Lone Star Leadership Academy Staff

Directors
Kristi Baker
Mike Benson
Shea Bloemhof
Julie Chappa
Timmothy Hypolite
Mark Lederman
Paul Montreuil
Rebecca Moreland
Clyde Parham
Denise Parham
Lisa Sniggs
Rex Stephenson
Facilitators and Assistant Directors
Kyla Bell
Lisa Chase
Angela Chatman
Jinny Cockrell
Katie Cox
Jonathan Craig
Shaynon Crawford
Melissa Cruz
Danielle Delgado
Shelly DeLozier
Joseph Ekutshu
Linda Gooding
Tim Greenwell, Jr
Tonya Hopkins
Tiffanie Jarrett
Amanda Jeansonne
Colby Kennedy
Cheyenne LaFargue
Craig Landrum
Daniel Linder
Rheonda Long
Stephanie Lyons
Kellie Martinez
John McConnell
Michael McNeal
Adam Montero
Shamyria Moore
Lorelei Nguyen
Mitchell O'Briant
Peter Osborne
Ivan Pena
Hai Pham
Darius Rice
Kristi Robertson
Jennifer Bell Sanchez
Marquettia Stafford
Alyssa Taylor
Michell Tennison
Ismal Trayham
Lenora Tygart
Katie Vipperman
Danielle Welch
Youth Facilitators
Lone Star Leadership Academy Alumni Council members have the unique opportunity to return on camps as Youth Facilitators. As Youth Facilitators, these young leaders serve as mentors to the campers, assist the adult Facilitators, and assist camp Directors behind the scenes. Click here to learn more about the Alumni Council and Youth Facilitators.

Megal Alla
Megal is an 11th grader at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin and a fourth year Alumni Council member.
Being a Youth Facilitator will give me the opportunity to not only hone my leadership skills even further, but also explore Texas whilst reliving my experiences as a Lone Star Leadership camper. Having the opportunity to mentor younger students as a Youth Facilitator will allow me to demonstrate the leadership qualities I have been developing this past year with my service project and SHINE lessons, and I would also have the opportunity to acquire more leadership skills from fellow Youth Facilitators and Facilitators. Additionally, being a Youth Facilitator will allow me to return to the Lone Star Leadership Academy camps and hopefully be a role model for younger campers. During my time as a camper, I looked up to my Youth Facilitators, and I knew that one day I would love to have the opportunity to return one day and fulfill that role. By becoming a Youth Facilitator, I hope to be the mentor to other campers that my Youth Facilitators were for me. Not only would I be able to offer my own mentorship and insight to other campers, but I strongly believe that being a Youth Facilitator would also help me work on my own leadership skills.

Advika Asthana
Advika is a 7th grader in Fort Bend ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I want to ensure that all campers have an amazing experience. The camps have so much to offer in terms of leadership skills and enjoyment, and all campers should be able to experience that and also have tons of fun. I would also like to apply what I learned about leadership to inspire the kids at camp.

Madeline Baek
Madeline is a 9th grader in Carroll ISD and a second year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I love working and helping with kids. When I did the camp as an incoming seventh grader I was so nervous and scared I wouldn't have a good time, but what reassured me and changed my mind was my Youth Facilitator. I hope I can re-create that same feeling.

Dhanvi Bethalem
Dhanvi is a 9th grader in Frisco ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I would love to be a Youth Facilitator to mentor younger students and to help them have an amazing experience like the one I had, and to learn more about history and science myself.

Brandon Botyos
Brandon is a 10th grader in Denton ISD and a 5th year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I really like being able to educate young leaders. It is really awesome to see them all so eager to learn.

Brianna Botyos
Brianna is a 10th grader in Denton ISD and a fifth year Alumni Council member.
I would like to be a Youth Facilitator because I love to help people learn how to be a better leader. I love to meet new people and I enjoy helping people be more successful and become the best leader they can be.

Annalise Breyer
Annalise is a 10th grader in Round Rock ISD and a fifth year Alumni Council member.
I have been to five Leadership Camps before, and was a Youth Facilitator for two of them. I really enjoyed these experiences and thought that they helped me grow my leadership skills a lot. I have always enjoyed leading a group, and being a Youth Facilitator lets me do that. I also want to give back to the program with this opportunity.
Elizabeth Brown
Elizabeth is a 10th grader in Klein ISD.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I want to help the shy kids come out of their shell. I was that shy kid when I first started at leadership camp and I want those kids that were just like me to break out and find themselves.

Yuti Chougule
Yuti is a 9th grader in Frisco ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I love to learn about Texas history and I would like to inspire others to as well. I also attended camp as a camper and would love to come again to show others what a great experience this.

Kate Fambrough
Kate is a 9th grader in Stephenville ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I wish to be a Youth Facilitator to mentor and get to know Lone Star campers. I loved attending camp last year for the first time, and one of the reasons why was because of my Youth Facilitators. I simply want to pay it forward!

Ethan Farhoudi
Ethan is a 9th grader in Kerrville ISD and a second year Alumni Council member.
I have many reasons why I would want to be a Youth Facilitator for Education in Action. I have a desire to lead and want to keep learning from the amazing program I have had a chance to be a part of in the past. I also want to be able to serve the program, helping the next generation of leaders thrive. For starters, the Education in Action leadership program and community project have improved my skill set as a leader but have also left me with a desire to continue helping others. With the end of the school year imminent, and being a second-year member of the program, I think it would be a great opportunity to continue to learn more from the older and much wiser facilitators who taught me from the start.
Furthermore, the reason that I have been so motivated to come back is because of the leaders I looked up to the entire time I was a student at Education in Action, always genuinely wanting to see every kid that they saw succeed. I wish to spread that as well, hoping that I can be a role model for at least one of them and that they will go and make a difference in their community because of it. In conclusion, my desire to lead and learn, as well as make a difference in the next leaders of the world are why I want to be a Youth Facilitator for the Education in Action program.

Matthew Gather
Matthew is an 8th grader in Greenwood ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I would like to teach younger students because I feel that I can not only teach them, but I can also learn from them as well. I attended the LSLA last summer in Houston/Galveston area and I truly enjoyed it. I feel that since I went through the camp, I can lead by example because I know what to expect.

James Gonzalez
James will be a 10th grader in Clear Creek ISD and is a second year Alumni Council member.
As a fourth year Lone Star Leadership Academy participant, I have received an incredible amount of mentorship that has translated into leadership skills. I want to be a Youth Facilitator to further my leadership skills. By leading younger students, I will learn how to become a true leader. Additionally, as I have learned from past experiences at my church, I love helping others bring out their full potential and taking part in the community.
As a second year member of the Lone Star Leadership Academy Alumni Council, my desire is to give back to Education in Action and to foster a high level of leadership skills to those students that are eager to learn and are forging a path behind me.
Not only have I learned the importance of servant leadership, but I have gained an extraordinary amount of experience through my community service projects and volunteerism throughout the City of Houston and Galveston.
As a Youth Facilitator, I want to continue to support Education in Action's mission and inspire the future leaders of tomorrow.

Drew Grahlfs
Drew is an 8th grader in Splendora ISD and first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I want to help give other students the same great experiences that I had as a camper. They helped me form many lasting friendships, and learn the rich history of the Lone Star State!

Kristopher Hodgin
Kristopher is an 11th grader in Katy ISD and a fifth year Alumni Council member.
I want to serve as a Youth Facilitator this summer to continue my leadership development and gain new communication skills.

Timothy Jenkins
Tim is an 11th grader in Belton ISD and a fifth year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator again because I learned so much from the students that I led. They taught me how to have fun as we learned together and they also taught me how to be a better leader.
Abigail Kennedy
Abigail is a 9th grader in Springtown ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I like working with younger kids and seeing what they can accomplish.

Katherine Kimberlin
Katherine is an 11th grader in El Paso ISD and a fifth year Alumni Council member.
I want to take advantage of this opportunity to refine my leadership skills by being put into a role that requires a practical application of those skills.
Charlize Lopez
Charlize is an 11th grader in Fort Bend ISD and a sixth year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because of my desire to connect with younger leaders. As a Youth Facilitator, I will provide campers advice, mentorship, and support as they overcome obstacles, hone their leadership skills, and strive to achieve their objectives. I'm excited to share the wisdom I've gained through serving as a leader and to learn from the younger generation on fresh ideas and perspectives. Being a Youth Facilitator is personally satisfying and meaningful. It is tremendously gratifying to be able to assist others in their growth and development, and I think that working with young people in this capacity would have a particularly positive effect.

Delaney McGurren
Delaney is an 8th grader in Hays CISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I love the past experiences I’ve had at Lone Star Leadership Academy and this would be a great opportunity to build my leadership skills, and since I’m a Trailblazer, I want to be able to show younger students the pathway to becoming a good leader.

Clara Neill
Clara is a 9th grader in Richardson ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I am excited about going into the field of education and I believe that having the opportunity to work with campers will give me a chance to grow these skills. The Education in Action campers are the leaders of tomorrow and students that are ready to have a great time and learn along the way! I had a blast as a camper last year, and am not ready to end my journey with Education in Action just yet!

Lana Nguyen
Lana is a 9th grader in Fort Bend ISD and a second year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator to encourage future leaders and strengthen my own leadership skills. I am a firm believer in empowering and inspiring others to reach for their goals. As a Youth Facilitator, I hope I can play a part in these students' journeys to become leaders during their time at camp.
Kaila Pierson
Kaila is an 11th grader in Katy ISD and a 1st year Alumni Council member.
Ever since I was in elementary, I've had a deep love for history and getting to look into stories of the past. This camp is an amazing opportunity to get to explore historical sites across Texas that I otherwise wouldn't be able to experience. Moreover, in the future I want to pursue leadership positions in many of my own endeavors such as school clubs, Taekwondo training, and lab work. Lone Star Leadership Academy is a perfect opportunity for me to build on my leadership skills in an environment that is safe and open.
Jake Ringnald
Jake is a 7th grader in Richardson ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I had an amazing experience last year in San Antonio. I believe I will be able to make sure everyone is having a good time and is organized. I believe it is a great idea to have Youth Facilitators because they can help the other youth when an adult leader isn’t able to help.

Mia Rivera
Mia is an 11th grader in Santa Gertrudis ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator for the Lone Star Leadership Academy to be able to provide the same positive and educational experience I was given. By acting as a mentor, I am hopefully able to impact those who attend and ignite a future passion in them that they can grow and learn from that will guide them both in and out of the classroom.

Natalee Scholl
Natalee is an 11th grader in Dripping Springs ISD and a third year Alumni Council member.
I have enjoyed participating in the LSLA for the last three years. I have been able to help the younger students during what might have been a tough time for them being away from home for the first time. I have learned from my time that being present and helping out really makes a difference, and I am appreciative of the opportunity to be here. I hope that the younger students see what a great time it is and want to come back and facilitate just like I have.

Sofia Solano-Arango
Sofia is an 8th grader at Lutheran North Academy and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator to learn skills to help me become a better leader in the future, to prepare me in leadership situations, and to help others become the best leaders they can be.

Avery Sutton
Avery is an 8th grader in Birdville ISD and a second year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I enjoy helping both the campers and the Facilitators. I like to be able to help the campers feel more comfortable, as I went to camp for the first time, too, and can relate to how they are feeling. I also really enjoy getting to know everyone well, both younger and older than myself.

Yeva Tcharikova
Yeva is an 11th grader in Round Rock ISD and a fourth year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I think that everyone deserves the chance to learn how to be a good leader. I would like to provide others the opportunity that I've received, appreciated, and loved in the past. The Youth Facilitators from my own camps made me feel important, now I want to do that for someone else. Everyone deserves to feel important.

Ryder Trent
Ryder is a 10th grader in Dripping Springs ISD and a second year Alumni Council member.
The Youth Facilitator position is something that I desired when I was a camper myself. As funny as that sounds, I really wanted to make a difference at the camp. This position is some thing that offers me opportunities to meet people from all backgrounds. Last year, the campers really made a difference in the way I handle situations with others, and I can’t wait to learn more from them! Most of all, it is the Youth Facilitator position which allows me to exercise the leadership skills that I have learned from camp. It has also helped me in my service project in my community.

Hariharan Venkatesh
Hariharan is an 8th grader at Meridian School in Round Rock and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator because I want to increase my skills in leadership in large groups/roles. Youth Facilitators have the opportunity to work with many different kids with many different strengths and weaknesses. A leader should be able to adapt to fit to everyone's preferences, while being able to lead efficiently and concisely. Being a Youth Facilitator helps one strengthen this ability as well as many more, while leaving lasting impressions on younger peers by offering advice and support to help them advance as leaders too.

Sage West
Sage is a 9th grader in Ore City ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator to continue improving myself so that I can be a better person for others to look up to and come to with problems. I'm the only person from my school who was given the opportunity to come to these camps and be a presence representing the opportunity in my community. Not only will I represent Ore City, but I will be able to grow and learn so that I can benefit others and my community as a whole.

Olivia Zhang
Olivia is a 9th grader in Fort Bend ISD and a first year Alumni Council member.
I want to be a Youth Facilitator to further my leadership skills. By leading younger students, I will learn how to become a true leader. Additionally, as I have learned from past experiences at my church, I love helping others bring out their full potential and take part in the community.