Testimonials
Testimonials
Stories and praise from POWER OF ONE participants, including both students and mentors!
Kat Bentley | George Bentley | Cristi Benevides | Jordan August | Caryn August | Connie Martin | Kaycee Huffstedler | Boom | Bank | Biw | Syndi King
Kat Bentley
When Kat came to the Power of One Program she had been through a lot in her life. She was determined to make good choices in life and had a calling to do something of service. She discovered the POWER OF ONE PROGRAM and asked her dad and step mother to accompany her to Thailand as a family. What a joy they all are! I think Kat would agree that many of her world views were solidified during her time in Thailand. So much so that she started forming a plan to return to Thailand while we were still all on the Program! She returned to Thailand to teach English at one of our sponsored schools and was a star. The students and teachers alike adore her and she has been a blessing to them, as they have been to her. She has been accepted to university and will begin fall term, 2010.
Kat Bentley
Denver, Colorado, USA
Student Ambassador, Power of One Thailand, 2008
George Bentley
Imagine George’s surprise at not only being asked to support Kat’s decision to go on the Power of One but to join her! Not the typical request from a teenage daughter. It was a great family trip, bringing the gang closer together, while allowing each to have a unique experience! George is a highly driven entrepreneur who brought new life to the Program and was a great father figure to the kids on the Program.
George Bentley
Denver, Colorado, USA
Father of Kat Bentley and Adult Mentor, Power of One Thailand, 2008
Cristi Benevides
Cristi is an accomplished artist and the single mother of a beautiful little girl. She brought love, light, positivity, hard work, endless energy and her gorgeous artistic talent to the Program, the students and those who came to know her. One of the finest moments of Power of One2009 was a mural that we painted for one of the Thai schools. This school and it’s students have so little and not only were we able to bring school supplies and toys to them, but thanks to Cristi and her amazing talent we painted (under her supervision and vision) an enormous mural the length of an entire outside wall. Cristi is a Power of One!
Cristi Benevides
Denver, Colorado, USA
Mentor, Power of One Thailand, 2009
Jordan August
Jordan is an amazing young man; thoughtful, highly intelligent, and one of the funniest people one will meet. Though having trouble finding his place in traditional high school and choosing to leave school, Jordan was able to earn his GED. He came to a meet and greet for the POWER OF ONE with his mom and instantly knew it was something he had to do. Imagine Jordan’s surprise that despite his shyness in school and never feeling like he fit it, he was one of the most popular and sought after people on the trip! Everyone absolutely fell in love with him! He was able to open up to members of the Program and experienced the feelings of being accepted and loved for the awesome person he is. Upon his return he has been going to college and has a job for the first time in his life.
Jordan August
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Student Ambassador, Power of One Thailand, 2008
Caryn August
Caryn is a friend and colleague of Christian, the PR Director, and as such is a great supporter of Christian’s non-profit endeavors as Christian is of hers. Thus she happily agreed to attend a Meet & Greet for the Power of One and invited her teenage son to join her. Jordan decided that very night he would go to Thailand! Caryn is an admirable entrepreneur, business woman and an inspiring single mom; committed to providing her kids with love, education and opportunities no matter the sacrifices she must make.
Caryn August
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Mother of Jordan August, Student Ambassador
Connie Martin
Connie’s daughter participated in the POWER OF ONE THAILAND 2008 as a Mentor. In 2009 Connie said it was her turn! Whenever anything needed to be done or an extra pair of hands was necessary or a creative solution was needed Connie was there! And always no matter how tired she was she showed up with a smile and a positive word for everyone. She is a lovely individual who we are so grateful to know!
Connie Martin
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Mentor, Power of One Thailand, 2009
Kaycee Huffstedler
Kaycee came to us through her sister who had also attended Power of One Thailand 2008. Her sis wanted to share the experience with Kaycee and so they both came on the trip for 2009. Kaycee is from a rural area and was wowed by so many new experiences. As her letter will attest, this experience really changed her life. Kaycee exemplifies to us that one person CAN make a difference and by opening Kaycee’s eyes to a broader world, she will take her new views and appreciation for those different than her to others.
Kaycee Huffstedler
Murfreesboro,Tennessee, USA
Student Ambassador, Power of One Thailand, 2009
“Boom” Sathaporn Tawornnurak
Boom is one of our students from Bang Saphan Wittaya School, chosen for his attention to his studies, command of the English language and thoughtfulness. Boom turned out to be an absolute whiz with the English language and a welcome addition to the Program. He is extremely intelligent and absolutely hilarious- he had everyone giggling the whole time!
“Boom” Sathaporn Tawornnurak
Bang Saphan, Thailand
Student Ambassador, Power of One Thailand, 2009
“Bank” Thamanoon Wattanaprida
Bank was chosen by his teachers to join the Power of One because of his educational excellence and kind heart. Bank graduated at the top of his class and thus was awarded the first college scholarship offered by the Blue Star of Hope to university in Bangkok, Thailand. He is majoring in engineering. He writes letters to Juelle monthly to give her updates on his life. He is such a sweet soul; intelligent, dedicated and so intelligent.
“Bank” Thamanoon Wattanaprida
Thapsakae, Thailand
Student Ambassador, Power of One Thailand, 2007
“Biw” Chutamat Kunasorn
Biw is outgoing, intelligent and highly articulate. She amazed everyone with her vivacious personality, command of the English language and willingness to try anything new.
“I want my friends to know that the Thai culture has some great things, and the other cultures have other great things, but when you compare them this way, each culture is not that different from each other.”
“Biw” Chutamat Kunasorn
Ban Krud, Thailand
Student Ambassador, Power of One Thailand, 2007
Syndi King
Sydni is a business owner is the Los Angeles area who heard about the Power of One through the grapevine and immediately felt the draw to go. She thought that it not only would be a great experience for her own family but for others she knew so she relentlessly set about fundraising for her group. In the end she brought 10 people from LA, including her mother and her teenage son and daughter. She was an amazing mentor on the trip and we were so blessed to have the whole clan with us. On a side note, one of the students she brought returned to Thailand after graduation to teach English at one of our Thai schools for nine months. It’s amazing the ripple effect the Program can have! Thank you for everything, Syd, we love you!