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Alumni Spotlight: Mark Linville
Feb 20 2012 - 9:50am

 

Mark Linville

 

What have you done since your days in 20/20 Leadership?

 

Since graduating from the 20/20 Leadership program and Washington High School in

2007, I have been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Arts with a minor

in Journalism. I am attending the University of Missouri- Kansas City (UMK) and will

graduate in the fall. While at UMKC, I helped establish a chapter of the nation’s first

nationally-recognized Greek-lettered Latin Fraternity called Lambda Theta Phi. Also, I

have worked in journalism with UMKC’s student newspaper, University News. I climbed

the editorial board ladder, first as a writer, then as the News Editor, and finally as Editor-

in-Chief, a position I currently hold.

 

If you could pick one person in history to have lunch with, who would it be?

 

I would definitely have lunch with Immanuel Kant, a German Philosopher that studied

metaphysics and speculation. He was a very brilliant man who questioned everything

in a very intellectual and philosophical manner. Though his studies are quite difficult

and somewhat hard to understand, they are thought-provoking and reminiscent of

anthropology and poetry.

 

In addition to Kant, I would have lunch with film director Robert Rodriguez. He started

off small in the early 90’s with the film El Mariachi. This film is now a cult classic,

though it was filmed as a one man crew with a budget of only $7,000. Rodriguez is a man

who takes his trade and does what he wants and has fun while doing it. He makes films

for everyone and that impresses me. He is an inspiration for anyone who has a goal but

very little means to accomplish it. He embodies determination and ambition. Though he

is no George Lucas, he still has his claim to fame and the uncharted path he walked to get

there.

 

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would be the first thing you would do?

 

I would pay off my student loans. After that I am sure there will be some change left

over. I would dedicate a percentage to UMKC to improve many of their overlooked

programs. I would give the rest to my parent as a gesture, not a repayment, for all of the

hard work and sacrifices they made to raise me and keep me healthy.

 

What has been your favorite travel experience?

 

I have yet to have a trip that has blown me away. But this past summer I went to Las

Vegas for a week. It was both a vacation and a leadership conference for my fraternity.

Vegas truly is an experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list, especially when

you go with people who are like family and make sure you have a good time.



Alumni Spotlight: Kristine Knutter
Jan 5 2012 - 1:29pm

Kristine Knutter

 

1. Where all have you lived in the world?

I’ve lived in or around Kansas City my whole life aside from San Jose, Costa Rica and Guadalajara, Mexico, where I studied Spanish two summers in college.
 

2. If you could pick one person in history to have lunch with, who would it be?


Edward Said and Friedrich Nietzsche


 
3. What have you done since your days in 20/20 Leadership?

On a fun note, since my time in 20/20 Leadership I’ve ran in two half marathons, discovered a love/hate relationship with Ashtanga Yoga, began studying Arabic and traveled to eleven countries.

 

I also attended William Jewell College in Liberty, MO, participating in track and chapel choir. I discovered American Humanics, which is a program to develop students to be leaders of nonprofit organizations. The program helped me discover my interests and passions. I switched from a nursing major and graduated with a B.S. in Business Admin with an emphasis in management/leadership and a B.A. in International Business and Spanish.

 

After graduating, I began working at People to People International where I have been for six years. I manage the student chapter program, with about 100 chapters worldwide made up of students who take action in their local community and promote peace through understanding. It’s been inspiring work! This month, I’ll graduate from KU with a Master’s degree in Global and International Studies. My research has been in peace and conflict in the Middle East, specifically the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

 

4. What is your favorite book?

Favorite? That’s too hard but I really like A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, which traces the lives of two strong Afghani women.


 
5. What has been your favorite travel experience?

Travelling throughout the Middle East last summer to Turkey, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank was absolutely incredible. I LOVED IT.


 
6. If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be?

Cheesecake with strawberry topping. Yum!


 
7. Are there any words you live by? A favorite saying or quote? What is it?

“Live as if you were going to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” –Ghandi


 
8. If you could pick anywhere in the world to volunteer for a year, where would it be?

I would volunteer at Tomorrow’s Youth Organization in Nablus (Palestinian West Bank) in an instant. It’s an incredible organization!



Alumni Spotlight: Lauren Hays
Dec 2 2011 - 4:17pm

Lauren Hays

1. Where all have you lived in the world?

I was born and raised in Kansas City, KS. After high school, I spent four years living in Lawrence,
Kansas. Lastly, spent one year living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Currently I reside in Kansas City, KS.

2. If you could pick one person in history to have lunch with, who would it be?

Martin Luther King, Jr. because he fought for what he truly believed in: EQUALITY FOR ALL!

3. What have you done since your days in 20/20 Leadership?

After graduating from Sumner Academy, I attended the University of Kansas where I received my
bachelor’s in Social Work. Upon graduation, I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Seoul, Korea
for one month to study social welfare in Korea as part of the Kansas Asia Scholars Program. It was a
great experience to meet others from around the world and to see how they live. After that, I moved to
Ann Arbor, Michigan to attend the University of Michigan and earned a Master’s degree in Social work.
As I started my career, I moved back to KCKS and started working at KVC Behavioral Healthcare as a
therapist in the children’s psychiatric hospital working with children ages 4-18. Recently, I found another
career opportunity working children ages 0-3 with the Parents as Teachers program with the KCKS
school district. Currently, I am enjoying learning all about the early childhood field in doing home visits
helping support parents in their most important job, as their children’s most important teachers.

4. What is your favorite book?

Definitely Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss It is so powerful and encourages people that they can
succeed in whatever they put their mind to if they work hard and cope with all of life’s challenges.

5. What has been your favorite travel experience?

I went on a choir trip with the University of Kansas to Europe in 2005. We visited Venice, Vienna,
Salzburg and Prague and I have to say being able to sing at many of the famous cathedrals was a once
in a lifetime opportunity. It was an amazing two weeks of my life!

6. If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be?

I would stay vanilla with sprinkles (sprinkles being life’s many surprises)

7. Are there any words you live by? A favorite saying or quote? What is it?

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
― Maya Angelou
For me, I believe you must live everyday like it’s your last and make everyday count!

8. If you could pick anywhere in the world to volunteer for a year, where would it be?

I would want to go back to volunteer in Korea. I was very impressed with how they cared for their elder
population and I would love to go and help out in a senior center. I believe elders have so much to share
with younger generations and would love to create a program where elders and young people could learn
from each other.



Alumni Spotlight: 5 Minutes with Susan Hepworth
Oct 20 2011 - 4:46pm

1. Where all have you lived in the world?

a. Born/raised in Kansas City, KS

b. Spent 4 months living in Wuhan, China

c. Post-college have lived in Des Moines, IA, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Washington,
DC, and now Boston, MA

2. If you could pick one person in history to have lunch with, who would it be?

a. James Madison, “Father of the Constitution”. It is one of the most profound,
powerful, and world-changing documents ever produced.

3. What have you done since your days in 20/20 Leadership?

a. After graduating from Piper High School I attended KU and earned a degree
in Journalism. While at KU I took a semester off to go live and work/volunteer
in China. Immediately after college graduation I moved to Des Moines, IA and
began working for Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s Presidential
Campaign. After that campaign ended in early 2008 I moved to Ponte Vedra
Beach, FL to finish the 2008 election cycle working for a political consulting
firm. After the election in 2008 I moved to Washington, DC and worked for
the Republican National Committee through the 2010 election cycle. With a
successful election behind me I took a much-needed vacation to Europe then
moved to Boston in 2011 to work on Governor Romney’s Presidential Campaign
– which is where I’m at right now.

4. What is your favorite book?

a. Not one in particular – but any non-fiction book that combines sports and
business I love! I also love non-fiction books about CIA/FBI/intelligence.

5. What has been your favorite travel experience?

a. My time in China was amazing. Although I was based in Wuhan teaching English
at a boarding school, I spent a lot of time traveling around and seeing a good
chunk of the country.

6. If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be?

a. Mint Chocolate Chip

7. Are there any words you live by? A favorite saying or quote? What is it?

a. Someone once told me “Yes, everything happens for a reason, but sometimes
YOU are the reason it happened.” That taught me to be more aware and take
better responsibility of my decisions (or lack of decisions) – and to always be
aware of things that are going on around me. I am responsible for me.

8. If you could pick anywhere in the world to volunteer for a year, where would it be?

a. Orphanages in Africa. Of all the amazing opportunities and things I’ve been given
in my life, the least I could do is spend a year giving love to those children who
many never have a family of their own. In the big picture of life, one year is not a
lot to me – but may seem like an eternity to those kids.



Welcome to the 20/20 Blog
Oct 19 2011 - 7:19pm

Thanks for visiting the 20/20 Leadership Blog! Here we'll be posting special information, alumni spotlights and program related information! Be sure to check back as we'll be developing this area in the near future. Also, if you have a question you'd like us to answer - go ahead and ask on the left of this page!



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