Whiz Kid: Sophi Bunde

Age: 15

School:

Year: Rising Sophomore

Key to Awesomeness: Summer is not even half over, and Sophi Bunde has already been able to squeeze two big adventures into her three-month vacation — first to explore with fellow Quaker Valley students, then to St. Louis, MO., with a church group to volunteer at a homeless shelter.

Bunde joined 19 other Quaker Valley High School students and a few  on an 11-day journey through Peru starting June 7. Her goal, aside from having some fun, was to refine her Spanish and learn about the country’s history and culture. The trip included trekking around the Amazon rain forest, rafting on the Urubama river and touring Machu Picchu.

“I really wanted to be totally exposed to Spanish culture and the language because it helps you learn quickly,” said Bunde of the trip.

With no time to regroup in between excursions, Bunde returned from Peru and left the next day with 30 other students on a weeklong mission trip to St. Louis with the Presbyterian Church of Sewickley.

In St. Louis, she worked alongside her peers at a homeless shelter, organizing donations and helping to distribute supplies.

“Both trips exposed me to extreme poverty, which makes me realize how lucky I am,” said Bunde of her journeys, which combined education, adventure and service.

“I would love to do things like this again next summer," she said.