EMILY CRAGO

Hometown: Lewisburg, PA
Messiah University: Nursing
Employer: Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Host: Brad & Rachel Thompson
Mentor: Sara McCaffrey

Emily is a graduate of Messiah University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Throughout her time at Messiah, she worked as a tutor for first-year nursing students, was a member of the Track and Field team, served with AROMA (A Revolution of Missional Athletes), and was on the board for Student Nurses’ Association. Emily has always been passionate about caring for people, which is what inspired her to pursue a career in nursing. She now works as a nurse in the Emergency Department at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. She hopes to help people feel cared for and comforted on potentially their worst day. In her free time, Emily loves to travel, hike, make music, rock climb, and spend time with friends.

caroline crawford

Hometown: Orange Park, FL
Asbury University: Art & Deisgn
Employer: AIIMS Center (Alternative Individualized Instructional Methods for Success)
Host: Michael and Suzanne Dalton
Mentor: Ashley Fellers

Caroline is a graduate of Asbury University where she majored in Art and Design. During her time at Asbury, she worked as a photographer in the equine department documenting the Police Horse Training Program, the Equestrian Vaulting Program and the Thoroughbred Makeover Program. Additionally, Caroline was a member of Asbury’s Varsity Swim Team and Intramural Volleyball leagues. Her senior art show demonstrated Caroline’s affinity for both sports and people as she creatively reflected abstracted and colorful athletes in a variety of movement in hopes of inspiring others to move and live life to the fullest.  Currently, Caroline is an Instructional Assistant and oversees the GED program at AIIMS, an alternative education center in Salem, VA. In her free time, Caroline loves the outdoors, line dancing, exploring music on Spotify and working on her latest artistic freelance pursuits.

joey desai

Hometown: Troutville, VA
Virginia Tech: Computer Science
Employer: Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital — Web Development
Host: Charly and Bonnie Tull
Mentor: Bob Blecksmith

Joey started his college education at Virginia Western Community College where he earned his associate degree in Engineering with a specialization in Computer Science.  From there, he transferred to Virginia Tech to complete his Bachelor's in Computer Science.  While at Tech, Joey enjoyed playing on multiple intramural teams and was an active leader in Cru, an interdenominational campus ministry. In the Summer of 2023, Joey interned with Forward Integration Technologies doing web development in a fast-paced environment.  He quickly became proficient with git and working in an agile development framework. Joey has always had a passion for problem solving.  Weather troubleshooting and repairing a car or discovering and fixing bugs in code, he enjoys coming up with creative solutions to complex problems.  This passion led him to pursue a career at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in their TSG department doing web development. 

Emmie Lo

Hometown: Louisville, KY
Davidson College: Classical Languages and Literature
Employer: Faith Christian School
Host: Brynn Sowder & Sara McCaffrey
Mentor: Kristen Sloop

Emmie has an enduring passion for languages, music, and creative writing. She graduated from Davidson College in 2022, where she earned the W. Kendrick Pritchett Award for Excellence in Classics. While in college, Emmie worked as an apprentice Latin teacher and as a research fellow with the Davidson Classics Department. In addition, Emmie spent the summer of 2019 at Middlebury College’s intensive Language School, where she studied Mandarin Chinese in a full immersion environment. After graduating from college, Emmie taught Latin at Saint John’s Classical Academy in Fleming Island, Florida, where she discovered her passion for mentoring middle and high school students. While in Florida, Emmie served on the worship team at Grace Anglican Church and began writing her first fantasy novel, which she plans to publish in the future. Currently, Emmie teaches Latin at Faith Christian School.

CALEB MEYER

Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Employer: Church of the Holy Spirit
Mentor: Brian Taylor

Caleb, born and raised in Roanoke, VA, studied audio engineering and music business from 2018-2022, and has been applying his skills and knowledge professionally for the last 3 years. After a short stint in Colorado where he launched his professional career, he returned to Roanoke and began working in Church of the Holy Spirit’s A/V department. He also discovered a lot of promise in the local music scene and started meeting more and more ambitious musicians than he thought possible. Driven by this budding music scene in his hometown, he decided to set up shop in Roanoke City, and plans to open a commercial music studio by 2030. In the meantime, he is working towards creating a mobile studio trailer that will allow him to not only record more local artists, but take his studio to other towns and provide opportunities for artists all over Southwest Virginia.

ABBY VAN WINKLE

Hometown: Crestwood, KY
Asbury University: Exercise Science
Employer: Carilion Clinic Pediatric Therapy Rehabilitation Center
Host: Judy & Harry Walker
Mentor: Whitney Hoops

While attending Asbury, Abby was on the Tumbling Team for two years-an outreach children’s ministry team using gymnastics, acrobatic stunts, and cheer as a way to witness Christ through service. She was the chaplain of the team her junior year. Abby was also a member of the advanced men and women’s Chorale all four years allowing her the opportunity to sing in the cathedrals of Italy. During her time in Roanoke, she will be working as a rehabilitation aide with pediatric therapy alternating between Carilion Children’s Pediatric Medicine in the Tanglewood mall and the Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital. Abby hopes to pursue a career in pediatric occupational therapy with a focus on nutrition and mental health.