Embarking on our 2017-2018 Adventure

Bonswa! Kijan ou ye? If you’re currently staring at your computer screen with a confused look on your face let me clear something up for you, I just asked you how you doing were in Haitian Creole! Haitian Creole is the official language of Haiti.

First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Kyle Poucher and I am a junior Emergency Management major at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and I will be bringing you along on our trip to Haiti. Every winter cadets apply to travel to Ile-A-Vache, one of Haiti’s satellite islands. On Ile-A-Vache cadets continue the Academy’s Haiti Project established back in 2011. Selected cadets have been given the opportunity to venture to Ile-A-Vache as an ongoing enterprise to improve the quality of life to those on the island and gain real world experience of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. We are all very thankful to have been given this once in a lifetime opportunity and eager to learn about the inner workings of international aid .

This year, eight cadets including myself were selected to travel to Ile-A-Vache. Overseeing the trip/project is Captain Thomas Lennon, USCG, retired. Not only is CAPT. Lennon the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Department Chair, he is also the one who founded the Academy’s Haiti project. Upon selection we were tasked with each choosing a project to work on pending arrival and while in Haiti. Directly under Captain Lennon’s supervision are two senior cadets, who both traveled to Haiti this past summer. Kaylene Murphy and AJ Hight are each a team leader in charge of three other cadets.

To appropriately bring you along on this journey I want you to get to know my team! Down below are short biographies on each of the cadets traveling to Haiti! First off I’ll start with mine!

As you already know my name is Kyle Poucher and I am a junior at Massachusetts Maritime studying Emergency Management and minoring in Homeland Security. I am from Salem, New Hampshire and have a twin brother named Danny who also attends Mass Maritime. My brother has played a huge role in my life in shaping who I am today, without him I would have never ended up at the Academy. Half way through our junior year in high school he found Mass Maritime and encouraged me to come tour the campus with him. Thankfully I did, and fell in love with not only the campus but also the regimented lifestyle this school offers.

In my past three years at Mass Maritime I have learned and done some great things, and that’s why I am beyond excited to have been given this amazing opportunity to travel to Ile-A-Vache. My project that I’ve been working on is coordinating with EDEM to start up another radio station on the island. The island of Ile-A-Vache already has two community-owned and operated FM radio stations. These stations provide basic programs to the islands people. This year we’re partnering with EDEM with the intention to play a more purposeful role in the continuous upkeep and development of the island. EDEM has come up with a series of programs that will help educate and inform the islands community. I chose this project because I think it’s a great way to make a difference on the island. Also I was very interested in this project because the programs we’ll be broadcasting are simple day to day things most of us take for granted. For example some of the programs we’ll be broadcasting is timely information and , like local weather, community events, health care, sanitation tips, and disaster prevention. After Mass Maritime I hope to find a job somewhere in the Cybersecurity field. Now enough about me, check out my wonderful team!

“My name is A.J. Hight. I’m from Worcester, MA. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, watching movies, and going to concerts. I’m a senior in the Emergency Management program. I chose to major in Emergency Management because I was intrigued by the wide range of subjects covered in the curriculum. I have a range of interests outside of school and I like having diversity in my classes as well. Some of my favorite classes have been: Public Health Issues in Emergency Management, International Terrorism, Legal Issues in Emergency Management, International Relief/ Humanitarian Aid, and Radiological Materials.

I’ve been on two service trips to the Dominican Republic as well as one trip to Ecuador. I also worked in Wrangell, Alaska for Trident Seafoods during the summer prior to my junior year. I also traveled to Haiti this past summer with CAPT. Lennon and Kaylene Murphy. This was a planning trip for our upcoming trip in January. We met with many people including workers from Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as the mayor of Ile- A- Vache. We also familiarized ourselves with the island so that it will be easier for us to help the other students in January. Kaylene and I are currently team leaders for the group of students who will travel to Haiti this winter.

The project that I am working on is improving the wells on Ile- A- Vache. Clean drinking water is sparse on the island and we are hoping to improve it. I am working with a hydrologist from Martha’s Vineyard who has been to the island in the past. Hopefully, we can figure out a way to install new wells/pumps and ensure that they are maintained in years to come.

As a team leader, I have also been responsible for overseeing three other students and their projects for Haiti. The three other students are Jen, Jenelle, and Mikayla. Kaylene and I also help communicate between CAPT. Lennon and the other students. We have weekly meetings and are in contact with people all over the world in order to prepare for the trip/

I am very excited to visit the U.S. Embassy in Port-au- Prince. I enjoy learning about foreign policy and I can’t wait to meet the people who work at the embassy. I am looking forward to unloading the supplies from the ship. Planning this trip is a lot of work for all of the students involved so I am sure it will be satisfying to see the supplies make it onto the island. I want to learn anything I can from the U.S. Embassy and get a better understanding of International Relief/Humanitarian Aid. I want to see how U.S. government employees work in a developing country. I also look forward to learning more about the NGOs such as “Haven” on the island.

I am currently deciding between joining the Coast Guard or working in Law Enforcement after graduation. I wanted to enlist in the Coast Guard out of high school but I’m glad I went to college instead. I think my experience and class work will help me be successful in either career path that I choose.”

• A.J Hight ‘18

Emergency Management

“My name is Kaylene Murphy and I am one of the team leaders for the Haiti trip this year. I am an Emergency Management senior interested in pursuing public health or international relief. I was able to travel to Ile-a-Vache, Haiti this past summer with Captain Lennon and AJ Hight where I was able to grasp the scope and objectives of our project for the winter trip. For our return, in January I have been assigned to work on a water tap project. I will be designing a 5-gallon bucket water tap with a filtration system that people on the island will be able to use to supply themselves accessible and potable water. The goal is to make 250 of these water taps and teach students in Ile Vache how to make them themselves. I am looking forward to heading back down to Haiti to continue to expand my knowledge and understanding of international relief.”

• Kaylene Murphy ‘18

Emergency Management

“My name is Sam Santoro and I am a senior majoring in Emergency Management. For the majority of my life I’ve resided in Barrington, Rhode Island. I came to Mass Maritime because I was looking for a structured lifestyle, competitive education, and a degree from the regiment that carries more weight than your average state school. In regards to Haiti, my main project is overseeing the allocation of construction supplies to repair the Mayor’s office. Supplies ranging from pressure treated plywood, boards, truss brackets, and nails. Once mass maritime is in the rear view mirror, I get commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps with an active duty ground contract. I have aspirations to become field artillery officer. Overall, I am ecstatic to work with this awesome group down in Haiti.”

• Sam Santoro ‘18

Emergency Management

“Hello, my name is Olivia Norton, but my friends call me Liv! I am from Quincy, Massachusetts and I graduated from Quincy High School in 2014. I decided to better myself and my future by attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and here I am, a senior only a few short months away from graduating! I am majoring in Emergency Management, and after graduation, I plan to pursue a career in International Relief and Humanitarian Aid and work my way towards focusing my time in refugee camps. Massachusetts Maritime Academy has provided me with incredible opportunities and connections from all over the world. I have completed an internship in Kathmandu, Nepal where I worked at a hospital for a month. I was a part of the first Denmark Student Exchange Program to take place in the Emergency Management Major, and now, I am grateful to have the chance to travel to Ile A Vache, Haiti with a team of 8 impressive hardworking cadets. My project for the Haiti trip is to coordinate with our contacts in Haiti to find a barge that will help us offload the items requested by non-government organizations (NGO). This barge will connect to our ship, the T.S Kennedy, which will anchor off the coast of Ile A Vache. From there we will coordinate with the cadets on board the vessel to help our team offload the equipment and items we initially loaded on back in the U.S. Another project I am working on is supporting the NGO Haven repair their Seed Bank at a particular farm. There is a lot of parts and pieces that are needed for both projects and I am excited to be part of the journey of putting them all together!”

• Liv Norton ‘18

Emergency Management

“My name is Mikayla Bradford. I’m from Marlboro mass. I’m a junior in the emergency management program. I came to Mass Maritime because i wanted to become a firefighter. I have completed Barnstable Fire Academy training through Mass Maritime as well as become a certified EMT. My project is to help coordinate getting a tractor and two storage sheds down to Haiti by way of our school’s training ship. I am excited to venture outside the world of fire rescue and see what international aid and relief is like.”

• Mikayla Bradford ‘19

Emergency Management

“Hi my name is Jenelle Miller, I am from Scituate, Massachusetts. I graduated from Scituate High School in 2015. I am now a Junior at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. I am majoring in Emergency Management with a minor in Marine Science, Safety and Environmental Protection. I chose to go to Massachusetts Maritime Academy because of its reputation and the immense opportunities it withholds. I was fortunate to be chosen to go to Haiti this upcoming winter for a co-op experience. My project regarding traveling to Haiti is finding adult diapers for the Orphanage we will be visiting down in Haiti. The orphanage is lacking major necessities. So our goal is to provide diapers along with vitamin/ protein products. The vitamins and protein will in hopes provide a more reliable source of nourishment. I am very eager to travel to Haiti with the opportunities of experiencing an environment out of my comfort zone and expanding my interest in Emergency Management. My future goal is to pursue a job in disaster relief and animal rescue. Massachusetts Maritime Academy so far has presented me with many opportunities that will carry into my future with Emergency Management.”

• Jenelle Miller ‘19

Emergency Management

“My name is Jennifer Roy. I am a junior Emergency Management major at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. I am from Attleboro, MA and decided to attend MMA because of all the opportunities it holds. For extracurriculars I am the student government treasurer, volleyball captain, and a squad leader. I am excited to be given the opportunity to travel to Ile-a-Vache, Haiti to assist with relief projects and gain real world experience. My piece of the project is working on locating and transporting over 300 desks, tables, and whiteboards to furnish schools on the island. I look forward to working hard with my amazing teammates to accomplish as much as we can.”

• Jennifer Roy ‘19

Emergency Management

I hope from reading our bios you have a better understanding of who we are and what we are trying to do. I am so happy you are joining us on this incredible journey.

Until Next Time!

• 2/C Kyle Poucher

#MMA #HaitiProject #MassMaritimeAcademy