After more than a year in the role, Gracey Jo Gonzalez, who has served as director of the Summer Fellowship Program (SFP) since July 2023, announced her decision to step down. 

“This role has truly been the best place to work with the best coworkers,” said Gonzalez. “It ultimately just came down to feeling tugged in the direction of being closer to family.” 

The SFP partners Whitworth students with churches, camps and nonprofits across the country. This program provides students with valuable hands-on experience in ministry, outreach and community service by immersing them in real-world environments each summer. 

Jesse Michael-Allen Yi, a Whitworth graduate and lead Ambassador of SFP, will be taking over as interim director until the Office of Church Engagement selects a permanent director. 

Yi will be graduating from Whitworth with his master’s in business leadership this spring. He has been involved in the SFP for five years, starting when he was a fellow in the summer of his sophomore year.  

Open to all majors and years, the SFP offers students 10-12 weeks of experiential service, mentorship and spiritual formation. The program also comes with housing, food, and a $4,000 stipend.  

Ryland Gabriel, a psychology major, was a fellow at Hope House in Idaho over the summer. Gabriel provided direct care for youth from failed or disrupted adoptions. 

“It’s a very, very spiritually orientated experience, and it really expands your worldview in [a] way that I would not have expected,” said Gabriel. “It asks for a lot of humility and learning.” 

Luke Cox, a senior and speech communication major, was a fellow at Rancho Bernardo Community Church in California. Cox did marketing work for the church, helped with Vacation Bible School and worked with the youth program. 

“I was really nervous when I got there because I didn’t know anybody,” said Cox. “But I left the summer with a lot of friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life.” 

The priority deadline for applying for this summer is December 8, and the secondary deadline is February 9. 

“Before I was here and after I’m not here, we’ll still be a relational program that really cares deeply about students, about ministry, about the work that God is doing in the world,” said Gonzalez. “Because of the way that we approach connecting with students and partnering with sites, it’s always going to from that relational, intentional angle.”