VISION Program

Volunteers in Service Internationally Or Nationally

Application

January 2017

Quail Springs, California

Accra, Ghana

Cha Am, Thailand

Carmen Pampa, Bolivia

San Lucas, Guatemala

El Paso, Texas

Application Checklist! (Incomplete applications will not be accepted.)

Fill out Applicant Information below.

Answer all questions in Part I. and Part II. Answers must be typed and attached.

Read carefully and sign Applicant Agreement.

If applying for a Michael Patrick Keefe Scholarship, Loftus Scholarship, Jay Phillips Center Scholarship, Carlson Scholarshipplease attach to application.

You MUST attach a copy of the first two pages of your passport.

Email your application as an attachment to by Friday, October 7th 2016 at 5 p.m..Applications will only be accepted during this time. Applications will not be accepted in hard copy.

Applicant Information
Full Name (First, Middle, Last) / Year / UST ID
St. Thomas Email / Cell Phone
DOB (M/D/Y) / Gender / Major(s)
Is English your primary language? Yes No / Have you applied to VISION in the past? Yes No
How did you hear about VISION? / Have you been on previous VISION trips? Please list all:
Are you a U.S. citizen?
Yes No / Are you also applying for a scholarship?
Yes No
Please rank your Spanish speaking ability (1= none 10=fluent):

Emergency Contact Information

Emergency Contact / Home Phone / Cell Phone
City / State / Zip Code / Relationship
January Term VISION SITES
Please rate sites you are interested in going to in order of preference (1= First choice, 5= Last choice). We ask that you be open to any of our five sites. We do our best to place you on one of your top choices.
Carmen Pampa, Bolivia Cha Am, Thailand
San Lucas Mission, Guatemala Quail Spring Permaculture Farm, CA
El Paso, Texas ___ Accra, Ghana

Part 1:

Please briefly explain your experience and background in the following areas in list format. Note that experience in these areas is not a necessary requirement for being selected for the VISION program.

1)Community service and involvement

2)Learning about social and economic development issues

3)Experience with people of cultures or nationalities other than your own.

4)Travel or study abroad

5)Sharing about spirituality and reflection with others.

Part 2:

1)In 500 words or less please explain your reasoning behind choosing your top three preferences.

2)How has your personal history led you to apply to this program? What is your motivation for applying to the VISION program?

3)What strengths do you bring to the VISION program? Give some examples from other groups you have been a part of.

4)Describe an experience in your life that has been especially powerful or formative. What impact has it had on you and your life?

5)Having read the Six Components (attached to the application), what makes you excited about participating in VISION?

6)Having read the Six Components, what makes you most uncertain about participating in VISION?

7)Please list any personal health matters (i.e. allergies, motion sickness, medications, food concerns, asthma, diabetes, etc).

8)Is there anything else you would like the VISION program to know about?

The VISION Six Components form the foundation of our program.

Service is foundational to VISION trips. You will work alongside residents of the community you visit to address human, social and environmental needs. Your service may be tangible: building a home and seeing the finished product. Or your service may be intangible: tutoring a child without knowing the impact of your work. Each trip will incorporate both types of service.

Simplicity is a difficult component for many of us. We come to depend on conveniences or luxuries and have many choices about how we spend our time. Your group will decide together how to take with you only what you truly need. At your site, your choices may be limited by geography, money, transportation and safety. These limitations challenge our habits and help us examine the difference between needs and wants.

Spirituality is about your own faith, beliefs and convictions as well as the context for this program. VISION is directed from the Department of Campus Ministry. It springs from the Catholic tradition of social justice and the Gospel call to service. VISION welcomes anyone to participate as long as you are open to exploring and sharing issues of faith. Nightly reflections offer the opportunity to share your own spirituality with others in the light of the day's experience.

Community is developed within the VISION team and in cooperative work at your site. Your team will create a group agreement, reflect together and grow as a community through shared work. You will also establish connections with other volunteers and residents at your site through work, play and learning experiences.

Cultural Exchange is a two-way street: sharing your culture with those you visit, and learning about theirs, too. Depending on your site, you may be invited to an Appalachian Jamboree, a Southern Gospel Church, a Native American pow-wow, or a local historical or cultural institution. You will share your cultural identity through story, song or example.

Justice Issues are the broader concerns of your work. Beyond direct service (e.g. serving a meal) you will learn about the causes of poverty, oppression, etc. and responses made to address these issues. Through presentations and educational opportunities, you will discover the political, economic, social, historical and religious issues behind your service work.

By signing below, I certify that I:

  • Am an undergraduate student at the University of St.Thomas
  • Take full responsibility for meeting the financial responsibilities of the trip.
  • Do not currently have any financial holds on my account
  • Am 18 years of age or older
  • Have turned in a complete application including Passport copies and emergency contact info.
  • Am in appropriate physical and mental health (and am willing to provide documentation from a physician and or professional therapist if requested).
  • Am not currently on conduct probation with the University.
  • Am willing to participate fully in the trip and am committed to supporting and living out the Six Components (Service, Spirituality, Simplicity, Justice Issues, Community, and Cultural Exchange) during this trip. I understand that this includes a willingness to:
  • Serve as I am asked to.
  • Participate in discussions and educational opportunities offered by the site and group.
  • Cope with a variety of challenging situations and circumstances that may come with visiting another culture and/or another country.
  • Live and serve in community with fellow group members and others at program sites.
  • Engage in nightly reflection and converse with group members about topics such as spirituality and faith.
  • Respect the given rules and structure of the program site.
  • Listen and learn about social and economic injustices from the viewpoint of the people from the area which we visit.
  • Will participate in at least four orientations, including the Large Group Orientation
  • Agree to meet the specific expectations and responsibilities decided upon by my particular group in our Group Agreement.
  • Will not participate in any consumption of alcohol or use of drugs. Support of this policy by all involved is essential for a safe and socially aware break.
  • Will comply with St. Thomas’ rules, standards, and instructions for student behavior.

Name (please print) ______.

Signature Date_____