By: Hannah Hanlon
Hello California Rainbow! The Motivating Macaws of 2019 have been flying around the state of California, the country, even the world over the past five years and we are so excited to be back at Grand Assembly for our reunion!
So much has happened since our winter solstice so it’s time for a little update!
I recently graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a degree in Biology. I also received associate degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and General Science from my community college. I now live in Hermosa Beach with my boyfriend and am working as an Associate Scientist I at a bioscience company.
Kaitlyn Doktorczyk, Grand Worthy Associate Advisor & Historian, is finishing her last semester of her Master’s program for speech language pathology and is busy planning for her upcoming wedding in November 2024! She’s looking forward to all of the changes this next chapter of life will bring her!
Amanda Ruble, Grand Charity and Rep to Washington/Idaho, graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022 with a degree in business administration with concentrations in marketing and entrepreneurship and a minor in leadership. She is currently a legal assistant at a law firm.
Jasmine Scott, our Grand Hope and Rep to Oregon & Brazil, moved back to Oregon, and she works at a high school while in school to become a special education teacher!
Elizabeth Schade, Grand Faith and Rep to Australia & the Orient Pacific, got married, became an EMT, and moved to Maryland where she and her husband bought their first home. She now volunteers with her local fire department while she’s going back to school to finish her bachelor’s degree in Fire and Emergency Services at the University of Florida online.
Rachel Ross, Grand Chaplin and Rep to Bolivia, is attending Biola university as well as working as a supervisor at her place of work.
Bailee Weiglein, Grand Recorder and Rep to Maryland & West Virginia, just finished her Bachelor’s in elementary education. She is waiting on student teaching and hopes to teach fourth grade in the near future. She is currently working as a barista at the same local coffee shop she’s been working at since our Grand Year.
Alyssa Larson, Grand Drill Leader and Rep to Arizona & New Mexico, got engaged, is finishing up her degree in Business Administration and gave birth to her lovely son at the end of March 2023.
Taylor Fessenden, our Grand Love and Rep to Indiana & Kentucky, moved in with her boyfriend, and she’s starting a job as a visitors assistant in a local mortuary. She’s also in her certification program to become a licensed mortician and embalmer!
Kiara Steinhorst, Grand Religion and Rep to Alabama, Georgia, & North Carolina, is in her last semester of her Master’s program for a degree in Materials Science & Engineering at UNR! She’s looking forward to her next chapter of life as a “real adult” once she graduates.
Sadie Kelly, Grand Nature and Rep to Montana, North Dakota & South Dakota, has been busy busy! She’s attended 35 births as a doula and has embarked on midwifery school. She says, “Definitely not the career path I had planned but I am so grateful it presented itself!”
Ariana Schwalbenberg, Grand Fidelity and Rep to Alaska & Hawaii, just moved into her first apartment with a friend and their two cats, Luke and Sam! She is working at Old Adobe Elementary School where she runs their after school enrichment program! They’ve got a terrific group of 73 students ranging from transitional kindergarten to sixth grade. She’s also looking forward to working with the city of Cotati and Sandy Loam, a nature and art based enrichment program where she will serve as director of their transitional kindergarten/kindergarten summer camp.
Alexis Trickett, Grand Patriotism and Rep to Iowa, Minnesota, & Missouri, officially moved to Missouri in the spring of 2021 and she’s been working up the ladder in the restaurant industry. She is now a supervisor where she often takes care of connections she made during Missouri Grand Assembly. She’s also working on her bachelor’s and she’ll be starting an EMT course in the fall.
Mariah Cheron, Grand Service and Rep to South Carolina & Virginia says, “Hello California Rainbow how are you? Here’s a message from your Grand Service 2019! Hola! I have been living in Spain for the last three years as an English teacher. This experience has helped me to meet people from all around the world. I enjoy every day here in Madrid, and I get to spread my culture with those around me. From paella (pie-ay-ah) to the Mediterranean Sea, I’m so lucky to be here! Keep service in your heart and make sure you follow your rainbow wherever it may take you.”
Rhiannon Corgan, our Grand Confidential Observer and Rep to Kansas & Nebraska is continuing her studies toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Sciences with hopes to eventually become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist!
Katie Pewitt, Grand Outer Observer and Rep to Oklahoma & Texas is currently going to school for a degree in psychology while minoring in educational counseling. She’s looking forward to what the rest of this chapter has in store for her.
Kellianne Bryant, Grand Choir Director and Rep to Ohio & Pennsylvania lives in San Francisco and works in event design and production. They are getting a fine arts degree in Game Design and is the founder of their school’s Radical Artists Collective, where they use art as a means for community and social change.
Gillian Okin, Grand Musician and Rep to New Jersey & New York,
Emily Alcayaga, Grand Immortality and Rep to Michigan and Grand Editor is working at the same bank she was when we were Grand Officers and is now the Assistant Branch Manager. She got married in 2021 and she and her husband bought their first home in 2023. They have two fur babies (dogs) and are excited about the future they’re building!
Angellina McGill, Assistant Grand Editor, is finishing her last semester for a degree in business marketing at Sacramento State! She’s excited to be graduating soon and seeing what life brings next!
TaylorAnn Quick, Grand Circulation Manager, Member of the Grand Executive Committee, California Flag Bearer and Rep to Michigan, graduated in 2023 and her family’s business has expanded to a new location and she has her own office now. Soon she will be seeing her own clients but in the meantime, she’s the office supervisor. She can’t wait to see what this next year brings.
Natalie Espinoza, Grand Color Bearer and Rep to Colorado & Nevada, graduated from the University of San Diego and moved to Saint Louis, MO! She got her first teaching job and now teaches 5th grade!
Carissa Denehy, Grand Rainbow Flag Bearer and Rep to Canada, New Hampshire & Vermont, has relocated to Stockton and is a Customer Relations Manager. She and her partner adopted a beautiful dog and they travel together around CA to find the best camping spots.
Ashley Nicholson, Grand Christian Flag Bearer and Rep to Aruba, Florida, & Tennessee, moved to Oregon, got married, finished school, and adopted the cutest dog. Now she’s working full-time as a Phlebotomist!
Kaitlyn Calverly, Grand Lecturer and Rep to Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, says, “Hi California Rainbow!” Since her amazing year as a motivating macaw, she’s graduated from California State University, Chico with a B.S. in Nutrition and Food Sciences and a minor in Psychology. She’s enjoyed traveling to various fun locations with Greece and Italy being some of her favourites! This past July, she moved back to Ontario, Canada with her family and has been working at a winery serving at weddings and events. She’s planning on going back to school soon to complete an accelerated nursing program and looks forward to seeing what the future has in store!
Joy Manion, Dean of the Grand Cross of Color and Rep to Connecticut, New Hampshire & Vermont, graduated with a BA from Chapman University and currently lives in Los Angeles where she works in PR for Fox Corporation!
Our Grand Service Project, Megan’s Wings has been busy changing lives and assisting families affected by childhood cancer. In 2023, Megan’s Wings helped 227 families with basic living expense bills for housing, utilities, funerals, transportation, and lodging near hospitals through our Patient Aid Program. 163 families received four months of Gas and/or Grocery Assistance to help get children to appointments and make sure they had enough to eat. An additional 40 families received holiday care package support through our 2023 Adopt a Family Program, and 225 Hope Bags went to hospitals for distribution to children in the hospital this past year. With kind support from our donors, 655 pediatric families were helped by Megan’s Wings in 2023.
They say, “We appreciate that you chose Megan’s Wings in 2019 to benefit from Rainbow Girl’s fundraising that year. Partnering with other caring organizations helps us be there for the most vulnerable childhood cancer patients and their families when they need it the most. Thanks again!”
Five years have flown by and we are so excited to see where this crazy life takes us all in the next five!
