About Us

ABOUT US 

Richa Beher (Experience Leader)

Hi everyone! My name is Richa Beher and I am one of the co-ELs for our AB experience in Gaston, NC. I am a junior Physiology and Neurobiology major from Elkridge, MD. I participated in my first Alternative Breaks my Freshman year, and addition to being memorable and fun, the experience completely reshaped my perspective on short-term service learning. On campus, I am involved in service and academic organizations, and in my free time, I enjoy backpacking, mountain biking, and reading. One of the aspects of this experience I am most excited about is hearing teacher and student opinions about the impact that KIPP Gaston Prep and in general, charter schools have on the educational landscape of rural communities.

Harshi Patel (Experience Leader)
Hi! My name is Harshi Patel and I am one of the co-ELs for this trip. I am a sophomore Cell Biology and Genetics major from Frederick, MD. Last year I participated in an Alternative Spring Break for urban education. During my experience, I participated in service-learning, became good friends with my fellow participants, and learned about the importance of the reflection component of Alternative Breaks. During my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and photography. I am super excited about this trip. I am looking forward to working with and meeting the students and teachers at KIPP Gaston Prep. I am also eager to learn about the community we will be working in.

Shoham Ghosh (Participant)
Hey! My name is Shoham Ghosh, and I am a freshman Neurobiology and Physiology major from Rockville, Maryland. This will be my first Alternative Break experience, and I am excited to have the opportunity to visit KIPP Gaston College Preparatory. I hope to learn about the educational inequity in rural areas and look forward to speaking with the students and faculty at the school. At the University of Maryland, I am involved in Circle K International and the Student Government Association, and in my free time I enjoy eating at different restaurants around College Park, spending time with friends, and playing tennis.

Breannah Goodman (Participant)
Hey! My name is Breannah Goodman and I am a sophomore Family Science major and a Human Development minor at the University of Maryland! I am from Baltimore, Maryland. On campus I am involved with the Global Public Health Scholars program, the College Park Scholars Peer Mentor program, America Reads, and the Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society. Outside of school, I love to dance (especially lyrical and tap), cook and bake, read, and spend time with my friends and family. This is my first Alternative Breaks trip and I am so excited for this experience! Through America Reads I am able to see academic inequalities in the more suburban areas of Prince George's County in Maryland, and I am excited to be able to compare the similarities and differences between the academic inequalities in rural and suburban areas through this trip! I am also excited to work closely with the students and faculty, being able to hear their stories and learn from them. Education reform is a topic that I feel strongly about and I cannot wait to learn more about it through this trip!

Nina Osborn (Participant)
Hi everyone! My name is Nina Osborn, I'm from Olney, Maryland and I am a freshman at UMD. I'm currently undecided for my major but I am thinking about Marketing and Communications. This is my first Alternative Breaks trip but I've been doing all types of community service since I was young so I'm very excited! I enjoy listening to music, photography, concerts, cooking, being with friends, and Netflix (of course). I can't wait to work with the teachers and especially the students at KIPP Gaston Prep and learn all about the school and education and rural areas.

Ziyu Huang (Participant)
Hi! My name is Ziyu Huang, you could call me Cloris :). I am a first-year graduate student in Marketing Analytics. This is my first Alternative Break Trip, I am always caring about education and gender equality, and I have been prepared well to dig out the stories in KIPP Gaston Prep and meet students and teachers there. In my spare time, I am fond of dancing Latin(Qiaqia, Rumba, Drive), playing guitar, cooking, reading and traveling. I hope this Gaston trip is also a good way to make new friends and feel the culture difference.