Letter from GPA - Now Accepting Applications for 2016/17 — Roland Platt

Dear Parents!

I hope this message finds you well – enjoying a beautiful spring, and a sense of spiritual renewal as well.

Hello, my name is Roland Platt and I am the director of Generation Peace Academy (GPA). GPA is now accepting applications for the upcoming program year 2016/17 and I wanted to share a few thoughts with you, the parents of a prospective participant.

GPA continues its commitment to invest in the future of our young Unificationists/Second Generation.

What do we actually do? In a nutshell, GPA’s extensive activities guide participants to:

 strengthen their life of faith,  clarify their life goals,  build healthy lifelong relationships,  discover their unique calling to contribute to a more peaceful world.

For anyone seeking to deepen their sense of value and identity as a Blessed child and a Unificationist, graduating from GPA training is a great accomplishment.

Formative years

The formative years from 18-21 are crucial for young adults as they prepare for a fulfilling life and a future of higher dimension. GPA staff has learned through experience that the following themes correlate with positive life decisions at this age:

 character development,  healthy friendships,  exploring a spiritual life.

Getting it right early on harbors obviously numerous benefits down the road of life. Could your son or daughter profit from a focused training program with a balanced emphasis on guidance and practice?

GPA makes a difference

Developing Character

Activities such as overseas volunteer service, fundraising, and outdoor wilderness training are all great learning environments to develop strength and humility of character.

Lifelong Friendships

One of the inevitable outcomes of going through these life changing experiences together is the creation of strong bonds with other brothers and sisters, friends of faith, who share the same values and aspirations. The extended community of GPA families refreshes our hearts and brings a new sense of hope we seek to share with our broader movement.

Spiritual Journey

GPA’s main objective is to provide a culture conducive to developing a personal relationship with God and True Parents, as well as a solid and heartistic understanding of the Divine Principle in practice.

Gap year recognized

Worried that a year or two on GPA might set your son or daughter back? The best colleges and universities in the US are increasingly recognizing the value for a young person taking a “gap year” after high school, or a break during one’s college education. Please also read these encouraging articles about the value of gap year programs, and worry no more!

Now accepting applications

This spring, Generation Peace Academy is accepting applications for the new program year 2016/17. We hope that you will encourage your son or daughter to apply. The application is free for Early Bird applicants. After April 24, there will be a $70 non-refundable application fee. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2016.

The application form is a bit long, but easy to follow and complete. The form is safe to use as it is hosted by Formstack, a professional data company, and not on our web server. The data you submit will be fully encrypted.

Your opinions matter

At the same time we seek your opinions and concerns in regard to our programs and how we can better serve your son or daughter. We set up a form that makes it easy for you to voice your concerns, make suggestions, and offer praise.

Cup runneth over

Through wholeheartedly investing in one or two years of activities in workshops, international service, adventure training, our pilgrimage and more, participants will be challenged, stretched and refreshed with a greater understanding and appreciation of our movement’s deep roots, their parents lives, and the significance of True Parents’ contribution to our world.

Please check our website for testimonies of parents, participants and alumni. Feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or feedback.

Thanks for visiting our site! We’ll do our absolute best to take care of your son or daughter, so please feel confident when you talk with him or her about the GPA program.

Roland Platt Director, Generation Peace Academy

Home Taking a Gap or Bridge Year »

Taking a Gap or Bridge Year Worried that a year or two on GPA might set your son or daughter back in their academic education? The best colleges and universities in the US are increasingly recognizing the value for a young person taking a “gap year” after high school, or a break during one’s college education.

We searched for and found some encouraging articles regarding taking a gap year, articles which we believe might be of interest to you.

Taking time off before college is recognized as beneficial

“ Admissions counselors at professional schools tell us that taking time off for school is rarely a disadvantage for an applicant. In fact, they often choose the student who took a year off and is ready to become fully engaged in school over the one who has been on autopilot and will burn out in a few months.

Princeton Review

“ Perhaps the best way of all to get the full benefit of a “time-off” is to postpone entrance to college for a year. For nearly 40 years, Harvard has recommended this option, indeed proposing it in the letter of admission. Normally a total of about 80 to 110 students defer college until the next year.

The results have been uniformly positive. Harvard’s daily student newspaper, The Crimson, reported (5/19/2000) that students who had taken a year off found the experience “so valuable that they would advise all Harvard students to consider it.” Harvard’s overall graduation rate of 98 percent is among the highest in the nation, perhaps in part because so many students take time off. One student, noting that the majority of her friends will simply spend eight consecutive terms at Harvard, “wondered if they ever get the chance to catch their breath.”

Harvard College

Here are links to some full, informative articles for your perusal. GapYearNow Princeton Review Harward College Tufts University

The GPA program is highly recommended

“ Both of my 2 boys attended and then were admitted to an Ivy League school. They have decent grades but not as high as some. I believe they got accepted because they could talk about ‘building wells for poor people in Guatemala’. Both university recruiters and big companies love to accept young people who are ‘balanced’ and have traveled and done creative and sacrificial work.

Dorothy Hill, Red Hook, NY

You can read more of Dorothy’s testimony on our site and worry no more.

Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1 other subscriber

Email Address Subscribe

Now accepting Applications for 2016! Come on, get on board while you can. Now is the time to apply for the 2016 season.

Go to Apply 2016 and put your info down.

“Count me in, I am applying…”

The application is free for Early Bird applicants. After April 24, there will be a $70 non- refundable application fee.

Donate Now GPA provides young people with an outstanding opportunity to develop character and start gaining leadership skills. (Before one can lead others, one should be able to lead him or herself). Our program guides youth not only in theory but also in extensive practice to learn and become.

Learn more about our funding needs and

support these efforts with a gift today!

Or go directly to our PayPal donation form to make a gift.

Thanks for your consideration.

Recent Posts Check out our new Fundraise.Com Page April 5, 2016

GPA Participants Have Lunch with Dr. Kim! January 28, 2016

Staff Categories Login Select SelectCategory Category

Archives Donate Now Select SelectMonth Month

Home Apply 2016 »

Apply 2016 Thank you for considering GPA for the upcoming year! If you have any questions about the application process please email us at connectgpa@gmail.com at your convenience. Please note that the following online application form on this page is hosted by Formstack and is secure to use, even though our site still runs on the http protocol.

3 Easy Steps to Apply Fill out the application form below and fill in all required fields. If any of the fields do not apply to you, please insert N/A. We suggest that you start a document on the local drive on your computer to prepare all the written portions of this application form for copy and paste. This application form may NOT save your progress and should be completed in one sitting or session. Once the form is submitted, you will receive an email from GPA staff regarding the phone interview, which will determine admittance to the program.

Requirements to Apply To apply to GPA you must fulfill the following requirements:

be an American citizen or have a valid green card or social security number, turn 18 by December 31st 2016*, have graduated from High School or completed a GED by September 2016.

* If you do not turn 18 by Kick-Off workshop, email connectgpa@gmail.com to request the Parental Consent Form.

What you will need to apply Personal Information Valid Passport Information Emergency Contact Information Medical History Information Two (2) Recommendation Letters Two (2) Essays

The application is free for Early Bird applicants. After April 24, there will be a $70 non-refundable application fee, to be paid for by credit card upon submission. The soft deadline for applications is May 31, 2016.

Tuition/Payment

Tuition: A typical gap-year program would cost $25,000 a year. In understanding families’ financial situations, the total tuition for GPA is $4,000 and the rest of the program cost is supplemented by fundraising.

A breakdown of program cost can be found on gpafamily.com, and if you cannot fundraise for any reason, you will be expected to pay the allotted amount indicated.

Payment: Tuition for the program can be broken into installments.

$2000 down payment by August 1st and $200 a month starting from September 1st, OR $1500 down payment by August 1st and $250 a month from September 1st, OR $1000 down payment by August 1st and $300 a month from September 1st.

More information will be sent by email upon acceptance to the GPA program.

Pre-Fundraising: There will be a pre-fundraising period for anyone who wishes to fundraise towards his/her GPA tuition. 50% of the gross result will go toward tuition and the other 50% toward operational costs. There is limited space on the fundraising teams, and you can only apply after having been accepted onto GPA on a first come first serve basis.

Application Form: The following online application form is hosted by Formstack and is secure to use, even though our site still runs on the http protocol.

Personal Information Name* Gender*

Male First Name

Photo: Please choose a portrait picture of yourself and upload it.* no file selected

Personal Email Address Personal Cell Phone Number*

Home Phone Number*

Birthday* T-Shirt Size*

Home Address*

State City ZIP Code

Are you matched?* Are you blessed?* Yes Yes No No

Passport Information First Name (written as on passport)*

Last Name (written as on passport)*

Date of Birth* Gender* Male Female

Passport Nationality*

Do you have a Green Card or American Social Security Number?* Yes No

Passport Number*

Passport Expiration Date*

Please have a passport valid between August 2016 and June 2017 BEFORE arriving at the Kick-Off workshop in September 2016.

Please upload and attach a photo of the photo ID page of your valid passport. If you do not currently have a valid passport, please have it ready by the time you arrive to GPA. no file selected

Health Information Health Insurance Carrier Primary Care Physician (PCP)

PCP Phone Number

Medical History: Please indicate any past or present health conditions, allergies, diabetes, previous injuries, broken bones, etc. This information will not have effect on your acceptance to GPA*

Medication: Please list any past or present medications taken.*

Have you ever been diagnosed with an emotional or psychological disorder? If yes, please explain. This information will not affect your acceptance into GPA.*

Shots and Vaccinations To further secure your health and safety, we ask you be updated in the vaccinations for: - Tetanus - MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) - Hepitatis A and B - Meningitis

Please indicate the date of your last tetanus shot.*

Please indicate the date of your last MMR shots.*

Please indicate the date of your last hepatitis A and B shots.*

Please indicate the date of your last meningitis shot.*

Emergency Contact Information Mother’s (Legal Guardian’s) Name* Mother’s (Legal Guardian’s) Cell Phone*

Mother’s (Legal Guardian’s) Email Address*

Father’s (Legal Guardian’s) Name* Father’s (Legal Guardian’s) Cell Phone*

Father’s (Legal Guardian’s) Email Address*

1st Emergency Contact Name* 1st Emergency Contact Cell Number*

2nd Emergency Contact Name* 2nd Emergency Contact Cell Number*

High School / College Information

Note: You will NOT be able to apply to colleges, defer from college, take the SAT’s or ACT’s during the GPA year.

Will you have graduated High School by August 2016?* Yes No

Have you applied to college for the academic year of 2016-17?* Yes No

Where will you being going to school, and what is your status (acceptance, deferred, pending, not attending college etc.)?*

Recommendation Letters Please upload 2 recommendation letters:

1) One from a church community leader such as a Youth Pastor, District Leader or Council Member, Center Leader, etc.

2) The other should be from a community member not from the church, such as an employer, a guidance counselor, teacher, etc.

1st Recommendation Letter* 2nd Recommendation Letter* no file selected no file selected

Essays Please write up to 500 words responding to the following prompts:

Essay 1: Why do you want to join GPA? What are your hopes and/or hesitations regarding GPA?*

Essay 2: What are your aspirations for the future and how do you see GPA helping you achieve it?*

Additional Comments Please add any additional comments about your personal situation and/or family situation the program staff should be aware of (ex. previous obligations, special concerns, requests, etc.).

Additional Comments

Code of Conduct I agree to the following statements:

- All the information provided in the above application is correct and current to the best of my knowledge.

- I will abstain from any illegal activity.

- I will abstain from smoking, alcohol, drugs, and sex for the duration of the GPA year.

- I will not engage in exclusive relationships.

- I will not initiate any matching processes during the GPA year.

- I will not willingly/ knowingly compromise my safety or that of others.

- I will not permanently modify my body during GPA (piercings, tattoos, etc.).

- I will abide by the GPA rules and guidelines and respect GPA staff.

- I understand that any violation of these statements can result in phone calls home, warnings towards suspension from the program, suspension, or expulsion from the program.

Agree Disagree

Signature (Type in name)*

Submit Application

Thank You! Your friendly GPA staff…

Please join us! Really hope you can make it!

GPA 2015 Graduates at UTS in Barrytown, Upstate New York. “Hi, I am Tolik, and I teach about fundraising. My spouse and I want you to have the best experience of your life here on GPA.”

My GPA jacket keeps me warm on Traveling to Nepal is sooo cold days. exciting.

“You never know whom you meet.”

“In Summer, I’ll take it off, of course…”

What is that? Make your dreams come true…

“Yummy Nepalese food I never tasted GPA is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, don’t miss before.” it!

Still not sure? Contact Roland Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Message

“Hi, I am Roland and I am honored to serve GPA as its director. Listen, let me have your phone number and I call you and we’ll chat a little about GPA. There ought to be a way to get you in!”

I’m not a robot reCAPTCHA Privacy - Terms

Staff Categories Login Select SelectCategory Category

Archives Donate Now Select SelectMonth Month

Home Testimonial »

Archives Tomiko Gordon, Parent Our daughter, joined GPA in September, 2014 after graduating from high school. I was happy when she was accepted into the GPA program, but I also had concerns. “Can she make it through the one year program? Can she do fundraising? Can she sustain her health? Will she be safe on GPA?” When Read More …

Felicitas Moyer, Parent STF/GPA has been with our family for quite a few years now, as all three of our children have gone through the program. Our two daughters finished three years and our son recently finished his second year. Communication started to change quite quickly with the girls, as they called home every Sunday with experiences to Read More …

Concha Marchitelli, Parent I was Blessed in marriage in 1992, at the 30,000 couples Blessing in Korea to my wonderful Italian husband. Our family lives in MD. We have three awesome boys, F. 21 yrs old who did GPA two years ago and is now attending college; G. 18 yrs old who is presently in GPA and J. Read More …

Dorothy Hill, Parent I am very grateful that GPA existed and that my three children could attend. All three attended for 2 years each and it helped them immensely. I believe that it is and always will be a core and pivotal experience for their entire lives. I am deeply grateful to GPA and the staff for giving Read More …

Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1 other subscriber

Email Address Subscribe

Gap Year is recognized

Princeton Review

Now accepting Applications for 2016! Come on, get on board while you can. Now is the time to apply for the 2016 season.

Go to Apply 2016 and put your info down.

“Count me in, I am applying…”

Home Testimonial Tomiko Gordon, Parent » »

Tomiko Gordon, Parent  April 17, 2016  Tom Froehlich

Our daughter, E, joined GPA in September, 2014 after graduating from high school. I was happy when she was accepted into the GPA program, but I also had concerns. “Can she make it through the one year program? Can she do fundraising? Can she sustain her health? Will she be safe on GPA?”

When E’s team stopped by our house on their way to fundraise in Florida in November 2014, the team members were all wrestling with their weaknesses as they strove to achieve their goals. I thought – it was a good challenge for their growth. At the same time, seeing E’s struggle to grow, I also struggled. Specifically, I was worried about her health and her safety when she would fundraise. So, I called one Japanese friend, whose daughter had participated in GPA the previous year. What she said was a big wake up call for me.

She said their fundraising is not a summer camp program or playing a game with friends. It is a real activity in a real world and students grow by real activities. Then I could understand their seriousness. I struggled a little more, and then I decided, “I will go this course together with E, and I put her one year course into God’s hands.” Since then, I found peace in my heart.

Every Sunday she calls. It’s a happy time for us to share her experiences or struggles in GPA. My husband and I both have fundraising experience, so we could share a lot with her. Without this common experience, we most likely would not have such a rich conversation. She learned how her parents joined this movement and our activities with our True Parents when we were young. We could see how she’s making effort to build her integrity, create mind and body unity and how she is learning to live every day centered on God and serving True Parents. One Sunday during a telephone conversation, she said, “Mom, my internal goal when I approach people while I fundraise is: how I can represent our True Parents.” When I heard this, I was so moved in my heart, my tears came out (I cried). Then I reflected. “How much am I making effort to represent our True Parents’ love when I witness? I told myself again, “Let’s grow together with E.”

I realized GPA has well-trained, devoted core staff members; they have created a good system; they have safety awareness, and are carrying forth our heavenly tradition and practical education which our Founders, True Parents planted in this country since 1972. It is like a pure, beautiful stream.

By the end of the first year, E internalized a basic and important fundamental thinking about her life of faith and how she can live her daily life centered on True Parents. Now I could say that GPA

is proof that the living God is guiding our second generation youth. E wanted to stay her second year in order to grow her heart as an elder sister (as she is an only child with us), and to give to others what she had received her first year. As a team captain in her second year, she is thriving in taking on that role and responsibility.

We are grateful that God guided her to GPA. I encourage all of our young Unificationists to be blessed with the GPA experience. GPA is a valuable program to help deeply strengthen a young Unificationist’s faith in God and True Parents. Through all the various activities of fundraising, overseas service, workshops and adventure training, it affords the opportunity for participants to reflect upon their values, to go beyond their comfort zone, to see from a broader perspective, to experience life in another culture, and to transcend their individual desires in developing a heart of service. It has been a joy to see E’s growth, and the depth of care and wisdom she has exhibited these past two years.

Tomiko Gordon

← Previous Felicitas Moyer, Parent

Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1 other subscriber

Email Address Subscribe

Gap Year is recognized

Princeton Review

Now accepting Applications for 2016! Come on, get on board while you can. Now is the time to

Home Testimonial Felicitas Moyer, Parent » »

Felicitas Moyer, Parent  April 17, 2016  Tom Froehlich

STF/GPA has been with our family for quite a few years now, as all three of our children have gone through the program. Our two daughters finished three years and our son recently finished his second year.

Communication started to change quite quickly with the girls, as they called home every Sunday with experiences to share; these experiences helped form a common base between us. Through GPA activities, they were exposed to many of the same things that we as parents had embraced when we were their age. Suddenly we were considered “experts” and “wise” and were constantly sought after for advice. They realized everything that they were blessed with at home, and they clearly developed a greater respect and love for parents, siblings, and our family as a whole.

As the weeks and month passed we heard about many of their breakthroughs, whether in personal relationships, their prayer life, their faith overall or their experiences with a living and not only conceptual God, as well as their realizations about the value of our True Parents. The structure and programs of GPA help to bring all this about and I saw a deep desire in the children grow to take on more personal responsibility, take ownership, and invest themselves and be able to give back, especially when they each chose to become a leader in their second and third year.

Another beautiful thing to observe is the blossoming of personal friendships that develop over time among the GPA participants and staff and many of these will last a lifetime. Our second daughter was quite shy, so we were in awe when she took off for a second and third year, leading teams and driving all around the “universe”.

Even though the transition into the “real” world was not so easy after graduation from GPA, their foundation is strong and they are all in one way or another involved in public activities: from continuing to work with GPA to leading a local youth group, staffing summer camp, organizing adventure trips for younger Unificationists; and our son is planning to go back with some friends to their mission country during summer break to help out.

They learned that they themselves have to take care of their own life of faith, get back to basics whenever need be, take responsibility for their decisions and actions when nobody is watching; and they feel more substantially connected to our Unification movement and want to be an active part of it.

Neither they nor we may fully realize what skills they have developed over the years, but there are many; and they continue to surface and are put to good use! Our second generation are all

leaders in the making and we as parents are deeply grateful for everyone who invested and is still investing into their lives in so many different ways!

Felicitas Moyer

← Previous Next → Concha Marchitelli, Parent Tomiko Gordon, Parent

Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1 other subscriber

Email Address Subscribe

Gap Year is recognized

Princeton Review

Now accepting Applications for 2016! Come on, get on board while you can. Now is the time to apply for the 2016 season.

Go to Apply 2016 and put your info down.

“Count me in, I am applying…”

The application is free for Early Bird applicants. After April 24, there will be a $70 non- refundable application fee.

Home Testimonial Concha Marchitelli, Parent » »

Concha Marchitelli, Parent  April 13, 2016  Tom Froehlich

I was Blessed in marriage in 1992, at the 30,000 couples Blessing in Korea to my wonderful Italian husband. Our family lives in MD. We have three awesome boys, F. 21 yrs old who did GPA two years ago and is now attending college; G. 18 yrs old who is presently in GPA and J. who is 13 yrs old and in Middle school.

Why do I advise or support my children to take a year off after high school to do GPA? I believe that life is a journey and not a rush to finish school. Presently the world is full of “externally accomplished” people who have very little “internal accomplishments” and who have no clear standards of the principles of the universe or of the Divine Principle. Of course, I tell my children that it’s important for our second generation to be well-educated and to aim “to be the best that they can be” in whichever field they choose to go to.

I tell them to aim to become people who will be able to influence the world in a positive way. On the other hand, it is difficult to strive for external accomplishment (in one’s education, work, position) if our internal principles are unclear. God and the world need leaders of integrity that can make a substantial contribution to the world in the right direction, in a “Principled” direction. They must understand the Divine Principle and choose to live it.

I found that GPA, led by a Core Staff of both first and second generation, provides opportunities for our young Unificationists to understand the Divine Principle deeply, and to understand True Parents’ life course. This gives them tools to clarify what they believe in and to make decisions about what will be their unique responsibility and contribution to the world. They come out of the program stronger internally, with a sense of ownership in relationship with God and our world.

GPA also enlightens the participants in understanding and valuing their parents’ course and the sacrifices they made as they chose to follow the call of God. I’ve seen the young second generation deeply moved and transformed as they come to this realization.

The practice of fundraising provides a training in unity of mind, intention, and body (action) for achieving one’s goals, which is a highly transferrable skill that can be used later on for any other activity in life.

The overseas experience, traveling to a developing country, is eye-opening for the participants. I volunteered to go this year with one of the groups to Nepal and saw how the GPA participants were amazed by the strong family unity and the beauty of the Nepali people in the midst of poverty. They were also impressed by how the Nepali Unification Movement embraces the mostly Hindu & Buddhist population and in turn have them embrace The Principle, transcending religious differences, and loving and respecting True

Parents while remaining in their own religion if they chose to do so.

Our participants found this approach refreshing and it opened their eyes to other possibilities of teaching Principle and achieving world peace which they could bring back home.

Another plus of the GPA experience is that they have the opportunity to meet many other blessed children from all over the USA, building ever-lasting friendships and a network of internal support by sharing the core values.

I have seen and been deeply moved by the sincerity of the young people who choose to participate in the GPA program, with the hope to find what they truly believe in. My experience is that our children are in good hands with a program such as GPA, providing the opportunities to explore, study and understand their faith.

GPA also has a good system in place to ensure the safety of our sons and daughters in all of their activities throughout the year (fundraising, overseas travel, seminars, etc). I am a parent who highly recommends the GPA program for second generation, before entering college.

Concha Marchitelli, Maryland

← Previous Next → Dorothy Hill, Parent Felicitas Moyer, Parent

Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1 other subscriber

Email Address Subscribe

Gap Year is recognized

Princeton Review

Now accepting Applications for 2016! Come on,

Home Testimonial Dorothy Hill, Parent » »

Dorothy Hill, Parent  April 13, 2016  Tom Froehlich

I am very grateful that GPA existed and that my three children could attend. All three attended for 2 years each and it helped them immensely. I believe that it is and always will be a core and pivotal experience for their entire lives. I am deeply grateful to GPA and the staff for giving of themselves and sacrificing in untold ways so that it is there for our second generation children.

Both of my 2 boys attended and then were admitted to an Ivy League school. They have decent grades but not as high as some. I believe they got accepted because they could talk about ‘building wells for poor people in Guatemala’. Both university recruiters and big companies love to accept young people who are ‘balanced’ and have traveled and done creative and sacrificial work.

I think of my daughter and an experience that she had that I will never forget. She told me how she was in a parking lot in Oklahoma and felt the situation of God’s heart and then right there and then in the parking lot, just cried and cried. I keep the refrigerator magnet that she gave me from Oklahoma on my refrigerator as a reminder of that beautiful experience.

I am eternally grateful that GPA exists and that my children had that precious opportunity to experience at least part of ‘a formula course’. They could have an experience that will be the foundation of their faith forever. What could be more valuable to us and to God?

Dorothy Hill, Red Hook, NY

Next → Concha Marchitelli, Parent

Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to our blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1 other subscriber

Email Address