Sofia Casillas is currently a senior at Otay Ranch High School. During her freshman year she joined the Academy of Criminology and Justice, which is a college-bound program for students interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement. She has spent countless hours volunteering in diverse community service activities, such as helping elementary school students and feeding children at an orphanage. During her sophomore year she worked as business manager and writer for her school’s newspaper, The Ranch Review. This experience motivated her to pursue a career in writing.

In May 2008, Sofia planned and led a conference for “Building Bridges,” a program that builds youth awareness about tolerance and racism. During the 10th Annual WorldLink Youth Town Meeting, Sofia was a moderator for lecturer Patricia Marquez who held a briefing session titled, “The Case of Santa Teresa: Business Leadership for Social Change.”

In addition to her involvement in school and her community, Sofia works as a Lifeguard at Knott’s Soak City. Once in college, Sofia hopes to study abroad for one year in Italy. Her goal is to make a difference in the world by reaching out to others and creating awareness of major global conflicts and find solutions. When she’s not busy with school and work, Sofia enjoys listening to the sounds of Jack Johnson, reading novels, playing field hockey for her school and spending time with her friends.

Milia Fisher
Francis Parker School

Milia Fisher will return to Francis Parker School this fall for her senior year. She has attended Parker since seventh grade and has been actively involved in her school community through her participation in student government. As a junior she served as her class Co-President and currently holds the position of Global Awareness Director. Milia identified the need for the creation of a Global Awareness Director in 2007 and worked with her fellow Associated Student Body (ASB) members and the administration to make the position a part of student government. She hopes to make global awareness and education a part of the Parker community, curriculum, and everyday environment.

Milia also established the Free the Children Club at her school, an extension of the Canada-based Free the Children organization, which is committed to empowering students in North America and Europe to break the bonds placed on their peers in the third world. She currently serves as the club Co-President and is leading a committee to raise $8,000 to build a school in Africa and send a student delegation to build it next summer. The club will also hold a Global Awareness Fair in September to educate the student body about current global issues.

Milia has spent a lot of time visiting South Africa where her father grew up and where she discovered her passion for global social justice. She intends to study international relations in college and dedicate her life to the cultivation of global peace and cooperation. She is incredibly excited about this internship and the opportunity it will give her to learn and develop a well-balanced perspective on the causes of conflict. In her spare time Milia likes to travel, paint, dance, and read a good book.

Thania Herrera
CETYS Universidad (Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior)

Thania Herrera will be a senior at CETYS Universidad (Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior) this fall in the International Baccalaureate program. Thania was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico and is very active in her community. She is a founding member of Jovenes Unidos por un Mejor Planeta (United Youth for a Better Planet), an organization that promotes community awareness about ecological issues through events and recycling campaigns. Thania participated in the North American Youth Leadership Project for a Sustainable Future in San Francisco, CA where youth from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. shared their proposals to develop sustainable communities. She also took part in a project between the Tijuana government and another school to improve the urban environment of Tijuana. Thania cites her volunteer work with orphanages and asylums during middle school as the experience that made her cognizant of those less fortunate. Through Creativity, Action, Service (CAS), Thania has helped child orphans with their homework and taught them how to express themselves through creative methods.

Thania has been involved with WorldLink since the 11th Annual Youth Town Meeting where she served as a moderator for the Roots & Shoots panel that discussed the environment and youth. She has since taken on more active roles with other WorldLink events, including the Youth Forum featuring Dr. Jane Goodall in April of this year.

Thania is truly interested in the diversity of people and their customs and cultures. She plans to pursue a career in international relations and work as a United Nations diplomat. During her free time, she enjoys watching a good movie, reading, listening to music, hanging out with her friends and spending time with her family.

Alec Howard
Cathedral Catholic High School

Alec Howard is entering his senior year at Cathedral Catholic High School in the fall. He was born in San Diego, and has attended Catholic schools since kindergarten. Alec has a strong interest in current affairs as well as history. At Cathedral Catholic, Alec is a member of Model United Nations (MUN). He was given a special commendation during the 2008 MUN conference at High Tech High International. Alec is also a member of the National Honor Society, and he tutors fellow students at his school. Alec plays on the Cathedral Catholic tennis team, and he has been the captain of the Junior Varsity during the past two years, and he works part time stringing racquets at a tennis shop in La Jolla.

Alec also serves in the Ambassadors for Christ Corps, a student organization carefully chosen by the faculty for the purpose of representing Cathedral Catholic at significant events during the school year. Its members are a reflection of the trust vested in them by the faculty because of their positive attitudes, responsible behavior, and helpfulness to others. Alec has been appointed as executive officer of this organization for the upcoming year.

In his spare time, Alec enjoys swimming, tennis, traveling, painting, and spending time with friends and family. As a part time job he also tutors other students off campus. Alec looks forward to choosing a major in college with an emphasis on international relations. Economics, business, political science, and journalism are all under consideration.

Alix Reicher
Academy of Our Lady of Peace

Alix Reicher will be a senior at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace this fall. She is a member of the school’s Amnesty International chapter, where her responsibilities include organizing the purchase of the club’s merchandise. This summer she attended the NASDAQ sponsored program organized by the Close-up Foundation in Washington D.C., where she met with other teenagers from around the country to discuss the U.S. government and how it affects the national and global economy. Alix attended the 2007 Youth Town Meeting as a delegate, and the 2008 Youth Town Meeting as a moderator, learning about counterterrorism and climate change, respectively. She has remained involved with WorldLink and also attends other Institute lectures and forums.

During her free time, Alix regularly performs volunteer work at nonprofits like Second Chances: Bread of Life, St. Vincent de Paul’s, and Friends of Cats. She also serves as a poll worker during California elections. When not volunteering, Alix spends six hours a week as a working student at the Horsemanship Academy at Del Mar. Alix plans to major in international relations in college.

Jessica Wilson
La Jolla Country Day School

Jessica Wilson is beginning her junior year at the La Jolla Country Day School this fall. Since her freshman year at Country Day she has been tutoring Sudanese refugee students ranging from ages 5 to 17. As class president, she has led her classmates in many community service functions such as beach clean ups and graffiti paint-overs in South Bay San Diego. Jessica is the president of the Arabic Club & Student Diversity Leadership Club bringing culture, diversity and knowledge to her peers and teachers. As a member of T.R.A.C.E., Jessica has been spreading the word to many schools throughout San Diego about HIV/AIDS and sexual education. She has also attended several Model United Nations conferences and discussed current global topics. In addition, she attended the 11th Annual Youth Town Meeting and moderated a briefing session on the effects of global warming. She is currently working on starting up her own non-profit organization to raise money and awareness to not only educate but also mentor young children in developing countries.

Jessica is a passionate and determined young woman who hopes to make a difference in her community and in other countries. She hopes to expand her horizons by studying abroad and continuing her studies in international affairs. Born in Cairo, Egypt, Jessica is an avid traveler who loves to learn new languages and cultural traditions. She also enjoys working out, hanging out with friends and family and, of course, shopping!

Contact Information:

Karla Alvarez, WorldLink Program
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Phone: 619-260-7509