brother and me). Although a nurse can make a good living, my
mother never worked full-time. She had seven children and homeschooled all of us. When I was six
years old, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She lost her 10-year battle when I was only
sixteen. During those ten years, I observed as my father researched traditional and alterative
treatment options, and I accompanied my mother to many different clinics and support groups. She
opted against chemotherapy, which she knew pummeled the body, sometimes more than the illness
itself. Happily, she enjoyed relatively good health for nine of those ten years she was ill.
It was tough not having insurance coverage for non-conventional health treatments that had
viable benefits. It was this exposure that has spread my interest in always exploring other medical
treatments. With my education, I have learned to turn a skeptical eye on many practices of Western
medicine. The medical mentors in my life have urged me to hold a treatment to a universal
standard, regardless of the category someone else may put it in. I believe there are valuable
treatments often overlooked by the conventional route.
Losing my mom at such a young age, I found out pretty quickly what really mattered in my
life. My mother was my hero, and she devoted her life to helping people: an ideal role model for
me. I want to find my way to continue the legacy she started. I have a passion to help those who are
need of healthcare-the kind of help I experienced personally. An experience in researching the
medical operations and philosophy of India will aid in my understanding of administering aid in
both global and domestic areas.
Like Will Witter, I have could not help but feel powerless without medical education as
someone died in front of me. It was his wife’s illness with breast cancer that led him to medicine
and my mother fight with that same disease that educated me at an early age. I have these letter and
chapters explaining who he was and what he thought about the world. I have these childhood
memories through my grandma of what life in India was like. I have a desire to use medicine in the
way that my great, great grandfather wanted, to help those in need. These were truly extraordinary
people in my life, and I hope to go to look out on those same majestic hills and continue the work
with the people they came to be so close with.
Appeal for Winter break:
(Dec. 1 – Jan 3st)
By having the opportunity to travel over winter break- there are three major advantages.
First, The Hornbill Festival: Festival of Festivals in Nagaland. This is a once a year event during
the beginning of December that allows all the major tribes to show off their song, dance and wears.
It is a wonderful opportunity to see the true culture of the Nagas. Secondly, rainfall will be
considerably less (see chart below*) because the raining season will have ended. Lastly my Uncle
would be able to travel for the full two weeks rather than potentially only one.
I have checked with all my contacts to see if this change in date would still be acceptable
and they have all approved. While Dr. Mitra would not be in Kolkata, he would be able to still help
me with the medical contacts. The son of Dr. Nsan Ezung who will be my traveling companion in
Nagaland is prepared to meet me in Kolkata at that time. The academic calendar would require me
to take exams one week early, but with the amount of notice in advance , Dr. Miller is confident
that I can work ahead to make such a unique opportunity like this possible.
Precipitation (*Please Note Guwahati, Assam)
Average precipitation in various Indian cities (mm)[47][48][49][50]
— Winter
(Jan – Feb)
Summer
(Mar – May)
Monsoon
(Jun – Sep)
Post-monsoon
(Oct – Dec) Year-round
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Port Blair 40 20 10 60 360 480 400 400 460 290 220 150 2,890
Thiruvananthapuram 26 21 33 125 202 306 175 152 179 223 206 65 1,713
Bangalore 31 20 61 110 150 212 249 279 315 291 210 140 1,962
Nagpur 16 22 15 8 18 168 290 291 157 73 17 19 1,094
Bhopal 4 3 1 3 11 136 279 360 185 52 21 7 1,043
Guwahati 8 21 47 181 226 309 377 227 199 92 25 10 1,722
Lucknow 20 18 8 8 20 114 305 292 188 33 5 8 1,019
Jaisalmer – – 3 – 7 10 90 88 15 – 6 – 219
Dehradun 47 55 52 21 54 230 631 627 261 32 11 3 2,024
Amritsar 24 33 48 30 45 27 231 187 79 18 6 18 746
Shimla 60 60 60 50 60 170 420 430 160 30 10 20 1,530
Srinagar 74 71 91 94 61 36 58 61 38 31 10 33 658
Leh 12 9 12 6 7 4 16 20 12 7 3 8 116
Dear Richter Scholarship Committee,
I support and will commit time and effort to Ben Magee for his proposed project. His
experience with the project he developed will be tremendous and will impact him for the rest of his
life. Having traveled to India for service projects, I am excited for Ben to experience this exotic
land. His research proposal and contacts made in India to develop his project demonstrates his
preparedness and ability to accomplish his goals. I have worked with a number of former Richter
scholars and more than 75 individual research students over the 16 years at Wake Forest. I
recognize the effort required on my part and time commitment necessary to make this a viable
project. My role in his project will be to serve as a mentor and resource for him. We have
continued communications with each other for this application during his time abroad, and we have
plans for communication while he is in India.
Sincerely,
Gary D. Miller Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Health and Exercise Science
February 22, 2012
Letter in support of Richter Scholarship of Benjamin Magee
I am writing in support of Ben and of his efforts to design a Richter-funded research experience to
learn more about conventional and traditional medicine in India.
In my interactions with Ben, he has proven to be a smart young man with considerable commitment
to his proposed project. In speaking to him and looking at his resume, I have learnt that he has a
strong knowledge of the medical field in the US, having taken an EMT course and having
shadowed and interviewed health professionals last summer and fall for an independent study,
which he supplemented with a long reading list. While a study-abroad student in Salamanca, he is
volunteering at a medical clinic there.
Through my conversation with him, I have also learnt of his connections with people in Nagaland.
These existing connections will make for a unique and interesting experience. Additionally, I have
also offered to help him during his stay in Kolkata. I will be able to introduce him to medical
professionals there who can then help in arranging shadowing and interviews. An exposure to
urban healthcare in Kolkata, in combination with his exposure to tribal medical practices in rural
Nagaland, will give him a glimpse at the state of health care in India. Given his interest in
alternative medicine, I am happy to help him identify and meet naturopathic physicians in Kolkata
as well.
My visit to India this summer overlaps with Ben’s proposed visit, and I should be able to help
acclimate him to the culture and to educate him on how to stay safe in India.
Ananda Mitra
Professor of Communication
336-745-6267
2/15/12
Dear Richter Scholarship Committee:
I am beyond delighted to have connected with Ben Magee. His uncles, Bill and Ted
Hodge, and I have remained like a family for so many years. Their great grandfather,
Dr. Witter, was the first missionary to the Lotha Naga tribe in Nagaland in the late
1800’s. I fully support Ben’s willingness to go to Nagaland to interview doctors as
well as visit various hospitals to see the health care condition there. I will be more
than happy to arrange a tour/visit for him at the following locations.
Zion Hospital in Dimapur (private)
Kohima Hospital (Government operated)
Wokha Hospital (Government operated)
Vankhosung Mission Hospital (Operated by the Lotha Mission Church)
I will also try to connect him with some herbalist practitioners so that he can see both
conventional and natural medicine practices. While in Nagaland, Ben will stay with
my family members. In addition, my nephew, who recently graduated from college,
will be his guide and travel companion. Hotel accommodations are also available
should a need arise during his stay in Nagaland.
Every year there is a Hornbill festival in the capital city of Nagaland around the first
week of December. It would be awesome for Ben to experience this amazing
cultural presentation if he is able to make it during that time. Due to the heavy rainy
season, the summer months would not be a good time to travel to Nagaland.
Please feel free to email me for any questions at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jan Nienu
11 Hillcrest Ct.
American Canyon, CA 94503
KBES/ES/O-C/2012-13/026 10/01/2012.
To,
Mr. Theodore Hedge,
Louisville, Kentucky, 40241
Subj : I N V I T A T I O N.
Respected Mr. Theodore Hedge,
From KBES we greet you in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I hope you will remember our earlier correspondence on our Theological College project
which is being named after your great grandfather ―Dr. W. E. Witter who was the first Missionary
to our land. As highlighted in our Detailed Project Report, we had started the phase-wise
development of the College Campus.
The main part of the Project is construction of a 3 storied Administrative-Cum-College
Block with an estimated cost of Rs. 50000000. I am glad to inform you that we had already
completed the Ground Floor of the said building and we are planning to dedicate the building to the
LORD tentatively on February 25, 2012 and the Program Committee had decided to invite you as
the Dedicatory Speaker in honor of your great grandfather Dr. W. E. Witter. I am also glad to
inform you that one family had decided to sponsor your both ways Flight Ticket to enable you to
attend the function as the Dedicatory Speaker.
Therefore, I shall be very grateful if you could kindly pray about it and mail us back your
decision via (Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Photographs of the completed Ground of the College Building and the ongoing ground
developments are enclosed below.
With regards and prayer.
(Rev. Dr. E. NRIO EZUNG)
Executive Secretary.
'1'hl'; Third Period of Will Wltterrs Life IA from May,8th, 1888 until @3 I~lSept~lt1ber 24th, 1912• Missionary Service in U.S.A. •.••. 'ji
, nJ
On May 8th, 1888 Will and Mary Witter, with thelb two small children, I _:~ntnred the same harbour in U.S.A. from which they had Bailed 4i years before l ;i'j•..-oken health had mads neoasi!lary a premature return to Amerlca..But tilose .t ~~1short 4t yeJlD8 had proved fruitful onos.In thttt period Will Witter had IiIreduced the Lhota Naga language to writing an1had composed the first gr-ammer ;O;fin that 1anguage. T)a~o/grnrnmeI' was de san~d.to prove very useful to Gove rnmen t i ::Iclv111an officers and miseiollftries Who had to live and work among the .}hota ojNagls. Preoious human aouj s had be en won to Christ.Moreover' they retllr~d to :j.U.S"A. With a cons tr-a in tng love for the peoples of Assam that compelled them .;,to fhs.rtQ with Ghr1.stians 1.n America their own deep compDsBion and CItOncernforokhlthe w~lfare and salvation of tl! Aesamese. So deep and genuine was tl:tBtth-lliB ; 1!1conc ern that it roaul ted In the Return to India on Septemb~r 24,1912, of ,- i;Will WItter to serve as a missionary in Assam until thill/Spring of 1923. . l:i
: j iIii
idI';I: i, I~I111Ii:1:- .,ri
I. I''.! j I~ .111! nl:1 j l,fI!!
. IiWILt WIT'llER AS DISTRICT SECRETARYfor t~ A.B.F.M.S. :r.or MIDDLE WESr.ERN ~I:)'!~
DISTRICT, ( Iowa, N\!l~1"'9.Bka, andj'Wyoming). (Sept.1891-July I' 1896) :r aIn September of' 1891 the call came to Will Witter to be come DistrIct Secre..U:1
tsry for the ~m6rlcan :Baptist Foreie'}1 Mission SOCiety in tht'l States of Iowa, , ~hNebr aaka , andlJVyoming.with headquarters at Del!llt'b,.nea, Iowa" t~!JlIila work wah to stimulate the members of Baptist chur-che 8 to earnest prayer ill!
and increased giving of lives and runds to the missionary work in the v ar iou s .lli!lands carr1.e<j6n under the auspicles of the Amer1canY'Baptist Foreign MiSSion::!!Society. He was constantlY on the road visiting ChURht'ls, speaking at Assocla-lilitional meetings, contacting likeli1 prospects for miSSionary service. ;iiH
.;IolplFlrth,one of these likely prospects wrote e.bout Will Wittor 8S fol- ~,Jill10ws:1 He lived in Des Moines ano w as D~.striot Secretary for foreign missions; lJ:'for Iowa, Nebr-aaka; and Wyoming.HE WAS A WONDER.Onevery hand people W~H'e I ,il'saying," That young man will soon be dead, See how he works. He ought to go I IiI:l11orellslowlY, and liire longer. II. : :1/:
In the year 1891 I was married and took my bride from Marathon to : 1"Sholdon to attend the annual meetIng of SIOUXVALLEY As sQc1at:ton.A red ~l'!l~headed young man came into the meeting and began looking at us,He continued 'ii
rr'iiJ100k~ng At US until the period for devotional exer-c Lse a, when he began praY-ilii~~.ng, Oh Lord, al't'ftd this tall coupl e to As sam I" :\1
I had no idea who the man was; but learned that he was the new Secr~tq . ~1!1~. who hadtome to tOke the place of Dr-.C.F.Tolman o...JOhicago who had done that ,j'I( I 'I I
work for many years.Dr •. ,Witter made an add'T'oss in which he told nothing of his t r-svej s or 'l';;
of the olimADe or conditions in Aseam, but made US realiZe that the heathen ; lj.,1 th j,were lost anq.~ang1J1gover hell 9tH nH~8f! we all awake and R:et to them with 'il
the news of the SaViour's blooa th could waalt their sins llway, they wo~rd, 1;drop in: and, anyway, whit W~l'e Baptista for if it WIlS not to go into all the 1:
..;
WITJL WITTER STUDIES MEDICINE.S~pt~mber of 1888 found the Witter family living at 402 Hermita@e Avenual
in Chicago so that Will Witter might study m~d1cIne in the Chicago Homeopatl~lc HOl.'lpitaL,lie also stud'\ied in' the Hannaman Medical COllege.In 1890 he rec1.e\lled the degree of !:bctor of Medicine fr'om the Chioago HOmeo-pathiC Ho~pltal. A Similar degree ·from Hannaman Medical COllege was conferredlater. This study was W 1th th'l hope of an early r-ecurn to Assam to minister tothe phYSIcal as well as the spiritusl ne eds of its p60pleso But thIs hope wasnot to be fulfilled. God had other plans for Will Witter and hiS family.Contl.nueo/ill heAlth on the part of Mrs. Witter p08t~9ned indefinitely anyproppect of return to the country an4t>eople they haqoome to love.
J:
~ WItt WITTER as A pASTOR- ,From Febr-uar-y untft September of 1891 Will Wis-t/Ger'WAS acting pastor of the
~Cente.nnial( noW th~ Secon~) Baptist Church in Chicago.But God had a bigger place for Will Witter to fill than that of pastor foron~ church.
XXVII
AMONG THE I,HOTAS
REV. w. E. WITTER and wife arriving in Assami~ 1884, full of American rush and speed, were
soon prostrated from overwork at Sibsagor. .
It is not well for the Christian whiteTo hustle the Aryan brown,
For the Christian writhes and the Aryan smilesAnd weareth .the Christian down.
The more invigorating climate of the Naga Hills wassuggested, and W okha village, in the Lhota tribe, acommanding 'situation forty-four hundred feet abovesea-level was selected. English political control hadjust been extended over this tribe, and a subdivisionalofficer with a native military force was in command,making this a comparatively safe place for missionwork. A bridle path to the plains made okha acces-sible, rendering still more desirable this connectinglink between the Angamis and Aos. With Kohima,sixty 'miles southwest, already occupied, also Molung,ninety miles northeast, a grand trunk line of missionsto the Nagas would thus be opened .. Theimportanceof an early pccupation of this field had already beenpressed upon the Missionary Union.
Rev. P. H. Moore, of Nowgong, and Mr. Witter,ISO
I
\!iiJi
\
r·i'
".i;I
!. I
!,I
AMONG THE LHOTAS 15,1
therefore, visited Molung to consult about this matter,Mr. Witter thus relates the outcome of that conference ;" The year 1885 found the Lhotas still unprovided for.Brother Clark, however, believing that God was unmis-takably calling upon us to enter this field withoutdelay, after taking a few rapid, nervous paces acrossthe trembling bamboo floor of his rude house atMolung, exclaimed: 'If the Witters will OCCUpyW okha at once the expense of their transfer shall bemet.' Accordingly a telegram was sent to the DeputyCommissioner of the Naga Hills asking permission toopen a mission station among the Lhotas. The replywas favorable, an old, abandoned rest-house was placedat our disposal, and March 31,1885, our first dear homewith its blessed memories of work among the Assameseand Kohls was left, and a tea estate. near the foot ofthe hills was reached April 7th. Here we were met byRev. C. D. King, of Kohirna, who had traveled one hun-dred and twenty, miles on foot to help us' on our newand untried way." Mr. King was accompanied byseveral native police and a hundred Naga coolies."
Mrs. Witter writes: cc The first part of our march wasin the plains through dense jungle. Mr. King and Mr.,Witter took turns riding 'our pony and tramping. Iwas mounted on an old gray pony. We found the frailbamboo bridges very treacherous, and suddenly I feltmy p~ny sinking beneath me. Mr. King snatched mefrom the saddle, only to lose me in water almost beyondmy depth. But I soon rouchedbottom, and almost as
-----_._--------
s: CQRNERI IN: INDIA
quickly was dragged to the shore, thoroughly.drenched.The pony. escaped with only a sprain.
" The next day's march was up and down hills alonga narrow: path, one side of which was flanked bya per-pendicular wall ofrock, 'and on the other side one could10Qkdown, down, hundreds. of feet. We had beautifulbits of scenery, and the ever-shifting lights and shad-ows on the hillsides. The last day's journey.cOil-vinced me that, untilthen, I knew nothing of Naga hillroads. We had come to one of the short cuts, a gen-uine Naga path, over ~hich these men delight inclambering, requiring hands as well as feet.
" After many varied and exciting experiences Wokhastation was reached. Our only white neighbor .is thesubdivisional officer, who occupies another rude rest-house .. We have only two' rooms, mud walls earth. . ,floor, .so dirty the mud falls off, the dirt sifts throughthe walls. and there is no ceiling, only the grass roofover- our heads.. The bamboos are so full of boringinsects that a white powder is constantly falling, andthe large colony of rats is as much at home as are we.For our pantry we have a couple of boxes, with shelves,curtained. Our wardrobe is but a rope, over which wehang our clothes. It i~ a puzzling question where tostore all of our things. This miserable little hut is tooinsecure to withstand the fierce winds and fearful rains. . . ,and we are seriously considering an outlay of fromtwenty to thirty dollars for a new house, as a necessityfor health and comfort through the long rainy season
I
. AM'ONG THE .1..HOTAS 15T
just at hand. Anew language is to be acquired, andthere is not a letter, not one Christian person, not onewho has ever heard the name of Jesus. The manysepoysand sepoys' children here understand Assamese,and we are finding that our stay in Sibsagor was·greatly to our advantage. Our use of the Assamesetongue enables us to begin work at once, and we havea little school in Assamese and religious services everySabbath. But our hearts are not at rest. The Nagasswarm about us on every hand, and we are makingpundits of our. servants. We do love these wild people.Our Naga boys are interesting us more and more; theycreep right into pur hearts. Every day we are so gladwe are here. It will be a pleasure to work among thesepeople if we are permitted to remain."
Mr. Witter's health improved much by the bracingmountain air, and there was. joy and gladness and hopein this happy little mountain eyrie; "busy, busy all thetime." Inless than a year it became necessary to makethe long, hard journey of sixty miles. to Kohima formedical attendance. As soon as it was deemed prudent .they setout again for Wokha, with tiny, seven-weeks-old Volney in a snug little canopied box on a Naga'sb~ck, :eturning, as Mrs. Witter s~d, '~witha littlehindering .helper." .
By some change in the English officials a large gov-ernrnent rest-house was offered them free of rent,which, with the doors and windo~s Mr. Witter hadalrea~y provided for a new house.. made them very
.---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
154 A CORNER IN INDIA
comfortable without the expense in money and time ofbuilding. Their organ and stove had been gotten upfrom Sibsagor, adding much to their pleasure and com-fort. The organ proved very useful in the work andamused the Nagas greatly.
But a dark cloud was fast forming over this happy,hopeful horizon. There was no uncertain warning inthe failing health, of both Mr. and Mrs. Witter, and-thelatter was taken to the hospitable mission bungalow atNowgong, Assam, where .she might receive propermedical aid and nursing. Mr. Witter, in response to
. recent inquiries, says: cc e left Assam in the springof 1888. Mrs. Witter never returned to the mountainsafter the birth of Marjorie, and Marjorie was· sixmonths old when I first saw her. I remained on atWokha alone until I was so reduced in health as to beunable to pack up ,and go to Kohima, so Brother Riven-burg came over and packed my things for me and tookme to his home, where I remained several months andcompleted the outline grammar of the Lhota Nagalanguage, with a vocabulary which was published bythe government of India, appearing in print just twodays before we left for America. Aside from the gram- .mar we made typewritten primers, from which ourLhota boys learned to read, and Mrs. Witter translatedthe Assamese catechism into Lhota, and it was she whobegan the first formal teaching of divine truth to thispeople. She also translated the first hymn, 'There Isa Happy Land.' Afterward I translated several hymns,
AMONG THE LHOTAS 155
which were greatly enjoyed by the people. We alsotranslated portions of the ew Testament, which weretypewritten, but not published. These portions, withthe hymns, were sent to Mr. Haggard when he beganhis work among the Lhotas. Mrs. Witter has alwaysthought that one or two of the boys whom she taughtto sing, and to whom she so repeatedly told the storyof the Saviour, did really pass out of death into life,but they were young and under the control of paganparents."
For several years circumstances prevented furthermission work among the Lhotas. Rev. F. P. Haggard,while among the Aos at Impur, visited much amongthe Lhota villages, and with his family lived at Wokha
/ _.
portions of the years 189&1897, and was greatly en-couraged in the prosecution. of the work. While therehe wrote: "Two Lhota pundits have been secured and
..much time will be spent in the study of the language.It is' nearly ten years since the Witters closed theirshort but eventful and profitable labors at Wokha.They are well rememberedby the people. The seed sowedwill yet bring forth fruit. I am now able to join with myboy~ a coupleof hymns that I have made. We can alsorepeat a version of the Lord's Prayer in Lhota. Adaily service is inspiring to us all. The people .seemthoroughly interested, and I have reason to believethat some, at least, 6f this interest is not wholly ephem-eral. -I am especially pleased with the persistent desireof so many to learn."
, Ii CORNER IN Th-nIA
The' Missionary Union, however, being straitenedfinancially, asked the Haggards to return to the workat Impur, and thus the Lhotas were a second time leftwithout gospel heralds.
In December, 1896, Zilli, our Assamese preacher andteacher among the Aos, was appointed to this work.He visited the fie,id and made all arrangements for theremoval of his family to W okha, when he was suddenlytaken ill, and on Christmas Day with aching,' disap-pointed hearts we followed his body to the open gravein our' little cemetery at Impur,
Later Robi, an Assarnese worker at Impur, was sento W okha and was received by the people with many
expressions of favor. A very hopeful feature of ourwork among the Lhotas is that for the past few yearsthere have been Lhota boys, and more recently severalLhota girls, in the Impur Training School, a number ofwhom have been baptized. One or- these boys hasalready been preaching among his people. Boys fromthe Serna tribe, which borders on the Lhota, have alsoattended the school at Impur, whence go evangelists,pastors, and school-teachers to herald the gospel mes-sage in many villages of these savage tribes. A fairlystrong church has been established among the Lhotasat Okotsa.
INTRODUCTION
WHILE Doctor Clark continues, his personal ministryto the wiid tribes of Assam, among which he has spentso many years of self-sacrificing service, it will be apleasure to many in America and across the seas to readthe racy glimpses of life among the' warlike Nagas byMrs. Clark who, after sharing so long the perils of thesefrontier experiences, is now detained in America.
We especially commend this interesting narrative to thehosts of young people, many of whom are almost per-suaded that the-heroic in missions is forever passed. Letthem follow, some of those distant mountain paths, crossthe steep ravines and swollen rivers, face the wild tribesstill waiting for the gospel, and marvel at what God haswrought among those who have received the message.They will then thank the author for her thrilling story,and some will not be slow to say, "Lord, here am I;send me"; while every reader will be sure to pray, "Tosuch a harvest, Lord, thrust forth the laborers."
This is a fine book for vacation 'reading. It smells oftoe forests, kindles the imagination, warms the heart, isbetter than a novel, for it is not only full of romance,but is true.
WILLIAM ELLSWORTH WITTER.-FORD,MBMORIAL BUILDJ-NG
BOSTON', MASS., ,June, I~
JAMMU & KASHMIRDachigam", .Kargil
Sri nagar teSonamarg••••G Imarg • Amarnath •
E Pahalgam LehVaishno Dev; 't
Jam "ll: ~D~ramsa'a~ ,.<1IOChamba '<,
PathankottKa~gra :~f~ali
~
• I HIMACHALAmritsar \.v PRADESH
I • ,..,." __
CflANDIGARH~Simla Kedar.{lathPUNJAB 7 "_..,.,1. • ~ad;;';;a h
Ambala· ,J Mussoone J~- ~ "Kurukshetrae r: "Rishikesh /
L.., ~ - - Hardwar ••.•• Alrnora~, \ Hanikhet •• NainjtalHARYANAj Corbett ,~
Pilani~" ~'~ElHI ~UdhW;r/'jit,Sullanpur •••Sariska • I~YMathura Lumbini
Jais~mer RAJASTHAN AB~a:},ll';;~rr\· Agra Sa~li<asia .S'Po~aran Ambe.r; 1~~FatehPur Sikri ravasJ~sia\ • Kazlranga- / v
Pushkar, .Jaipur .~c/"X,-\ Lucknow. Ayodhya •• _' SII,gu"./ Manas GauhaliASSAM 50/'• A' Keoladeo 0 • Gorakhpur ).... 1.~ '-',Jodhpur jmer , •••• /~ G.I' ()Kanpur UTTAR L Vaishali ~adhubanl/·.... 1...~_.J Shll ,,-,c,,'.Kohlma
Ranthambhor / wa 10\ PR '\DESH ~ pOt -, Jaldapara ( -... long (-' -_/((Bundi. ~ Shivpuri •....s . Sarnath ~,- .....\ : na BIHAR J.J MHiHALAYA f) ~/ .1..,
Chittorgarh 0 --\ •••• (,/1 Ji /~lIahabad. " /' Nalanda Maida r ",ImphalM2'!.,n.!,Abu .,·J7 Kota ,- J l" - 0-'t--,,~_VaranaSl( Gaya." ') BANGLADE.SH (MANII'tIR
'1. • • 1.' - - .., \ • - \ : "Rajqir , ;'-\ I, ....,JIUdaipur t: \~ ~ \ '-I Khajuraho '-~ \;Bodhgaya [ • T" "'\;;---l
RannofKutch GUJARAl "! ) .../--cl S~~ I /-. Murshidabad Agata\Rfl'lIRA ·":.Aizawal• Modhera. '" ....) c.,r aga~ ............J '1.(' p~mau ·Hazar~aghJ ..~ _ rat;: B
.Gandhinagar ... BhopaloSanchi J b I Bandhavgarh ~( 0 r~J Shantiniketan * URMANal Sarovar • -Y""UJjalne • a a pur , R hi L \-VEST .;0.'
3amnagar •• Ahmedabad) • MAD/IYA PR·A()FSH ., anc I "'CIlEN(;AI. ',;.Dwarka °Rajkot re: 0 f J dlndore Pipariao.." ..}:..../-1.. Kharagpufo Calc~tta
• Junagadh of IVadodaraj an u Pachmarhi.... ,J ( _ I '<,Porbandar 0 • Bhavnagar r , Kanha ( -:- ,,1...- 1,..\
Glr. Palltana jgurat):1" '-__ / ~ __/,_s..r-'-,",..r, ~S~O~hi SlmllPa~
Somnath } Jalgaon. l~ Nagpur. \) r~1 ORISSADIU DAMAN ""-' \ i" Cuttack
(G.D, & D) (G 0 & D) -{"j--' Ellora ·Ajanta •••• ~ 1 Bh b I/' o. Tadoba < ( u aneswar Paradip
DADRA AND NrtSlk eAurangabad '- ( C- •..••.r-J Chilka anarakNAGAR HAYI LI Borivf ePalthan J 1....................... \ ~ Laa.' Puri
B b* Matneren ,,) h» .•(EI Ohmay) • 0Karla MAHARASHTRA( I J _' 1 ~ Gopalpur on Sea
ep an~~nava~ .Pune .J~ >~~-" /..1 S-~ "l_ .r. *"• .r '"1-1 Warangal ~ {/ t-: ..
Mahabaleshwar )) • \ ../.~-~ Walta"('_.i 5 Hyderabad Bh~rachalam
Kolhapur rrJBijapur 'Golc":nda YANAM~...r. Nagarjunasagar Amaravati (py) 0
) .. .:;.... • • eVijayawada(Belgaum Aihole rSrisailam 0
_.Jo ~ ~r' • GunturPanaji "<~ Badami Pattadkat ANDHRA "\
(G.D, & 0,) S( k: Hample \ PRADESH I* "IRt\! ~..J
"11: (• "I.r .•••Jog Falls "I \,..,.Lepakshi Ti '
oJ'~/,? irupanHalebid Sravanabelag<;>la· ••.••I Bangalore,;> ""J ~
Mangalore Belur • -,/~r M?dras...... . -. . ri....'<....., _Kanchlpuram
~ Ranganathlttoo •• Smangapatna .~MahabaliPuramo "'" ~MYSOre. •••z, Vedanthangal •c "S:. 'j; Bandipur,J TAMIL PONDICHERRY
"1 • ~ MAHE(Py) ~";Ootacamund ~ (Py)r."t-. s '0 Mudumalai L,ItiCoonoor N A D U Chidernbararn~o~·· . -::;,Kozhikode\O ,) 0 Tiruchirapalli
,.. 0" 0 '«\ Trich'ur 1'-'1Coimbatore.. KARAIKAL'!.- ~~ ~ \ ·('<'11 Thanjavur (Py)
• ';;' -c Ernakulam ~ '-').KOda5'kanal --Point Calimere~ Cochin': ~ I' M.d' •~ \• 7 '" a urai ~KottaWlm _, Ramesvvaram
\ ~Periyar ••
TOuilon I 0Tirunelveli
rivandrum ?Kovalam
,.. Kanya Kumari
CHINA
iodinTOURIST MAP
PAKISTAN
Bikaner•NEPAL
CHINA
BAYOF BENGALARABIANSEA
Vishakhapatnam
REFERENCESSTATEBOUNDARYTOURISTCENTREOTHERCENTRESWATERBIRDSANCTlIARYWILDLIFESANCTUARYINATIONALPARKBEACH
Rishikesh.PathankotoKeoladeo.
Bandipur'"
Kovalam *
INDIAN OCEAN
o~·o 0,.;,. 0
'" rlc \.jc- p~ o.
s: ]): 0"
~ 0 .~Port·Blair·0ANDAMAN
SEA
Benjamin R. Magee [email protected]
Present Address Permanent Address Campus Box 28793 121 Bartlett Road Winston-‐Salem, NC 27109 Weaverville, NC 28787 828.772.4685 828.658.0310 EDUCATION WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, Winston-‐Salem, North Carolina, B.S. expected May 2013 Major, Health and Exercise Science; minor, Spanish GPA: Cumulative 3.6, Major 3.89 SCIENCE ENRICHMENT PREPARATION PROGRAM, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Summer 2011 Competitive eight-‐week intensive training in Organic Chemistry, Physics, Human Physiology and Advanced Mathematics. Included 30 hours of classes each week and thrice-‐weekly tours of various medical programs. Program Rank: 4/50 (the program accepted 50/450 applicants). STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM IN SALAMANCA, SPAIN, SPRING 2012 Studied Spanish language, history, and culture. WORK EXPERIENCE Resident Advisor, Office of Residence Life & Housing, Wake Forest University, Fall 2010—Present • Advised 22 first-‐year students and lived on the halls as their supervisor, with 20 hours/week on-‐call. • Co-‐organized social programs for more than 150 students. • Performed rounds and documented judicial infractions. • Selected as the male representative resident advisor in a weekend exchange program to Waterloo, Ontario, Fall 2010 Certified Personal Trainer, Miller Fitness Center, Wake Forest University, Spring 2011—Present • Trained students and adults in Metabolic Effect style workouts. Fitness Center Clerk, Miller Fitness Center, Wake Forest University, Spring 2011—Present • Managed machines, supplies, and equipment checkout, and customer service. Camp Counselor, Spring into Wellness Camp, University of North Carolina, Asheville, Summer 2010 • Educated more than 50 middle school students from disadvantaged backgrounds on healthier eating and exercise habits. • Oversaw and mentored six middle school boys and facilitated cabin time as well as instruction for exercises. LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES Leadership Team Member, Allied Health Student Association, Wake Forest University, Fall 2011—Present • Organized seminars with medical program speakers from universities throughout the U.S. • Advised underclassmen on navigating career paths in the health field. New Leaders Retreat Participant, Office of Student Leadership, Camp Seagull, NC, Summer 2011 • Selected to participate in a weekend retreat with sixty other Wake Forest leaders from a variety of campus activities. Charge Leadership Participant, Office of Student Leadership, Wake Forest University, Spring 2011 • Participated in an 8-‐week program geared towards creating better leaders.
• Developed ideas for campus improvement. Vice President, National Residence Hall Honorary Society—Demon Deacon Chapter, Wake Forest University, Spring 2011 • Reviewed recommendations and selected outstanding students, staff and faculty for recognition.
• Hosted philanthropic activities. Committee Member, Office of Residence Life & Housing, Wake Forest University, Fall 2010—Present • Fostered development of new ideas for improvement in residence life and housing with twelve other members. • Co-‐organized recruitment process for the hiring of 200 staff each year. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Leadership Team Member, Wake Saturdays, Wake Forest University, Spring 2010—Present • Collaborated with twenty fellow college students to administer one weekly meal downtown for the local homeless community. Collegiate Challenge Participant, Habitat for Humanity, Miami, FL, Spring Break 2011 • Built a Habitat House with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. English and Reading Tutor, Northwest Middle School, Winston Salem, NC, Fall 2009 • Conducted weekly book club for six to eight 8th grade students with remedial reading comprehension skills. Special Olympic Buddy, Special Olympics North Carolina, Weaverville, NC, Spring 2009 • Mentored a ten-‐year-‐old boy in training and performance in the Buncombe County Special Olympics Meet. Volunteer, Touching Miami with Love Organization, Miami, FL, Summer 2007 • Assisted administering activities in an inner-‐city day camp for children of all ages during a summer mission trip. COMPUTER EXPERIENCE Proficient with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel