America Coast to Coast. Guided by their leaders, Apogee students will ride 2,754 miles across 9 states and touch 2 oceans – all to cross 1 continent. But they won’t be riding alone; they’ll have support along the way. This year, two Apogee returners will tag-team the critical role of supporting Apogee students and leaders as they bike across the continent together. So with a hoot and a cheer, we’re proud to present this year’s America Coast to Coast Support. Support Support!
Nick Cunetta – America Coast to Coast Support
After making his Apogee debut two summers ago in California and trekking through the Alps last summer, we’re excited to announce that the great Nick Cunetta will be joining us again – this as our America Coast to Coast Support! A Seattle native, Nick was deeply involved in his high school’s outdoor club after his interest was piqued by an outdoor survival course he took during his freshman year. After high school, Nick took a gap year to find his way to unique vistas across the globe; he backpacked through Alaska, the Himalayas, Italy, and the Scottish Highlands. While navigating the local geography, Nick even picked up conversational proficiency in Nepali, Italian, and Arabic! When he wasn’t strapping on his hiking boots, Nick spent eight months teaching English to five- to thirteen-year-olds in Thailand. Nick is incredibly grateful for the travel and adventure he has enjoyed and looks forward to facilitating similar opportunities for his Apogee students this summer as he supports them across the country. Now a rising senior at Tufts University studying Geologic Sciences, Nick spends his time outside the classroom tutoring incarcerated students in math, performing in a dance collective, and training for his next marathon. After two fantastic summers leading our California Mountains & Coast and Alps Explorer trips, Nice couldn’t be more excited to tag team America Coast to Coast with his Apogee students this summer!
Chandler Smith – America Coast to Coast Support
Although Chandler Smith’s family now resides in Yarmouth, Maine, he and his family have spent a fair amount of time living abroad. Along with extended stints in England and Poland, they called Melbourne, Australia home for six years. There, Chandler played cricket and quickly developed a hybrid American-Australian accent (which he has sadly since retired). Chandler has completed multi-day whitewater rafting trips, covered a variety of terrain by foot in Scotland and the US, and spent two weeks camping, climbing glaciers, and hiking in New Zealand. A recent graduate of Colby College, Chandler was very active on campus, where he was a member of Class Council and served as a peer mentor. At Colby, Chandler led pre-orientation trips for incoming freshmen and served as a youth mentor in the Waterville, ME community. Chandler has also spent six summers splitting his time as a camp counselor and coaching youth soccer – a job he’s well qualified for as a member of the semi-professional soccer team the Portland Phoenix! While athletics are a major part of Chandler’s life – he was on the varsity Colby’s Men’s Soccer team and an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the college – he is a passionate, self-described “shameless dancer.” After leading our Vermont to Montréal and Europe Coast to Coast trips in 2016 and 2017, respectively, Chandler can’t wait to support Apogee’s America Coast to Coast students across the continent this year!