University of Georgia graduate Natalie Badir joins our team from Augusta, Georgia! Natalie studied Biology and Studio Art, and she plans on attending dental school after her fellowship. She’s passionate about using her interest in dentistry in a non profit organization to best aid medically underserved areas. She loves to pass the time painting landscapes and portraits with oils. When not reading historical fiction or playing the piano you can find her tearing up the pickleball court, so feel free to play her in a game if you dare! A fun fact about Natalie is that her parents immigrated to the United States from Egypt, and she is thrilled to get a taste of home through Abadir’s! Natalie is very excited to get to know everyone in Greensboro and her Greensboro goal is to attend as many potlucks as she can. She is specifically interested in meeting local artists and being exposed to the artwork of Greensboro.
A graduate from The University of Texas at Austin, new fellow Amelia Emas calls Jacksonville, Florida her home. As she sets her sights on medical school next year, Amelia’s dedication to understanding human relationships and fostering connections shines through. Amelia’s journey to Greensboro has been influenced by these experiences and passions, including her undergraduate focus on Human Development and Family Science. While Amelia proudly supports her alma mater, the recent entry of the Texas Longhorns into SEC football has sparked a spirited rivalry with the Crimson Tide, a team she already playfully roots against in homage to her family’s longstanding allegiance to the Florida Gators. However, she’s eager to put aside her football prejudices and immerse herself in the tightknit Greensboro community. Beyond academic pursuits, Amelia finds joy in fashion, soccer, and sharing her love of learning with younger students. In Greensboro this year, she can’t wait to meet everyone and encourages those who recognize her around town to come up and say hi!
New to rural small-town life, Brooke Ermias is excited to be in Greensboro for the first time! She’s originally from Wylie, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, where she’s lived her whole life. This spring, Brooke graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas with a Cell Biology and Genetics major. She’s a medical school hopeful and is open to going wherever the wind takes her. Brooke believes practicing medicine should not be confined to the hospital and plans to extend medical services to as many people as possible. With a big heart and a warm smile, her love for connecting with the community makes her excited to build memorable relationships throughout her fellowship year with Project Horseshoe Farm. She’s never too serious, and you can count on Brooke to always make you laugh and have a good time. If not trying out a new recipe, you can find her singing, reading, playing cards, making art, or watching her favorite reality TV show Love Island. Brooke has many talents, and although she’s sweet, she can also be fierce! She has earned her black belt in taekwondo, but don’t worry. She says that how deeply everyone in the community knows each other makes her want to live in a similar place in the future. Brooke has discovered the magic of Greensboro, and she can’t wait to see what other surprises this community has to offer!
Katherine Grill comes to Project Horseshoe Farm from all the way up AL Hwy 69 as a native of Tuscaloosa and is thrilled to get to know her neighbors here in Greensboro. Kat is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama where she studied Kinesiology/Exercise Science. Katherine was a member of the UA softball team and has played in the Women’s College World Series three times! Continuing her athletic career here in Greensboro, Katherine can be spotted tearing up the pickleball court and catching Ultimate Frisbee touchdowns at Lions Park, all with a huge smile on her face. When she’s not playing sports or teaching the other fellows how to do a proper line dance, Kat enjoys shopping for local produce at the South Street Farmers Market, reading romance novels, and walking her rescue dog, Willow. As a cat-allergic animal lover, Kat and her dad built a chicken coop during the pandemic, and now her family has 12 chickens! Before the fellowship, Katherine wasn’t sure what to expect, but everyone in Greensboro has been so welcoming, and she has loved getting to interact with community members. In the future, Katherine plans to attend medical school and hopes to become a pediatrician in a rural area of Alabama. In the meantime, Kat is excited for the upcoming football season, and hopes the Roll Tide spirit will be strong in Greensboro!
Coming all the way from colorful Colorado, Keeley LaRiviere is eager to learn more about Greensboro and befriend the wonderful people who call it home. Much like her home state, Keeley has an affinity for bright colors and is often identified by her vibrant fashion and love of pink. She recently made the journey from the Golden Coast to the Gulf Coast, having graduated from Claremont McKenna College in sunny Southern California. There, she completed a dual major in neuroscience and public policy. When she’s not “movin’ it” at Community Center Program or missing her swing in pickleball, Keeley fills her time with a variety of hobbies and activities! She loves to spend time outdoors, play board games, watch TV, and learn new crafting skills such as crochet, painting, and sewing. She was a competitive swimmer and participated in varsity swimming at her college for two years, so it doesn’t take much to bring out her competitive spirit – ultimate frisbee players and trivia participants beware! In the future she plans to pursue a masters in social work with hopes of improving the state of public mental health and substance use services. During her time as a Project Horseshoe Farm fellow she is eager to learn more about community-based healthcare and how she can best support the people of Greensboro!
Meet Jonathan Lee, a proud Charlotte native and UNC Chapel Hill alum with a degree in Business Administration. In his downtime, you’ll find him dominating the tennis court or passionately cheering for the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, and his beloved Tar Heels. Jonathan’s journey from a business undergrad to a future medical school hopeful is nothing short of inspiring. He dreams of blending his medical aspirations with healthcare management and hospital administration. Currently, he’s diving into his fellowship in Greensboro, eager to connect with the locals and fully immerse himself in the community. Jonathan isn’t just a future doctor and sports enthusiast. He’s also the middle child in a family of four siblings and a violin virtuoso, having mastered the strings since the sixth grade. Greensboro, prepare to be charmed by Jonathan’s multifaceted talents and warm spirit!
Owensboro, Kentucky Native Gloria Lwin comes to us as a graduate of Centre College where she studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Gloria plans on attending medical school and learning about geriatrics. She is passionate about continuing to work with nonprofits and acting as a bridge between the healthcare system and community members. Gloria considers herself a foodie and loves to cook, so feel free to share your favorite recipes because she is most excited to try all new foods while in Alabama! Gloria is very musically inclined, playing the piano, violin and guitar. Beyond these talents Gloria enjoys crocheting and curling up with a classic Jane Austen novel. A fun fact about Gloria is that she was originally born in Myanmar before immigrating with her family to the United States. Gloria is excited to meet the people of Greensboro and to become immersed in the Greensboro community, so be sure and say hello when you see her!
Hailing from Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, a suburb outside of Philly, Abby Lynch is the sweet, bubbly ball of sunshine you might have noticed recently arrive to Greensboro. She studied Anthropology at Grinnell College in Iowa because she likes learning about people and their stories, which is exactly what brought her here! Some of her favorite memories have been enjoying the outdoors with her friends watching fireflies, stargazing, and taking in the scenery, things she is excited to do in Greensboro and the surrounding areas. If you can’t find Abby blasting country music and cooking scrumptious, elaborate meals for dinner, you can find her riding her bike, playing tennis, or sending letters to her friends and family! Abby hopes to go into a career of social work to always stay connected to her community and build relationships that provide people with access to resources that will improve their quality of life. So if you couldn’t tell already, Abby is the bee’s knees. She’s caring, reliable, and so much fun, so make sure you stop and talk to her if you see her out and about— you won’t regret it!!
Brynn McGlinchey comes to Greensboro from the small town of Old Lyme, Connecticut and has already felt so welcomed by everyone she has met since being here. In her free time, you can find Brynn baking banana bread, muffins, or scones, and she is searching for the perfect biscuit recipe. She would love to learn how to make pies, after being inspired by Greensboro Pies. She also enjoys a good book and has particularly enjoyed reading memoirs recently. Brynn grew up playing tennis and tears it up on the pickleball court. A Brown University graduate, Brynn studied public health and is thinking of attending law school to study Public Health Law. One day, she hopes to have a career where she can work directly with community members to improve community health and well-being. Being that it is her first time in the state of Alabama, Brynn is excited about meeting the people of Greensboro and learning about the city’s history through its people. During her time in Greensboro, she wants to learn new recipes and how to utilize local produce in her meals more, and has enjoyed visiting the South Street Farmer’s Market. She also looks forward to exploring nature in Greensboro and surrounding areas and finding some state parks to hike. Brynn’s best memories in Greensboro so far have been attending trivia at The Stable, playing frisbee at Lions Park, and watching the sunset over the cows on Horseshoe Bend Road.
Meet Juliana Surprenant, a Hebron, Kentucky native who recently graduated from Yale University with a degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. When she’s not buried in a book by Toni Morrison, you’ll find her hunting for treasures in thrift stores or perfecting her embroidery skills. Juliana hopes to start medical school next year, where she aims to become a physicianscientist with a focus on women’s health and pediatrics. She’s not just about lab coats and stethoscopes; she’s also passionate about community advocacy and plans to get involved in health policy and local government back in Kentucky. In Greensboro, Juliana is thrilled to volunteer at Hale County Hospital, eager to learn from its diverse staff and contribute to its promising mission. But beware, Greensboro foodies—Juliana is a very picky eater with a strong aversion to seafood and vegetables. Fun fact: this future doctor has a political past! Juliana worked in the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C., during high school and college, making her a true blend of science and civic service. With her varied interests and impressive background, Juliana is ready to make her mark on Greensboro and beyond!
Meet Grant Dillivan, a vibrant young man with fiery red hair, hailing from Powell, Wyoming. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, where he pursued dual majors in criminal justice and psychology with minors in honors and sociology. He is an avid reader and you might even catch him at the crime and horror section of the local Greensboro library. When not immersed in books, Grant thrives in the great outdoors of Wyoming where he enjoys hiking, camping, and longboarding. He is excited to explore the great outdoors of Alabama! He has a wealth of experiences and stories to tell, one of them being an interesting encounter with a convicted serial killer. Grant plans to earn a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology in pursuit of a career as a correctional psychologist in a maximum security prison. He looks forward to becoming a part of the close-knit Greensboro community! Grant’s infectious energy and unlimited social battery leaves a lasting impression wherever he goes, lighting up every room with his magnetic presence!
