This week’s Kenney Community Center Volunteers of the Week are Quisqueya Witbeck, Vinita Kusupati and Mahrukh Badar.
The three volunteers lead a combined Brownie-Junior Girl Scout troop of six girls, ranging in age from seven to ten. The troop meets once a week at the Kenney Community Center. So far this year, they have focused on team building and bonding, arts and crafts and most recently, leadership.
"The girls have very original ideas and have expressed interest in the positive role models in the local community, especially the Union College hockey team,” said Kenney Community Center Program Director Janet Sweeney. “As leaders, we want to foster a positive and supportive environment for the girls in which they can find enjoyment and grow as individuals.”
A sophomore from East Greenbush, N.Y., Quisqueya is a world history and international relations double major, with the goal of becoming an ambassador or diplomat. In addition to her service as a Girl Scout Leader, Quisqueya plays an active role in other campus activities, such as Bhangra, Shakti, Minerva Council and Union College Gatekeepers. With a strong interest in multicultural affairs, she recently completed an independent research project in ethnomusicology, participated in the London Mini-Term and will be going on the National Health Systems Term Abroad to Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands this summer.
Also a sophomore, Mahrukh hails from Delmar, N.Y. She is currently pursuing a major in political science and minor in Biology while on Union’s pre-med track. In addition to being a Girl Scouts Leader, Mahrukh is involved in Campus Action, the Interfaith Youth Core, the Muslim Students Association, Shakti, Bhangra and the Gatekeepers Society.
Vinita, a sophomore from Lincoln, R.I., is pursuing a double major in anthropology and biology. On campus, she serves as a tour guide with the Gatekeepers Honors Society. She is an active member of various organizations such as Bhangra, Shakti, Campus Action, AUM and Alpha Delta Lambda sorority. Additionally, Vinita has plans to study in York, England in the fall.