Alyssa Manzo - Outstanding Support Staff

Meet Alyssa!
Our 2019 Outstanding Support Staff Volunteer.

​We sat down with Alyssa and talked about her volunteerism and the value of Swift for her. Find the full interview below! 

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Help us congratulate Alyssa at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE!

INVOLVEMENT

Q: How have you been involved and (how long) with Swift as a volunteer?
A: "I have been involved as an adult volunteer at Camp Swift and mentor at Swift after school programs and Swift Saturday’s. My first time being involved with Swift was last Summer 2018 as an adult volunteer."
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Q: What do you see as the most valuable aspect of your experience as a Swift volunteer?
A: "The most valuable aspect of my experience as a Swift volunteer is being able to mentor the youth in these programs and make everlasting positive impacts. Implementing college education is something that I believe is important and showing youth that if I can
do it they can too."

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Impact

Q: Please tell us about any specific success that your involvement with our organization helped you achieve, and how.
A: "Through my involvement with the Swift Youth Foundation I have been able to start a first ever Swift Youth club at ASU along with other ASU students. Through this club ASU students who want to volunteer with youth have been able to attend Swift after school programs and Swift Saturdays. Through this club we have been able to pitch a new program idea called “Swift University”. This is where ASU will completely fund a Swift Saturday program and we will be able to implement different college subjects into education stations. These range from Psychology, Physics, English, and Chemistry."

Q: Can you tell me about a specific event or experience that exemplifies why Swift Youth Foundation is such an impactful organization?
A: "For me going to the after school programs and seeing the 3rd graders have fun, work together, and learn new things during these programs exemplifies to me why Swift is so impactful. A lot of kids go home after school with no fun activities to do but this program keeps these kids entertained and keeps them out of any trouble. Camp Swift is also amazing because the ability to just go to camp for free has never crossed my mind. As a youth attending this camp you are exposed to experiences that make you more social, learn team building skills, leadership skills, and long lasting mentor relationships."

Q: How has your experience with Swift impacted the person you are today?
​A: "Swift has impacted the person I am today by making me more responsible and has made me successful in college. As president of the Swift Youth Club I have a big responsibility in making sure everything is going smoothly, that people are volunteering and having a good experience with the club. Managing a successful club takes hard work, dedication, and responsibility. Swift has helped me in college because I feel more connected with my university and the people there. I have met many new amazing people from all different
types of backgrounds that want to volunteer with youth just as much as I do."

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Initiative

Q: How has Swift inspired your volunteerism?
A: "Swift has inspired me to spread the love for volunteering with other ASU students. It has also made me more dedicated in spreading higher education to youth. It is important to start young and tell kids that they can do whatever they set their mind to if they just work hard, get good grades, and have a set goal in mind."

Q: What creative or innovative ways have you volunteered with Swift?
A: "As mentioned before ASU colleagues and I founded a first ever chapter of Swift at Arizona State University called the Swift Youth Club. I have been able to drive ASU students to Swift after school programs every Wednesday at Crockett Elementary. I have also been able to bring them along to Swift Saturday events. In this way I have been able to expose a lot of students to Swift and we will only keep growing as the club gets more exposure."

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Help us congratulate Alyssa at the Swift Appreciation Event on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30pm. More info and to register-Click HERE!