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Expanding the Wilderness Inquiry Fellowship: Meet the 2024 Fellows

June 17, 2024 2 Comments

Riss Leitzke

This summer, the Wilderness Inquiry Outdoor Fellowship program marks its third year as we welcome a new cohort of outdoor fellows. The Outdoor Fellowship program is designed as an introductory career learning opportunity for people whose identities are underrepresented in the outdoor industry – people who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or as an individual with a disability.

This year, we are also proud to expand our fellowship program as we introduce the American Sign Language (ASL) Communication Facilitator fellowship. This new ASL Communication Facilitator Fellowship offers a unique, accessible, introductory-level professional skill-building opportunity to explore ASL interpretation within experiential Wilderness Inquiry outdoor programming. Over the past several years, we’ve worked to strengthen and deepen our partnerships with Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities to provide meaningful and equitable access to outdoor experiences and to further our mission of building an outdoors where everyone belongs.

During their time with Wilderness Inquiry, all fellows will gain hands-on outdoor experiences, professional skills, and career development tools, while co-leading or interpreting on Wilderness Inquiry adventures including extended trips to the Boundary Waters, the Apostle Islands, and Yellowstone, Glacier, and Voyageurs national parks. Get to know this year’s fellows!


Outdoor Fellows

Mariah Davis (She/Her)

Background: I am currently a student at North Hennepin Community College studying Environmental Science.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: I am excited to share my love for the environment. As a woman of color, I hope to be a role model for underrepresented communities. I’m passionate about making the outdoors safe, fun, and accessible for all.
What is one fun fact about you?: I am the president of my school’s Student Environmental Association.


Hatsune Kubota (She/Her)

Background: I am currently a student at Gonzaga University majoring in Environmental Studies and Leadership Studies.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: I am excited to learn more about DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access) and apply it to my future roles in the outdoors.
What is one fun fact about you?:
I bought a ring on Amazon — and it has a name! His name is Wilbur :).


Terrell Peterson (He/Him)

Background: I am currently a student at Hennepin Technical college studying Cyber Security.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: I am excited to gain more outdoor experience, meet new people, and go to new places. I’m always willing to listen to people’s needs and never hesitate to lend a helping hand.
What is one fun fact about you?:
I have been on two cruises.


Sylvi Shonka (She/Her)

Background: I am going into my third year at St. Olaf College where I am studying Social Work and playing soccer.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: I am most excited to learn to build community, help foster meaningful connections with the outdoors, and have a lot of fun with all the amazing people around me!!
What is one fun fact about you?:
I chose my own name when I was a newborn baby.
 


Mujahid Zafar (He/Him)

Background: I will be attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in the fall.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: I am looking forward to connecting with the natural world and my community.
What is one fun fact about you?:
I am a second generation immigrant but have never left the U.S. other than driving through Canada last year.


ASL Fellows

Allison Pritchett (She/Her)

Background: I am currently an educational interpreter and I work with DeafBlind Services, Minnesota (DBSM).
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: My goal is to become more involved with the community outside of my regular schedule. I am most looking forward to meeting everyone that I will work closely with, or for just one trip!
What is one fun fact about you?:
A fun fact is that I can juggle, but only for 5 seconds.


Teah Rurup (She/Her)

Background: I am a recent graduate from North Central University. I am an avid explorer and am in love with the outdoors and the Deaf community. My passion is ASL interpreting for people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: At Wilderness Inquiry, I can combine my love for outdoor exploration with my love for ASL and interpreting.
What is one fun fact about you?: In my spare time, I love racing my car or reading books.


Alissa Thielman (She/Her)

Background: I graduated from St. Paul College with an AAS degree in ASL Interpreting/Transliterating in May 2024. I completed an internship providing ASL interpreting services at a local post-secondary institution, and have previously volunteered interpreting at various events such as Minneapolis Pride and the Minnesota State Fair.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: I look forward to blending my education in American Sign Language Interpreting with my love for adventure and working with people.
What is one fun fact about you?: I grew up taking summer vacations around the country in the family van towing a pop-up camper.


Lauren Trowbridge (She/Her/They/Them)

Background: I am a recent graduate of the ASL Interpreting program at St. Catherine University.
What are you looking forward to in this fellowship?: I am looking forward to learning from all the incredible other fellows and improving my ASL skills in the beautiful Minnesota summer weather.
What is one fun fact about you?: In my free time, I love to read, camp, and sing with various choirs.


The Wilderness Inquiry Fellowship program is funded in part by the:

  • Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment
  • CLA Foundation
  • Public Lands Fund

Tags: Accessibility, ASL, Featured, Fellowship, Highlights, Leadership, outdoor accessibility, Staff

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer Nelson says

    July 19, 2024 at 9:49 am

    This so awesome and wonderful

    Reply
  2. Paula Storck says

    November 12, 2024 at 12:58 pm

    I loved having the links to some of the organizations Wilderness Inquiry partners with. How exciting to learn about all the adventures! And what a wonderful Fellowship Program! Wilderness Inquiry and their staff does so much to improve the world with each interaction.

    Reply

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