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MEET THE CREW
Cassie Payne, Treasurer
Year/Major: Senior Kinesiology
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been a part of the crew for four years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? Being a part of the crew has been noting but amazing. I joined after seeing hats all over campus. I then looked it up and realized how cool of an organization LYM was. After having my mom go through Breast cancer as a child, I know how much of a impact people can make and what us ad a crew love to do. Being around the families and kids and seeing them smile makes this experience life changing.
Kaylee Ver Steeg, Event Planning Subcrew
Year/Major: Senior, Elementary Education
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been in Love Your Melon since Fall of 2018."
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I wanted to get involved in a group on campus where I felt like we could make a difference. I’ve followed Love Your Melon since it started and I love their mission. We get the opportunity to interact with families directly and meet some amazing people!"
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Chloe Barton, Campus Outreach Coordinator
Year/Major: Sophomore, Kinesiology
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been on the crew for two semesters!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined Love Your Melon so that I could be apart of something bigger than myself. I joined so that I could spread the word about pediatric cancer and work on a personal level with kids in the Ames area who have illnesses.
Seana Perkins, Crew Captain
Year/Major: Senior, Kinesiology and Health
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for two years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew for the kiddos. I love that aside from working for a good cause, we're involved with local families. I love that we are given the opportunity to get to know them for more than the sickness that they have. The kiddos and families I have met are some of the strongest people, who are living life to the fullest no matter the circumstances. I am extremely thankful that I get to experience this all, and I get to do it with other college students who care just as much about the same cause as I do."
Madison Schwenneker, Special Events Coordinator
Year/Major: Senior, Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for three years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew because I wanted to make an impact on the lives that matter the most Children have impacted my life because they are both motivating and creative. To them the world is endless and they can do anything they put their mind too, and this is how I want to live my life everyday. The ones who are impacted have a special place in my heart because they are extraordinary and stick out more in a crowd, in a good way. This is why I joined the crew because I wanted to be able to advocate for the families and children that are struggling but are still living life to their full potentials. Love Your Melon is important to me because it is all about the children and the mission."
Taylor Kjeldaard, Secretary
Year/Major: Senior, Industrial Engineering
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been on the crew for two years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I love doing something that is bigger than myself, that puts a smile on kids' faces, and that are battling something bigger than I can imagine."
Jillian Streit, Creativity Director
Year/Major: Senior, Marketing and Management
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been a part of the crew for two years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew because I wanted to be a part of the mission of putting smiles, and hats on every child battling pediatric cancer. I wanted to help spread awareness of Love Your Melon, so more kiddos could have a better chance of living a positive life."
Sydney Zehender, Event Planner
Year/Major: Sunior, Agriculture Communications
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been a part of the crew for two years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "One of my best friends from home fought cancer throughout high school, and her family loves Love Your Melon. I love being on the crew, and being able to help families along with our superheroes through one of the most difficult experiences. Their smiles and laughs brighten any day, and I feel so lucky to have a sport on this crew!"
Carlye Marshall, Event Planner Subcrew
Year/Major: Senior, Kinesiology and Health Pre-Med
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for two years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew because of my love for medicine and helping people. As a volunteer crew member, I could see the passion in the crew members' eyes as they talked about this incredible organization. I wanted to do something meaningful in my college career, and Love Your Melon did that thing for me. It has immensely grown my passion for medicine, and I can't wait to continue on my career path, and make a difference in people's lives."
Amy Sanderson, Event Planning Subcrew
Year/Major: Senior, Marketing and Management
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for one year!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "One of my friends in high school was diagnosed with Leukemia, and I saw the toll cancer takes on those who are diagnosed and their family and friends. Love Your Melon gave my friend a beanie when she was sick, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to support the brand that supported my friend."
Erin Thiets, Public Relations Subcrew
Year/Major: Senior, Supply Chain Management and Marketing
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for three years!
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "When my dad got diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer I wanted to involve myself in organizations that fund cancer research and LYM has such great objectives!"
Hannah Peterson, Public Relations Manager
Year/Major: Senior, Public Relations with minor in Sociology
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been on the crew for four years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew because I wanted to get involved on campus, and I saw how great an impact Love Your Melon was making on families who have loved ones going through treatment. I also have had many people close to me battle cancer, and I have seen the toll it takes on them and their families - I wanted to be able to help others going through it."
Wren Powaser, Challenges Subcrew
Year/Major: Junior, Mechanical Engineering
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been on the crew for three years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew because, like too many, I know what it feels like to lose someone you love to cancer. Being on the crew gives me a chance to make a difference for kids and their families. The most important parts of being on the crew, for me, is knowing that I help put smiles on our superheroes' faces, and I am able to distract them from what they are going through."
Carley Lynch, Volunteer Subcrew
Year/Major: Senior, Elementary Education (Endorsements: Special Education and Reading)
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been a part of the crew for four years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I thought the mission was so unique and special, and I knew that I wanted to touch the lives of little ones directly. Spending time with the families is so special, and the children never fail to touch my heart. I am so amazed by their strength, and I know that if they can be strong, so can I. I have grown as a person through this organization, and I am forever thankful for the friends that I have made, and the person that I have become because of Love Your Melon."
Lesa Wicks, Creativity Director Subcrew
Year/Major: Junior, Event Management
How long have you been on the crew? "I've been on the crew for two years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew at Iowa State because I loved the idea of doing philanthropy-focused events as you would see in a sorority. Through Love Your Melon, I have learned SO much. The most important thing I've learned is that life is short. We should be living everyday like it is our last day. Our kiddos have taught me so much, and I will be so thankful to have them a part of my life!"
Shannon Swon, Family Outreach Coordinator
Year/Major: Event Management with a focus in Nonprofit
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew since fall 2015!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined the crew because I wanted to make a difference in people's lives, and I fell in love with the whole idea behind Love Your Melon instantly. This organization has become a huge part of who I am. I think, talk, and event dream about Love Your Melon all of the time. It sounds cliche, but the kids and their families are the reason I dedicate so much time to the cause. I admire their strength and determination to make the most under the circumstances that they find themselves in. I owe so much to Love Your Melon."
Breiana Crouch, Familiy Outreach subcrew
Year/Major: Sophomore, Child, Adult and Family Services
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for one semester!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I
Tera Von Tersch, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator
Year/Major: Junior, Elementary Education
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew since spring 2017!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I wanted to join the Iowa State Love Your Melon Campus Crew because I wanted to be a part of the fight against pediatric cancer. When I was in high school, a girl I danced with passed away of brain cancer. Shortly after, I learned about Love Your Melon and everything it has done for kids fighting cancer. I wanted to be a part of it, so I could brighten up a superheroes'' day and raise awareness for pediatric cancer."
Aunaca Novak, Challenges Crewhead
Year/Major: Junior, Dietetics and Psychology
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for a yea and a half!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I have loved and been a part of the Love Your Melon story since high school. Seeing Love Your Melon donate thousands of hats, millions of dollars to fight pediatric cancer, as well as, providing therapeutic experiences for little superheroes all over the world is such an AMAZING and heart-warming experience. I love and treasure that we as a crew get to hangout and provide fun experiences for the kiddos who are going through so much. Seeing the smiles on their faces and hearing the stories is something that will never be forgotten."
Jordan Giachetti,, Family Outreach Subcrew
Year/Major: Senior, Food and Nutritional Science
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been on the crew for one semester!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I wanted to join LYM to be a part of something bigger than myself. These kids are fighting battles every single day that are harder than anything I have ever done in my entire life. If taking a small amount of time out of my day will help them laugh and smile more and get distracted from their daily routine I will happily do whatever they want. These kiddos deserve a childhood as great as mine and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that happens. "
Caleb Townsend, Campus Outreach Subcrew
Year/Major: Senior, Kinesiology and Health: Pre-Medicine
How long have you been on the crew?
"I've been a part of the crew for two years!"
Why did you join Love Your Melon? "I joined Loved Your Melon because I wanted to make a difference in children's lives. As a Pre-Med student who wants to work with kids, there aren't a ton of opportunities to make an impact on a child who is battling cancer. I saw that in Love Your Melon through the volunteer crew. Not only do you get to meet the superheroes, and do fun events with them like bowling and swimming, you help promote products that help fight cancer. You get to help the children battling cancer now, and help prevent children having to fight this battle in the future."
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