Et cetera : NCCC Corps Class 21 Team Leader Spotlight: Rachael Smith

By: Marilyn Ponce 

Name: Rachael Smith 

Hometown: Export, PA 

Rachael from Export, Pennsylvania is serving as the Cedar Unit Support Team Leader in AmeriCorps NCCC Corps Class 21. This is her second term with AmeriCorps NCCC after serving as a team leader on the team Moose 1 at the Baltimore campus. She arrived in Vinton in January of 2015 to start her 11-month service term with the program. As the Cedar unit support team leader, Rachael gathers reports from the field, assists with trainings, and serves with teams out in the field. 

Before her term of service, she graduated the Miami University of Ohio and received a bachelor’s of arts in Anthropology with a minor in Geology. Afterwards, Rachael worked as an archaeological field technician in Pittsburgh by surveying land and excavating sites for cultural material. 

Rachel talks about her motivation for joining NCCC for a second year, “I felt like I wasn’t done with NCCC yet - I wanted to keep helping people and explore non-profit avenues. I also wanted to see a different part of the country.” 

After completing the program in November, she plans on finding a non-profit job in Omaha or Pittsburgh in addition to getting her Certification in Non-Profit Management (CNP).   

Some fun facts about Rachael:  

Q: What is your favorite TV show and why? The Mindy Project because it’s hilarious and I love the cultural issues and narratives via Mindy Kaling 

Q: What song best describes you? Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield  

Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be and why? To hear people’s thoughts because I think it would be amusing and helpful in some situations – but I would want the ability to turn it off.  

Q: What is the most challenging and/or exciting thing you have done? Being a field team leader last year with AmeriCorps NCCC. 

Q: What is one thing you can’t live without? My toothbrush 

Q: What is one thing you would like to try but have not had the chance? Parasailing