Envision is an experience that allows students to work in a team, think critically, and move toward a common goal to help those in the community. The day begins with breakfast and time to get to know the other students joining. Then, there is a lecture where everyone sits together and hears the reason why we are here. During the previous Envision events I’ve attended, we discussed the need for a solution for waste abandonment in Beaver Falls. We listened to the heart of why the work we were about to engage with is so important. That way, we would be able to put our best foot forward by applying our faith in a meaningful way outside of the classroom.  

Throughout the day, more lectures and testimonies are read for us students to hear the context of the problem, for which we will create a solution. The students are broken into teams that research the situation presented for a few hours, then present their solution to a team of judges, similar to Shark Tank, where the judges decide on a winner. These solutions are presented to people who can use these ideas to actually create a difference in the lives of people around us.  

Envision is a way for students to take the skills they have learned in the classroom and use them with our neighbors. It also makes us very aware of the privilege we have and the problems that are absent from our lives. We get to step into the struggle of someone else, use the tools they have, and help — not because we are better than others, but because we are equal. This event was created to challenge our own biases and use the skills we’ve learned to create a better tomorrow for our brothers and sisters who may be struggling. 

By Ashlee Gagnon '26