For the past 8 years, student-leaders from 小蓝视频 have visited Israel to experience first-hand with their peers from around the country what it takes to become the leaders of tomorrow.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in investigating different ways of life, and this is the perfect way to do it,鈥� says senior D鈥橝yn Sayre, one of five current 小蓝视频 students chosen by the Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) to join this year鈥檚 Caravan for Democracy Student Leadership Mission to Israel. 鈥淲e鈥檙e scheduled to meet an incredibly diverse set of people from ambassadors to farmers. We鈥檒l experience everything from historical to religious sites.鈥�
In addition to D鈥橝yn, JNF-USA also chose seniors Emilia Santana, Rachel Pugliese, and Milena Lazovic and junior Mary Hehn to join this year鈥檚 mission. Thanks to David and Linda Stein, whose generosity earmarks a number of seats each year for students from 小蓝视频 and the University of North Florida, the five current Dolphins will spend 10 days on the fully subsidized educational trip to Israel this December and January. They join 20 other Dolphins who are alumni of the program, which JNF-USA runs to help develop student leaders into the next generation of community leaders, according to Nelson France, who runs the program for JNF-USA.
鈥淭his program is as much about what these students are seeing as who they are seeing it with,鈥� says France, JNF-USA鈥檚 Director, National Initiatives, Israel Advocacy and Education. 鈥淓ach student is having these experiences with 39 other student leaders, including athletes, fraternity and sorority and student government officers. We have an incredible alumni network in Jacksonville who make a tremendous contribution to the community.鈥�
Once Caravan participants return, JNF-USA asks them to share their experiences with others.
JNF-USA selects participants from colleges and universities around the U.S. through a competitive application and interview process. Successful candidates participate in pre-trip webinars in the fall semester and facilitate follow-up campus activities in the spring semester.
In 2018, Reggie Agulto 鈥�21, a history major, joined the Caravan and helped inspire several of this year鈥檚 小蓝视频 participants to apply for the program.
鈥淭here is the concept of truth from your own perspective,鈥� Reggie says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to explore on your own to experience the truth. During my trip, every day after that day鈥檚 activities, our group would sit down for a discussion, sometimes as long an hour and a half. I would hear heartfelt comments from my peers about how the experience affected them.鈥�
鈥淚t has helped me challenge myself to talk about challenging topics with my peers.鈥�
Once Caravan participants return from their trip, JNF-USA asks them to share their experiences with others and recommend individuals for future trips. When Reggie returned from her trip, she joined fellow Caravan member and resident assistant Magyanis Ruiz 鈥�21 to present their shared experiences through a residence life presentation. All five of this year鈥檚 participants either attended the presentation or otherwise discussed the trip with Reggie or Magyanis.
鈥淭he mission of the program focused on diversity and facilitating leadership really drew me in,鈥� Mary says. 鈥淭hese are students from all over the country who debrief their experiences at the end of each day. I want to hear different ideas. Sometimes, we have like-minded people around us, and we might not be hearing all types of ideas.鈥�
Ideal candidates for the Caravan are students at US institutions who hold leadership positions in student organizations including, but not limited to, government, ethnic and minority groups, LGBTQ groups, women鈥檚 groups, service groups and Greek life who will be sophomores, juniors or seniors at the time of travel, according to JNF-USA. All five Dolphins have held leadership positions around campus: D鈥橝yn on the Shooting Team; Emilia with the Pre-Law Society; Mary with Gamma Phi Beta; and Milena and Rachel with Alpha Epsilon Phi.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have this group of students learning about the community, its political system, its social system, from Israelis but also from each other,鈥� Emilia says. 鈥淚鈥檒l make sure everyone at JU knows what it鈥檚 like when I get back.鈥�
Mission participants spend time in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and rural areas of Israel meeting Jews, Palestinians and other Israeli citizens from all walks of life. JNF-USA鈥檚 goal is to expose participants to multiple experiences so that they can facilitate constructive dialogue about Israel and the Middle East on college campuses across America upon their return.
鈥淣ot every student is willing to spend their winter break in a global immersive experience,鈥� Mr. France says. 鈥淭he participants are leaders on campus who we believe will be the leaders of tomorrow.鈥�
