Our partnership with Coast Guard Academy Cadets Nikko Beato, Kate Tlapa, Aiana Cayao, and Moani Farias is reaching an exciting milestone. The team has been hard at work interviewing our Manassas staff and researching ways to move our mission forward. Following their impressive preliminary presentation last month, we are eager to see their final recommendations on modernizing our social media, streamlining fundraising, and enhancing our organizational strategies.

They have already hit the ground running by helping us manage our online presence—be sure to check out our Facebook posts from March 4th,  17th, 19th, and 23rd to see their work in action!   Below ou can read the moving stories of what inspired these Cadets to choose Medical Missionaries for their Capstone Project.

Nikko Beato: The Medical Missionaries Capstone is my top choice because I value giving back to communities and supporting those in need. Assisting a nonprofit in strengthening its ability to serve the less fortunate is a meaningful cause I am eager to contribute to. By helping the organization enhance its operations for long-term sustainability, I will not only support their mission but also gain valuable insight into how nonprofits function-an area I am deeply interested in learning more about which I can utilize one day in the future.

Aiana Cayao: I chose this project as my top preference because of my strong interest in making an impact through medical missionary work and helping a non-profit organization improve its funding resources and network. By increasing publicity and potentially building relationships with the U.S. Coast Guard or other reputable networks and companies, the organization could gain greater support and donations. I also find this project appealing because it is not as heavily Coast Guard–related as other capstone options, meaning it can benefit me beyond my time in service. The skills and future networking relationships I develop through this experience will be valuable both during my career and after I transition out of the Coast Guard. This project is an excellent opportunity to apply the management skills we learned in class such as marketing, financial literacy (for improving investments), communication and presentation, and critical thinking, in a way that contributes to both professional growth and a humanitarian mission.

Finally, we were honored to virtually attend the Class of 2026 Billet Night! We are so proud of our team as they prepare for graduation this May; they will all be heading to Coast Guard ships located in Sitka, AK, Kodiak, AK,  Portsmouth, VA  and Alameda, CA.  The team will virtually present their final Capstone Project later this month, and we look forward to tuning in. Stay tuned for the results!