5-8 Counselors
Austin C.
Hey, my name is Austin Cashwell (also spelled Ca$hwell). I’m originally from Richmond, Va but am currently a rising sophomore at Middlebury College where I’m a Russian Economics double major. I row starboard on the crew team which takes up most of my free time, but you can also find me playing quidditch to “cross-train” in the off season i.e. when the lake is still frozen. I’ve been a camper at SEP for all seven years that are possible, and I’m looking forward to helping kids enjoy the camp as much as I did.
Christian C.
Hi! My name is Christian Clark, and I am from Arlington, Virginia. I am a rising sophomore at Pomona College in Southern California, where I am studying Environmental Analysis with a concentration in Biology. I enjoy running track (short distances only), going on hikes, and watching movies with my friends. This is my first summer as an SEP counselor, and I am very excited to have a great summer here at camp!
Daulton R.
Hey! My name is Daulton Roach and I’m so excited to be an SEP counselor this year! I’m a rising second year at UVA where I’m currently undecided on what my major will be! My hobby’s include running (and lots of it), spending time with friends, and walking around UVA! WAHOOWA! It’s my first year as an SEP counselor and I can’t wait to get to know this year’s campers!
David D.
Welcome! I'm David Dustin, a rising third year at the University of Virginia. I was born in Crozet, but grew up outside of Richmond in a small town called Mechanicsville. Throughout High School I played soccer, though now my pastimes include volleyball, spike ball, and reading (pretty much anything - fiction, nonfiction, the nutrition facts on double stuffed oreos.) I'm majoring in both Media Studies and English; my favorite movie is Remember the Titans and my favorite book is East of Eden. If I could work any job in the world, I would be a University Professor. This is my first summer at SEP and I'm looking forward to all the good times!
Jessica L.
Welcome to camp! I’m Jess Lewis, from Fairfax County. I’m currently a sophomore at Rutgers University studying Supply Chain Management and Finance, where I’m also a tour guide and dancer. This is my first summer as a counselor, and I’m so thrilled to introduce your child to the magic of SEP this summer!
Jiwon K.
Hello! My name is Jiwon Kim and I'm a rising sophomore studying Sports Communication at Emerson College with minors in Leadership & Management and Photography. I'm from McLean, Virginia and I enjoy lacrosse (which I play at the Division 3 level at Emerson), basketball, music, and making videos. This is my first summer as an SEP counselor, and I'm excited to be able to work with your child this summer!
John L.
Hi, I'm John Leahy. I am a rising third year student at the University of Virginia, pursuing an English degree and hoping to complete my Master's in Teaching at UVA as well. I'm from Fredericksburg, Virginia, although I have also lived in Washington, DC, southern Germany, and Cusco, Peru. My hobbies include playing guitar, writing poetry and short stories, and practicing yoga, soccer, and frisbee. This is my first summer ever at SEP, but I am a long time summer camper and am looking forward to finding a home at this wonderful camp!
Justin Oh
Hello!! My name is Justin Oh and I am currently attending Penn State University pursuing a bachelor of science in computer science with a minor in statistics. Originally, I grew up in Northern Virginia, Fairfax to be exact. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball and tennis, two sports I have played comeptitively my entire life. Fun fact, I won the Virginia State Championship, Regional and Districts Titles twice in high school. This is my fifth summer at SEP and first year as a counselor. I am very excited to work with the campers and help them to have an amazing and magical summer.
Kaizen Conroy
Hi! My name is Kaizen Conroy and I am a sophomore at Williams College. I'm majoring in computer science and perhaps economics if all goes well. Though I'm currently on hiatus from both, I've played piano and baseball my whole life (go Nationals!). At Williams, I start on the Ultimate Frisbee club team and am always at home with a disc in my hands. I attended SEP for 3 years and this is my first summer as an SEP counselor – I'm beyond excited. I can't wait to get to know my campers and have a wonderful summer!
Kayla Coleman
Hi there! My name is Kayla Coleman and I will be entering my fourth year at UVA. I am studying Speech Communication Disorders and American Sign Language. Although I love Charlottesville, I was born and raised in Fredericksburg, VA. Some of my favorite activities include singing, playing the piano, hiking, and going to the beach. I have had a lot of great experiences working with youth and I am excited to continue adding to those experiences during my first summer as an SEP counselor! Thank you for allowing your child to be a part of this!
Lillian Meggs
Hi! My name is Lillian Meggs and I go to Virginia Tech. I am majoring in Human Development and am hoping to be an elementary school teacher. I love running, reading books, and hiking with my two dogs. This is my first year at SEP and I am so excited to be here! I can't wait to have an amazing summer!
Madeline Bishop
Hello! My name is Madeline Bishop and I am a rising 5th year at UVA. I am working towards a Master's of Teaching in Secondary English Education and a Bachelor's in English Literature. I will begin my student teaching with a class of 9th graders this August! I'm originally from Omaha, Nebraska, but have made the move out to VA for the foreseeable future. In my spare time I enjoy crafting, baking, and traveling whenever I can. This is my first summer as a counselor at SEP, and I can't wait to become part of the magic that happens when the campers arrive!
Maggie Hancock
Hi! My name is Maggie Hancock and I’m a recent graduate from Appalachian State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in non-profit management. In the fall, I will be attending UVA’s Curry School to work towards my Master’s in Educational Psychology and Applied Developmental Science. In my spare time I enjoy reading, listening to podcasts, and playing quidditch! I’m so excited for my first summer at SEP and I can’t wait to meet my suite!!!
Megan Murphy
Hi! I'm Megan Murphy and I'm a student here at UVA, studying French and Elementary Education. I hail from Fairfax in Northern Virginia. I enjoy traveling and recently returned from a semester abroad in Lyon, France. I also love doing art and singing in my free time. This is my first summer working at SEP. I'm elated to be joining such a great team of counselors and to help make this summer awesome for our campers!
Mi-Jin Han
Hi! My name is Mi-Jin Han, and I am currently studying psychology and elementary education at UVA. In my free time, I love hiking, playing tennis, and reading books. This is my first time as a SEP counselor, and I'm looking forward to having an awesome summer at camp!
Paige O'Brien
Hello! My name is Paige O'Brien and I'm a rising 2nd year at UVA getting my Bachelor's in Nursing. I love the Nursing School with all my heart and will be giving tours and being a Teacher Assistant in Anatomy next year so come get a tour from me! This is my first summer being a counselor at SEP (I was a camper though) and I'm from Loudoun County, Virginia. Outside of school I love hiking, traveling, reading a LOT, and eating/cooking/doing anything involving food. I'm so excited to have a fantastic and fun summer and work with some amazing kids to experience the SEP magic!
Reid Brown
Hello! I’m Reid Brown and I am a rising second year at UVA. I am from Danville, Virginia, and this is my first year as a counselor at SEP. I enjoy playing bass guitar, basketball, and drawing in my free time. I’m really excited to work with SEP and be a counselor to such great kids over the summer!
Sam Neunzig
Hello, my name is Sam Neunzig, I am entering my third year at Skagit Valley College in my home state of Washington. My field of study is Biology and I intend to eventually complete a degree in zoology and go off to study animals. Outside of college I am a Firefighter/ REMT (Remote Emergency Medical Technician), my specialty is in working in remote environments for patient treatment and rescues. This is my first summer as an SEP counselor and I’m looking forward to having a great summer with our amazing counselors and stellar campers!
Sydney Hodges
Hey! My name is Sydney Hodges and I’m a rising second year at UVA with a major in Computer Science. I’m from Richmond, VA (more specifically, the Short Pump area) and have a younger brother going into his junior year of high school. In my spare time I enjoy being a member of the UVA All-Girl Cheerleading Team and exploring everything Charlottesville has to offer. This is my first summer as an SEP counselor, and I’m beyond excited to work with your child and ensure they have an amazing summer experience!
Temi Akinola
Hey! My name is Temi Akinola and I’m a rising 3rd year at UVa majoring in Global Security and Justice and minoring in French. I’m from Charlottesville and have loved attending a University in my home town! In my spare time I enjoy writing, traveling, and spending time with close friends and family. This is my first year at the SEP, and I'm excited to be working with your child as we experience an amazing summer together!
Victoria McKelvey
Heyo, campers! My name is Victoria McKelvey and I am a second-year UVA student from Mechanicsville, Virginia. I intend to major in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law and minor in French. Besides academics, I am also heavily involved with political activism on Grounds and I write for the Virginia Review of Politics. In my free time, I love watching horror movies, running, eating grilled cheeses, and thinking about dogs. I am so excited to be your counselor and can’t wait to get to know all of you!
Wendy Wright
Hi! My name is Wendy, and I’m a counselor for the Dunglison 230 campers. I’m about to enter my fifth year at UVA, where I am studying to get my Master’s in Teaching Social Studies through UVA’s Curry School of Education. I also studied history in the College of Arts and Sciences. After graduation, I hope to be a social studies teacher for middle school or high school. Outside of school, music is one of my main hobbies. I was a member of UVA’s Cavalier Marching Band, and I really enjoy learning new instruments and exploring different types of music. I’m really looking forward to the next couple of weeks at SEP!
AJ
Floor Leader
Christine
Floor Leader
Colleen
Floor Leader
Natalie
Floor Leader
Robby
Floor Leader
Shaw
Floor Leader
Michael S.
Co-Head Counselor
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Hi everyone! My name is Michael Slobodnjak and I am one of the two Head Counselors for the 5-8th grade camp this summer. I’m currently in my 5th year at UVA pursuing my Masters in Teaching and have completed my undergraduate studies in Spanish. During my time as a student in Charlottesville I have enjoyed serving as the Musical Director for my a cappella group, sharing my love for the education field with prospective students as a Curry Student Ambassador, and spending my free time on the sand courts as a member of the Beach Volleyball Club. As a Northern
Virginia native from Sterling, I love spending time exploring the D.C. area, always in search of a great, new restaurant. In my spare time I love to scour the internet for new and exciting music or bury myself under a pile of blankets while watching Netflix. While I’ve just completed my stint as a Student Teacher and can’t wait to have a classroom of my own in the fall, I’m first excited to enter into my fourth summer with SEP and have one last blast-of-a-summer with each camper, new and returning!
Tori S.
Co-Head Counselor
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Hi there! My name is Tori Spivey and I am one half of the two Head Counselors for the 5-8 camp this summer. I am a current 4th year student at the University of Virginia, and will be graduating in May with my Bachelor of Science in Education. My major is Youth and Social Innovation, an interdisciplinary major combining research, youth studies, and design thinking, with a Dance minor. While at UVa, I’ve spent my time as a mentor and facilitator in the Young Women Leaders Program, dancer and choreographer for multiple UVa Department of Dance concerts, Education representative to the Honor Committee, and member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. After graduation, I will be working as a Youth Development Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, a dream I’ve had since I was my campers’ age! Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, I love being outside, whether it’s hiking around Charlottesville, floating down the James river, or just sitting on my back porch with some friends. If I’m not outside, you can probably find me in my favorite reading chair with a good book or movie on. This summer with be my fourth and final summer with SEP, and though I hate to go, I can’t wait to meet your amazing camper and am ready to make it the best summer yet!
9-11 Counselors
Kate Birnbaum
Greetings my little ones! My name is Kate Birnbaum and I am so excited to get to know all of you this summer! A little about me: I am going to be a high school history teacher next year, I have been a volunteer fire fighter for the past three years, and sometimes I like to draw with both hands. We are going to have an unforgettable session!
Alex Forrest
Hiya! My name is Alex Forrest and I am currently a Junior at Emerson College. I am a Communication Studies major with a minor in Comedy Writing and Performance. I am originally from Manassas, Virginia. In my spare time I enjoy writing sketches/tv shows, preforming stand-up, and making videos with my friends. This is my second year as an SEP counselor. I can't wait to have an awesome and exciting two weeks with your child.
Karsten Kim
Greetings and Salutations! My name is Karsten Kim, and I'm a rising 4th year at UVA. I major in Youth and Social innovation and minor in Biomedical Engineering. I've lived in the Chicago area and Southern California, but I've spent most of my life in Clifton, Virginia. When I'm not preparing myself for teaching in the near future, I enjoy listening to and making music, learning about the newest technology, and taking
time away from the busyness of life to take a breather. I was a camper in my junior year and a counselor last year. I am ecstatic to experience the exciting time that is SEP with your child!
Parket Lazear
Hey! My name is Parker Lazear and I am a rising second year in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia. While I am currently undeclared, I plan to double major in Political Philosophy,Policy, and Law (PPL) and Math. I have lived (and still currently live) in Richmond, Virginia. My widespread interests range from soccer to marching band to the Constitution. This is my first year as an SEP counselor and I was a camper for four years. I can't wait to be your child's counselor and help enhance their camp experience.
Emma Neukrug
Hi! My name is Emma Neukrug and I am a rising second year student at the University of Virginia. I have not yet declared a major but I am interested in studying sociology and politics, with the hope to go to law school after I graduate. I am from Norfolk, Virginia and have lived there all my life. In my spare time I
enjoy going to the beach, eating at fun restaurants, and reading the latest news. I am super excited to be your child’s counselor this summer and to help make this a great experience for them!
Belle Burden
Hey! My name is Belle Burden and I am going to be a Senior at JMU in the Fall. I study theatre
performance and am on a pre-law track, as well as minoring in British Communications. I'm from just one hour north of UVA, in Harrisonburg, VA. I love singing, acting, writing and running in my spare time. While this is my first year at SEP, I have been a camp counselor previously and love working with kids!
Ed Hsu
Hi! My name is Ed Hsu and I'm a rising sophomore at the University of Southern California where I am an
Army ROTC cadet majoring in Mechanical Engineering. If you're wondering what I am doing here in Virginia I was born and raised in NoVA and was a camper here for 6 years myself. Some of my hobbies include exercising and listening/playing music. I'm looking forward to getting to know your children and
leading them through their best summer yet!
Kristen Kircher
Hello! My name is Kristen Kircher and I am a sophomore at Virginia Tech (go Hokies!). I major in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, and my hobbies include drawing, hiking, running, playing guitar, and seeing live music. I live with my parents and sister in McLean, Virginia. I attended SEP as a 9-11 camper for two years, and just couldn’t stay away from the fun in college. I can’t wait to help make your child’s summer as enriching and exciting as possible!
Colin Little
Hi! My name is Colin Little and I am a rising 3rd Year at the University of Virginia majoring in History and Politics. I am from Leesburg in northern Virginia and attended high school at Loudoun County High. A few things I enjoy are the outdoors, music, video games, and weird facts. I have worked as a camp counselor before but this is my first year at SEP. I’m incredibly excited to be your child’s counselor and help guide them on their journey of enrichment and discovery here at SEP!
Yvonne Nguyen
Helllooooo! My name is Yvonne Nguyen and I am a rising third year at the University of Virginia where I am double majoring in English and Drama and hoping to eventually go to graduate school for Secondary English Education. I am originally for Northern Virginia. When not doing school work, I love to engage in theatre, poetry, and dance! This is my first year at SEP and I cannot wait to experience the ~magic~ for
the first time!
Xhosa Scott
Hi, my name is Xhosa Scott and I am a rising third year at the University of Virginia studying Art History and New Media as a double major and Sociology as a minor. After being a camper here for four years, I participated as a counselor for the first time last year and had such a great time I had to come back! I am excited to continue to provide all the amazing opportunities SEP has to offer and look forward to being your child’s counselor!