Here are some bios, and impressions of the program from some of the current CCPs.

Name: Marshae Carroll
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Communication
Campus activities: I am a member of the CORE mentoring program. Also, I volunteer two days a week at the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club.
About your CCP experience: My experience has been great. I am still getting adjusted to the program but I am very excited about it. I look forward to learning as much knowledge and skills that I can. Also, I look forward to making everlasting bonds with some great people.
Plans after graduation: My plan after undergraduate is to get a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology or Communication. I plan to start my own program focused around high school students in low-income communities.

Name: Jura Daubenspeck
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Psychology
Other Campus Involements: Sexual Health Peers, Colleges Against Cancer
About your CCP experience: My experience so far has been awesome! Everyone in the group is so fun to work with and the environment is so welcoming and open. I really look forward to getting to know everyone in the group and learning more about counseling skills.
Plans after graduation: I plan on attending graduate school, either for counseling psychology or clinical psychology. I hope to attain my Ph.D., focusing primarily on marriage and family therapy.

Name: Mauricio Dominguez
Hometown: Aurora, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: I have worked as a research assistant in a clinical psychology lab for three semesters.
About your CCP experience: I have enjoyed every single day with the class so far. Meeting everyone has been a wonderful experience and learning all these new skills has also been enjoyable. I am looking forward to growing personally and to increasing my knowledge in all things CCP. I also look forward to pushing myself and hurdling all obstacles that may lie ahead.
Plans after graduation: After graduating I am considering pursuing a Ph.D. in either clinical psychology or counseling psychology.

Name: Alexis Ekeberg
Hometown: Glenview, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: Alpha Phi Omega, Alternative Spring Break, Illini Pride, Phi Eta Sigma, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Psi Chi, Ace-It Facilitator, Alcohol Safety Awareness Peers, Research Assistant for the Center for Parent-Child Studies
About your CCP experience: My experience so far has been absolutely wonderful. It has been challenging, but at the same time an easy challenge to complete. The people in the program are great and I cannot wait to get to know them even better. I am grateful to have this unique opportunity. I look forward to learning new skills and becoming a better listener overall.
Plans after graduation: I am not sure what my plans will be after graduation, but I know that whatever I do, I hope to make a difference in the community. I do plan on going to some graduate program, but right now it is a mix between counseling, clinical and school psychology or law.

Name: Nikki Falk
Hometown: Aurora, IL
Major: Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies
Campus activities: Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Undergraduate Research, James Scholar, Planned Parenthood Volunteer, Sexual Assault Liaisons
About your CCP experience: My CCP experience has been great! I love having a classroom environment where interaction is the main objective. I am having a blast getting to know my class mates more and more each day. I am also enjoying the emphasis on multicultural competency. I can’t wait to continue growing with my fellow CCP’s.
Plans after graduation: After graduation I hope to pursue a Ph.D in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in women’s issues and gender issues. I would also like to continue my work with Planned Parenthood.

Name: Kelly Ferry
Hometown: Palos Park, IL
Major: Psychology with a Communications Minor
Campus activities: I am actively involved in Champaign-Urbana’s alternative radio station, WPGU. I am an on-air DJ, as well as their Traffic Coordinator. I take care of all of the commercials and advertisements that go on air.
About your CCP experience: So far, my CCP experience has been one-of-a-kind. I’ve never been this close with classmates before, and I look forward to getting to know them all better. The skills we learn in this class are so simple, and seem to be common sense, but are skills that seem so easy that I often overlook them when helping someone. This experience will definitely help me keep from overlooking important skills so that I will be able to help people more effectively.
Plans after graduation: After I graduate, I would love to attend graduate school for Communications and go into Human Resources.

Name: James Haas
Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: Sexual Health Peers, Students Advocating for Gender Education, Dance 2XS
About your CCP experience: My CCP experience has been great so far. We are learning so much valuable information that will help us in any field we plan to go into after graduation. I am having a great time getting to know everyone in the class!
Plans after graduation: It’s difficult, but incredibly rewarding. I look forward to learning more applied skills that will help me when I leave University of Illinois.

Name: Erika Jerzy
Hometown: Homer Glen, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: Volunteer Illini Projects, ACE-IT Facilitator, Alpha Lamda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
About your CCP experience: My CCP experience has been great thus far! I am really enjoying the class and getting to know my classmates. The CCP classroom is much different than any class I have had before. There have been many engaging activities that really make you think, yet you can still enjoy yourself. The overall environment is great, as well. Majority of the class time consists of us, including the instructors, having fun. My fellow classmates and I are getting to know each other and it has given a new dynamic to the class. The class really allows people’s personalities to shine through, which adds a component not seen too often on a large campus. I am excited to learn and grow with my classmates throughout the CCP program!
Plans after graduation: I plan on graduating a semester early and doing an internship for the semester. My hope is too intern at the Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana and than going to graduate school in the fall.

Name: Kayla Johnson
Hometown: Fithian, IL
Major: Psychology and Social Work
Campus activities: Illini Navigators- a campus ministry, Illini Pride, volunteer at Crisis Nursery, work at Facilities and Services
About your CCP experience: My CCP experience so far has been amazing! Everyday I am learning new things about myself and that is something I have never experienced in another class. It is engaging and I always look forward to going to class. I am most looking forward to getting to know the other students in my class; we all get along so well and the next year should be so great in getting to spend it with them! I am also looking forward to applying the skills I learn in CCP into my everyday life; not just having them being classroom skills, but life skills as well.
Plans after graduation: Well, I recently applied to double degree in psychology and social work. So, hopefully after I graduate with both of these, I want to do Teach for America. After experiencing the real world and fulfilling some aspirations, I would like to go back and get my master’s in social work and become a child advocate in other countries.

Name: Chye Hong Liew
Hometown: Malaysia
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: INTERLINK Mentor, Malaysian Student Association, Tzu Ching Organization, Alternative Spring Break
About your CCP experience: I love being a CCP! This is really a one-of-a-kind experience. The close knitted relationship among classmates is absolutely priceless. We do a lot of activities together as a group, and we share so much with one another! Through sharing and group activities in the program, I also learn to pay more attention to my interaction with friends/family and the interaction among other people. I really look forward to the activities in the next two semesters, and to witness the growth in myself and the friendship in our group!
Plans after graduation: I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology after I graduate. My ultimate goal is to do practice in the counseling or clinical psychology field, and if possible, to work with high school students!

Name: Ryan Nemethy
Hometown: Lisle, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), Childreach International,
Urbana Park District Youth Basketball Team
About your CCP experience: CCP has been insanely awesome thus far! I look forward to continuing to meet amazing people who are passionate about what they do!
Plans after graduation: I plan on changing the world. In order to do so I want to go to grad school. Preferably somewhere warm

Name: Ka Lui Ng
Hometown: Taiwan
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: Secretary, Hong Kong Student Association; Chairperson, LAS Transfer Student Advisory Group (International Committee); PSI CHI; ISSS Volunteer Group
About your CCP experience: In my point of view, CCP program is a two-way learning experience. We are learning different useful skills; and thus, in future semesters, our fellow schoolmates can benefit from the programs/workshops presented by the CCPs. Furthermore, the program has provided me an opportunity to get to know more about my classmates and myself. The CCP program is an excellent experience and FUN!! In future semesters, I’m looking forward to be a successful CCP and have lots of fun!!
Plans after graduation: Right now, I have one major and one back-up plan in my mind. My major plan is to apply for graduate school, either clinical psychology or counseling psychology, during my senior year. My back-up plan is to take one~two gap year(s) between my undergraduate and the graduate program. If I am going to take the gap year, I will probably go back to Hong Kong and apply for being a psychologist assistant in a mental health hospital. Since I am still searching for my research interest, I believe that my experience of being a CCP will assist my exploration.

Name: Ariel Rodriguez
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: I am currently involved with a group on campus known as Infinite Legacy. We are an interest group of Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority Inc. and we are in the process of trying to establish a chapter here at University of Illinois. The sorority as well as our interest group strongly believes in promoting interest in cultural awareness through community service and volunteer work. I am also a volunteer at Crisis Nursery. It is a safe haven for children in the Champaign-Urbana community who are at risk of abuse and/or neglect. It is definitely an amazing experience being able to work with the kids and help make a difference in their lives.
About your CCP experience: For me the CCP program has definitely been a very unpredictable yet exciting experience so far. If I am being completely honest, I have to admit that I was extremely taken back and a bit overwhelmed at the beginning of the semester. However, as time has passed, I have come to adjust to the work load and truly enjoy the program. My fellow CCPs are all very unique in their own way and it makes for interesting and fun interactions. I have to say I actually look forward to going to class just to see what silly things we are going to joke about or what new activities we are going to participate in that day. I am a bit nervous but also very excited to see what my next two semesters in the program have in store for me and my classmates.
Plans after graduation: After graduation, I hope to go straight into graduate school. I would like to earn a Master’s degree either in Counseling Psychology or Social Work but I am currently still undecided which. Either way, I eventually want to go on and become a Child Abuse Counselor. I know it is going to be a very challenging and emotional career but the way I see it, someone has to do it. All I ever wanted to do was make a difference and I see no better way than helping those children that need it the most.

Name: Emily Rudd
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: Cru–I lead a Bible study at LAR and help plan some events.
INTERLINK-I meet one-on-one with an international student on a weekly basis to mentor them and acquaint them with campus.
About your CCP experience: CCP has been so good! I love the dynamic of our group. We have fun together while learning and everyone’s just really lovable! I also love learning how to be a better interviewer–and friend! I feel like I’m receiving family secrets of the counseling world. It’s hard to say what I look forward to because I don’t know what everything will be like but I definitely look forward to learning and growing! I’m also excited just to get to know everyone better!
Plans after graduation: I plan on taking a year off because if graduate school is the next step, I want to be sure of the field I want to go into before investing a lot (and right now I have no idea). If I do decide on graduate school, the options are counseling, social work, occupational therapy, or law. If I don’t, it would be to do mission work full time. This is something I feel like I will do at least for some time in my future! Option C: an indie folk band decides to take me in as their female vocalist. This can include unrealistic dreams, right?

Name: Gabrielle Smith
Hometown: Bourbonnais, IL
Major: Psychology
Other Campus Events: I volunteer at the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club. There I mentor the youth in the Urbana Champaign area and I also coach cheerleading there.
About CCP experience: My CCP experience has been great. I have been really busy but all of the work and small projects that I have done this far have been enjoyable. I look forward to using the skills I have learned and practicing them to become a better person and psychologist.
Plans after graduation: After undergrad I plan to continue to go to grad school. I want to get my doctorate degree and become either a clinical or counseling psychologist and work with troubled youth and families.

Name: Jordan Torri
Hometown: North Aurora, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: I am a Resident Advisor at Newman Hall. I am also the President of Newman Ambassadors at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center. I am a Research Assistant in the Clinical Department of Psychology. I also play intramural soccer and volleyball.
About your CCP experience: My CCP experience so far has been amazing! This program is unlike any other. I already have learned so many skills in the field that I am interested in pursuing as a career. The people in the program are awesome! We are all so different but we all share the same passion for helping others. I look forward to going to class because I get to hangout with all my new friends and I get to learn new skills that are applicable in everyday life and for my future career.
Plans after graduation: My plans for after graduation is to attend a graduate school in pursuit of a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. I eventually want to become a clinical psychologist and hopefully start a private practice.

Name: Courtney Wolf
Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: I am a mentor for two undergraduate international students through the INTERLINK program, and recently participated in the LGBT Ally training and am part of the ally network on campus. I also do some research as a “290″ through the psychology department.
About your CCP experience: CCP has been an amazing experience so far, I have learned so much and feel like I have grown greatly in terms of my skills but also as a person. I cannot wait to continue with CCP and get even closer with my classmates and continue to learn. It is such a great program, and I am so happy to be part of it!
Plans after graduation: My plans for after graduation are still a bit hazy. I am currently weighing many options in terms of jobs and graduate school. I know that I love the helping field and am really enjoying the counseling aspect from CCP. I am really hoping the CCP can guide me towards what aspect of psychology and the helping fields that I should concentrate in. We will see!

Name: Marissa Zayas
Hometown:Plainfield, IL
Major: Psychology
Campus activities: Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc., Girl Scout Troop Leader, Peer Recruitment Program, and Vice President of special events for the United Greek Council Executive Board.
About your CCP experience: So far CCP has been wonderful! It is unlike any other program I have been a part of thus yet and I look forward to being a CCP for the next three semesters.
Plans after graduation: I plan on pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology and becoming a counseling psychologist.