Following the example of many Aquinas College graduates before her, Alumna Jessica Coffelt (Class of 2010) utilized her learning to enhance the lives of the people she encountered outside the classroom. A double-major in Spanish and sociology, Coffelt continued the noble work she began as a student and went on to become involved fulltime with FUMSIL.

FUMSIL is a nonprofit organization that operates along the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is governed by the Catholic parish St. Isidore the Laborer in the province of Elías Piña and is the sole provider of healthcare to over 14,000 people. Dr. Angel Valdez, a missionary doctor, and Sister Roselyn Nichols work in close conjunction with FUMSIL. In addition to serving the medical needs of the people on the Dominican-Haitian border, FUMSIL also provides nutritional, religious, and educational assistance.

The decision to work on a fulltime basis with FUMSIL came easily to Coffelt. “My primary motivations for working with FUMSIL after graduation are the relationships that I have with local community members,” says Coffelt. “It would have been nearly impossible to say no to the offer to work fulltime with them since I know the great need and see great potential for their programs to grow and expand.”

Coffelt first became aware of volunteer efforts along the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti through the organization Building Bridges of Hope. Headquartered in Brighton, the nonprofit seeks to spread the Lord’s Gospel to the Dominican Republic’s most needy, as well as assist other organizations that strive to serve similar purposes. Building Bridges of Hope formed a partnership with Aquinas College in recent years to send students volunteers to the region twice yearly. Coffelt first traveled to the Dominican Republic in November of 2006 to organize details for Aquinas’ Dominican Republic service-learning program.

During her time at Aquinas, Coffelt participated in every Dominican Republic service-learning trip. She also traveled back to the region independently to attend events such as conferences and weddings. To date, Coffelt has traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti an impressive fifteen times.

Coffelt is passionate about the impact participation in service-learning trips has had upon her life. When asked if Aquinas students should take an adventurous leap and sign up for one of the many trips the college has to offer, Coffelt’s answer is an unequivocal yes: “I think AQ students should be involved with this program as it opens minds and hearts to the way that the other half of the world lives,” says Coffelt. She also states that students majoring in the fields of Spanish, medicine, or sociology should be especially motivated to go on the Dominican Republic service-learning trip as it is a great opportunity to apply those skills in real world situations. Coffelt adds, “Many students have walked away from the trip with once in a lifetime experiences.”