GOAT ALUMNI

Cassidy Gasteiger

• SFS ’18
• Major: Science, Technology, and International Affairs
• Certifications: GOAT, WFA, CPR
• I hail from central Pennsylvania, where a lack of literally anything to do meant a childhood full of running through cornfields, jumping off high places into cricks, and exploring abandoned cabins in the woods. These days I’ve found ways to get outside that involve much less trespassing, and I love caving, climbing stuff (although mostly I just fall off stuff), flirting with food stress on backpacking trips, and off-roading in the OE vans. Additional interests include rugby, baking egg-based bread, cross stitching and goats.

Payton Henson

• College ’18
• Major: Economics & Computer Science
• Certifications: GOAT, WEMT
• I was born and raised in sunny Sarasota, FL. Spent most of my free time fishing, kayaking, and diving up and down the West coast of Florida, as well as the Keys. That said, I have a pretty adventurous family, so most of our vacations have involved outdoor activities including hiking, mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, backcountry skiing and whitewater kayaking. I enjoy reading a lot and hope to go into a career that does not involve a cubicle or a computer screen.

Tami Lacasse

• SFS ’18
• Major: International Economics
• Certifications: GOAT, WFA, CPR, ET Top Rope Course
• I moved to Georgetown from Michigan where I developed a passion for scuba diving. I know… you must be wondering: what is there to see in lakes? I was pretty skeptical myself. I think that despite the lack of majestic coral reefs and fish it was the peaceful feeling of being underwater that allowed me to forget the low visibility and cold thermoclines. Because of diving, I have pursued other outdoor activities that offer the same feelings of peacefulness and accomplishment. I have found these through climbing, hiking, stargazing, and camping with OE. I hope you find what you are looking for in OE the same way I did!

Ty Loft

• SFS ’18
• Major: Science, Technology, and International Affairs
• Certifications: GOAT, WFA, ET Top Rope Course
• I love getting outside to wander along trails, climb cliffs, and look for cool creatures. In the classroom, I study wildlife conservation issues and Portuguese. I spent last summer driving a stick shift pickup through Mozambique’s national parks, where I narrowly avoided being squashed by an angry elephant.

Jesse McNeil 

• College ’18
• Major: Environmental Biology
• Certifications: GOAT, GRIP, WEMT, WAFA, CPR, ET Top Rope Course
• Interests: kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, surfing, yoga, tie-dye, and coconut water.

Ali Stephens

• College ’18
• Major: English & French
• Certifications: GOAT, WFA
• Ali is a senior in the college studying English and French. She joined OE her sophomore year after spending the summer working at a Dude Ranch in Colorado, where she fell in love with all things outdoors. Ali enjoys hiking, paddle-boarding, hammocking and backpacking. The summer before her junior year, Ali lead a GOPOP backpacking trip in Virginia with two other OE guides and had a blast. Ali spent a semester studying abroad in Lyon, France and is from the Boston area.

Madison Ashley

• SFS ’16
• Major: Culture and Politics
• Certifications: GOAT, WFA
• Born and raised in the bayous of New Orleans, La, Madison traded her below sea level paradise for the good ole Shenandoah Valley on GOPOP VA 2012. Per the tradition set by her Mountain Mamas, she has a strong attachment to live mac and Georgetown Fight Song singalongs. If prompted, she can debate both the finer points of New Orleans cuisine (gator included) and her overwhelming attachment to her Tevas in equal turn. When not chasing waterfalls, she can be found eating Pop’ems in the Hoya office or stargazing at the Observatory. Who Dat.

Emma Murphy 

• SFS ’16
• Major: International Politics, Arab Studies
• OE Certifications: GRIP
• Medical Certifications: WFA, CPR
• Born and raised in the Seattle area, Emma loves all things outdoors. When she’s not hanging onto a rock face, backpacking through the hills, or camping with friends, you can find her dancing, studying Arabic, and making a mess in the kitchen.  Emma’s introduction to the east coast “mountains,” live mac, and Georgetown’s outdoor community was GOPOP VA 2012. And including the time a group of guides decided to walk to Harper’s Ferry, WVA in one day, OE has been possibly the best part of life at Georgetown.

Sam Hanslits 

• SFS ’16
• Major: STIA and E&E (Science, Technology & International Affairs with a concentration in Environment & Energy)
• OE Certifications: GRIP
• Medical Certifications: WFR
• Sam was born and raised in Salem Oregon. He grew up hiking, skiing, and rafting with his family, but now almost his whole family has the climbing bug. Sam is most at home in a harness 100 feet off the deck, but you can also find him running trails around DC and grooving to the beat at any rock or EDM show.

Helen Sprainer 

• SFS ’16
• Major: STIA
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: WFR, CPR, WWS
• Helen was raised in the land of ten thousand lakes and feels most at home listening to the loons as the sun sets over the pine forests of northern Minnesota. She is working for OE for the second time this year teaching the new guide class in the fall and running training trips in the spring semester. Places you are likely to find Helen on campus include: the Outdoor Ed office, with friends playing the violin or the guitar, and making snow angels outside of Healy in the winter.

Nick Mendolia

• SFS ’16
• Major: International Politics
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: WFA
• I hail from the great state of New Jersey and enjoy anything in the fresh air. I love to run, bike, hike, climb, and occasionally binge-watch Parks and Rec on the weekends. At the age of 20, I have yet to pump my own gas or really visit the west coast – two things that I’m hoping OE will help me achieve.

Katie Harper

• Class of 2017
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: Lifeguard and CPR
• Katie hails from right outside of Philly in the town of Villanova. She loves ice cream, coffee and breakfast. Her favorite outdoor activities include skiing and hiking but she aspires to become a surfer (she has tried and failed but will keep trying). She is a certified junior ranger of Yellow Stone National Park and is a two time champion of both her junior and senior gym class badminton tournaments

Frankie Collantes

• Class of 2017
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: CPR
• I hail from the suburban wilderness outside Atlanta, GA, and have a deeply ingrained love of country music, Chik-fil-a, and sweet tea. I got involved with Outdoor Ed through GOPOP VA, and after the experience of almost dying on a mountaintop I knew I had to get more involved with the program. I enjoy backpacking and day hikes, kayaking, fishing, boating, and rock climbing. I am also involved with DC Reads and Relay for Life at Georgetown, and I enjoy playing the guitar and ukulele, soccer games, and crunchy peanut butter.

Matt Harden

• SFS ’17
• Major: International Politics
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications:  WFA
• Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, I have learned to love everything outdoors. Whether it’s backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains, whitewater kayaking, rock-climbing, or cooking a gourmet meal on a camping stove, there is nothing I’d rather be doing. As a proud member of the GOPOP VA family, I knew that I wanted to get more involved with OE at Georgetown. But outside of OE, I’m a certified Martial Arts Instructor and an avid fan of everything international relations.

Joy Jackson 

• SFS ’17
• Major: Science, Technology, and International Affairs
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: WFA, CPR
• Joy was born and raised just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and is therefore destined to be a rapper, by default.  She took up trail running early on, eventually leading her to explore Atlanta’s various trail networks and prompting her to develop a passion for the outdoors.  On campus, she is involved with WGTB where she co-hosts a radio show—American Robespierre™—which has gained a cult following in recent years (3 listeners).  She’s also a certified soccer referee with an ardent love for The Beautiful Game, which is really the only justification for waking up at 6:30am on Saturday mornings.

Clare Kelly

• College ’17
• Major: Physics and Justice and Peace Studies
• OE Certifications: GOAT, GRIP
• Medical Certifications: WFA, CPR
• I love pretty things like rocks and trees. I also love to cook and have begun learning to make Indian food. I have a random but insistent need to be creative in some aspect of my life, so when things get dull I cook. When I am back at my parents house I make ceramics. I have a kick-wheel at home that I still need to figure out how to transport to my Henle apartment. Before gaining proximity to a kitchen I have been known to spend weeks on end making origami just to get my fix of creative expression. Most importantly for this site, I love hiking, camping, and backpacking, and love the reward of discovering large boulders and brightly colored lichens after a long hike. I am also excited to be hopping on climbing trips in the near future. I am quite an eager navigator in training, and hope to live in a tree some day.

Jon O’Neill 

• College ’17
• Major: Physics & Economics; Minor: Math
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: WFA, CPR
• Raised by eagles in the Catskills, Jon is an experienced outdoorsman and frankly loves anything outside and joined OE to share his passion with others.  Hiking, climbing, skiing, sailing… as long as a trip doesn’t interfere with his monthly square dance, he’d be willing to go.  His favorite places on campus are the Quadrangle, Observatory Park, and the roof of Reiss Science Building.  In society, Jon is an outspoken enthusiast for square dancing, MacGyver, obscure TV/movie references, and Choco Mint Chip.

Tori Morgan

• College ’17
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: First Aid, CPR, Lifeguarding
• I hail from the beautiful town of Middleton, Massachusetts and love hiking, camping, and mountain biking. After working as a summer-camp counselor in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I knew that being a GOAT was the only way to satisfy withdrawal from the outdoors upon returning to Georgetown. While at school, you can find me cooking with friends, visiting the National Gallery, and exploring new running routes. My spirit animal is a dolphin because I love hanging out with groups of people, silly games and foreign languages. Can’t wait to meet you!

Carley Tucker

• Class of 2017
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: WFA, CPR
• A North Carolinian who loves traveling and all things bluegrass and bacon related. I love square dancing, eating delicious food, mountain biking, and traveling anywhere and everywhere with my family. My family is very adventurous and I have spent many car rides searching for hiking trails and getting lost in foreign locations. I spent a year in Spain and could live off of chocolate and churros. I love college basketball, exploring museums in DC, and finding picturesque locations to hang up my hammock

Emma Holland

• NHS ’17
• Major: Nursing
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• Medical Certifications: CPR, WFA, Lifeguard
• My interests are hiking and skiing, but I also just got scuba dive certified so that’s an interest too now other than the outdoors stuff. I also play rugby and I like to travel and play music.

Helen Faust-Little

• College ’18
• OE Certifications: GOAT, GRIP
• Medical Certifications: WFA, CPR
• I love climbing, camping, hiking, backpacking you name it! Pretty much anything outdoors. I’m also really passionate about animal rights, the environment, and my dog whose name is Caillou. My favorite thing to do is take long walks in the woods with my dog.

Grace Lobo

• MSB ’18
• OE Certifications: GOAT
• As a proud New Jersey native, I grew up as a bagel and pizza snob with a love for spending summers down the shore. My involvement with Outdoor Ed at Georgetown started with GOPOP VA and after spending almost a week exploring Shenandoah, I knew I had to get more involved! I love hiking as well as kayaking, swimming, sailing and basically anything having to do with being on the water. I also love nutella, Disney movies, thunderstorms, vegetarian pad thai, and The Office and I have a pet cactus named Ernie.