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| Oliver Foundation Teen Board Members 1st Row L-R: Carissa Gilbert, Valerio Farris, Juhi Aggarwal, Ronit Joselevitz, David Buzali, Rachel Lisse 2nd Row L-R: Kyle Brickhouse, Nina Distefano, Grant Mueller, Dominick Savage, Makenzie Kink, Ryan Lisse, Jeremy Marchand |
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Teen Advisory Board Membership
The Teen Board is a body of diverse kids who value health and fitness and are leaders in their schools and communities. Potential Board Members will be identified from schools, community and health care groups, as well as from individuals contacted by the Board of Trustees. The age of the board members will range from 11 years to 18 years of age and will consist of no fewer than eight (8) and no more than twenty (20) members.
For more information you may e-mail the Teen Board President at Makenzie@oliverfoundation.org
Or contact the Oliver Foundation office at:
5535 Memorial Drive, Suite F, #256 Houston, Texas 77007
Tel 713-862-7899 Fax 713-862-7911 www.oliverfoundation.org
View the OrganWise/YEAH Video
Current Members 2010-2011
Carissa Gilbert, PresidentFort Bend Baptist Academy – Sugar Land, Texas
Carissa is a senior at Fort Bend Baptist Academy. She takes all honor courses and has won many academic awards at her school. She is a member of Spanish Club, National English Honor Society, National Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Photography Club, and serves as President of Mu Alpha Theta, Civics Club, and Interact Club. She is also secretary/treasurer for her school's student council. She is an alumni member of Sugar Land's Mayor Youth Advisory Council and a Serve Sugar Land Member. Carissa has a passion for athletics as well as nutrition. She has spoken at national conferences on the prevention of childhood obesity and is interested in studying nutrition in college. She has participated in various sports throughout high school including JVA and JVB volleyball, varsity softball, varsity track, varsity soccer, and varsity cross-country. Carissa participates in local races and triathlons. She ran her first half marathon in January of 2010 and placed 1st for her age group. She plans to run the full Houston Marathon next January.
Jeremy Marchand, Vice PresidentHSPVA – Houston, Texas
Jeremy is a sophomore at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He was invited to a Lead America conference in 2006. He has earned 8 gold medals at various choir contests in the last two years and 3 in band. Jeremy will be singing with the Houston Symphony December, 2008. He is an avid golfer.
Makenzie Kink, President EmeritusWoodlands High School – The Woodlands, Texas
Makenzie is a senior at Woodlands High School and plays competitive volleyball for the Woodland Wave and also for her high school team. She is very active in her church and recently attended a Student Leadership Conference in Orlando, FL, Washington D.C., and London. She enjoys sports and spending time with her friends.
Rachel Lisse, SecretaryClements High School – Sugar Land, Texas
Rachel is a sophomore at Clements High School in Sugar Land where she is an active Student Council representative. She plays golf and will hopefully become a member of the Clements Rangers Girls Golf Team this next school year. Rachel is an “angel” for the Dream League, an organized baseball team for special needs children. She is also a member of the Fort Bend Teen Services League and was a committee chair for the Glitter and Gloss fundraising event in the spring. Rachel enjoys Jodi Picoult books and reading, golfing, country and western music, volunteering in the community and spending time with her friends and family.
Kyle Brickhouse, TreasurerStratford High School – Houston, Texas
Kyle is a junior at Stratford High School. Kyle is both an academic scholar and athlete. He plays football and basketball at Stratford. He is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Life and Business Professional of America Kyle has served as a counselor at Camp of Champs and has volunteered at various homeless projects, food drives, and other community based organizations. He works for the Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association on Field Crew. Kyle enjoys sports and spending time with family and friends.
Ronit Joselevitz, HistorianEmery/Weiner School - Houston, Texas
Ronit is a senior at the Emery/Weiner school. She has been taking fashion designing classes since 9th grade and participates in annual fashion shows around Houston each year. Ronit is president of the Emery Environmentalist Club and an active member of the Emery community service club. She enjoys making clothes in her spare time and also volunteers weekly with refugee children. Ronit has been on Emery Varsity Soccer for two years now and hopes to continue playing soccer for fun in college. She is also an active member of BBYO and loves to spend time with her friends and family.
Hannah McAughan, Event CoordinatorSt. Agnes Academy – Houston, Texas
Hannah is a junior at St. Agnes Academy. She plays water polo and soccer for her school as well as on a club level, Albion Hurricanes Football Club and Strake Jesuit Water Polo Club. She is a member of Model United Nations, her school’s televised announcement system, Culinary Club, and student council. Hannah received the honor of being on the Campus Ministry Team and the Preaching Team. She is also a published poet and author. She works as a lifeguard in the summer and participates in St. Cecilia Lifeteen.
Dominick Savage, IT CoordinatorThurgood Marshall High School – Missouri City, Texas
Dominick is a junior at Thurgood Marshall High School, Fort Bend ISD. He is a member of the school Choir, Speech and Debate team, Student Council, Chess Club, Multi-cultural Club and is Captain of the Bowling Team. Dominick attended the Imani School prior to Thurgood Marshall High School where he won gold and silver medals at the NOBCCHeE Science Fair and Speech competitions. He also received an Academic Award from Windsor Village UMC Outbreak Ministries. Dominick plans to become a Pediatric Neurosurgeon.
Nina Distefano, Board MemberEpiscopal High School - Houston, Texas
Nina is a junior at Episcopal High School. She is very active in various school clubs and organizations at her school. She is currently working on achieving her Gold Award in Girl Scouts and is also thinking of costume and fashion design for her future career. She enjoys, painting, drawing, volley ball, tennis, travel and community service. Nina will be enlisted in multiple visual art classes this year as well as audition for her school's theatrical productions.
Grant Mueller, Board MemberStrake Jesuit College Preparatory - Houston, Texas
Grant is a sophomore at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory. He plays both football and golf. Grant is an active member on Student Council and Key Club. He is an angel in the Dream League, a baseball league for mentally and physically challenged kids. Grant is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing and boating.
Sydney Fucci, Board MemberSt. Agnes Academy – Houston, Texas
Sydney is a freshman at St. Agnes Academey. She plays basketball, tennis and is a member of the Youth Choir. She is an executive member of Jack & Jill of America, Junior Achievement and Debusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Scholars. She volunteers at Lange tree DUCK Farm, Hester House and Memorial Hospital Book Drive. Sydney enjoys sports and spending time with family & friends.
David Buzali, Board MemberHouston Christian High School – Houston, Texas
David is a sophomore at Houston Christian High School. He is very committed to his golf and plays competitively. He is a very active member as his second year on his school’s Debate team and was the only freshman on the debate team the first year of High School. David is very involved in the Youth Group at Grace Presbyterian Church. He is well traveled, has lived in Canada and Mexico. David is fluent in Spanish. He enjoys playing video games and spending time with friends and family.
Valerio Farris, Board MemberSt. John’s School – Houston, Texas
Valerio is a sophomore at The St. John School. He has a passion for theatre and is very involved in both performing and directing. He has appeared in many local musical productions with the Houston Grand Opera, Miller Theatre and Opera in the Heights as well as school performances. Valerio is a member of BBYO, The International Thespian Society, and Italian Club. He also has his own business, A List Parties, which supplies costumed characters to children’s birthday parties and events. He is fluent in Italian.
Teen Board Emeritus
Maggie Wurzer, Past PresidentSt. Agnes Academy - Houston, Texas
Maggie is a senior at Saint Agnes Academy and a National Merit Semi-Finalist and AP Scholar. Maggie is involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities and leadership roles at Saint Agnes, including co-captain of the Saint Agnes engineering team which competes at regional and state levels and as a member of the campus ministry team. She is currently studying French and has won local and national awards in French competitions. Maggie has volunteered at her local public library for the past five years. Her hobbies include playing the piano and harmonica, drawing and painting, and collecting watches. Maggie enjoys reading in her spare time.
Parker Kink, Past PresidentWoodlands High School - The Woodlands, Texas
Parker is a senior at The Woodlands High School and has his sights set on attending the University of Texas. Parker loves sports. His true passion is soccer, which he plays for his school and a club team. He maintains an "A" average in school. He recently completed a sixteen day mission trip and leadership conference at Student Leadership University in Orlando, Fl and Washington DC. He volunteers at his church and has volunteered several years at the Continental Airlines WE CARE carnival. Parker is honing his business skills while working for his parent's real estate company.
Sophia Conti, Past SecretaryLamar High School - Houston, Texas
Sophia is a senior at Lamar High School. She plays varsity water polo for Lamar, and is a member of the swim team. Sophia has been involved in ballet and karate for over ten years. She received her third degree black belt in karate in June, 2007. An active member of National Honors Society and President of Lamar's Italian club, Sophia loves spending time with her friends and family and helping kids.
Theresa Sturdivant, Past HistorianDuchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart - Houston, Texas
Theresa is a senior at Duchesne Academy who is interested in studying Business and Pre/Law in college. She has a passion for writing and photography. She plays varsity softball and participates in a variety of extracurriculars including the Book Club for which she serves as Webmaster. She is also an honors student. Theresa enjoys applying her computer skills to creative projects requiring desktop publishing, photography, and multimedia production. She participates in numerous community service projects through which she loves working with younger children. She plays the piano and enjoys music, travel, reading and spending time with her family and friends.
Edward Baker, Past Board MemberJersey Village High School - Houston, Texas
Edward is both a scholar and an athlete, excelling as an honors student in his school's gifted & talented program and playing a variety of sports. He was inducted into The National Honor Society his junior year and is an active member. Edward has his site on attending Baylor University after graduation. He plays baseball, basketball and football and volunteers with his local public library. His studies in health class led him to an interest in childhood obesity prevention, and he is actively involved at New Hope Community Church. Edward has also served as a student ambassador in Canada for People to People International.
Katherine Freedman, Past Events CoordinatorBellaire High School - Bellaire, Texas
Katherine is a senior at Bellaire High School. She is Founder and President of the Bellaire Creative Writing Club, which brings together area high school students who share a passion for writing. She is a staff writer on her school newspaper, the Three Penny Press, is Secretary of the American Field Service Club, and is a member of National Honor Society. Katherine has been published in a variety of poetry books and anthologies. She has given poetry readings at the Tribes Gallery in New York City, Barnes and Noble in Westport CT, as well as other venues including elementary schools and libraries. Katherine loves acting and singing, and has taken classes at Main Street Theater and the Alley. She has appeared in professional productions on stage and television. In her free time, Katherine loves to read, write, travel, do Pilates, and play tennis.
Russell Shepard, Past Board MemberCy-Ridge High School Graduate - Houston, Texas
Russell is an exceptional athlete and maintains an "A" average. He participates in football, track and field. He is a five year qualifier in track and field for the Junior Olympics. Russell is the varsity quarterback at his high school. He hopes to become a professional athlete. He is ranked the number one quarterback in the state and has received numerous athletic/academic college scholarship offers, and awards for his athletic talents. He has signed with LSU and will begin college in January 2009 on an athletic scholarship. He held many leadership roles at his school and various youth ministries. Russell enjoys spending time with his family and being a role model for younger kids. Russell will continue as a Spokesperson for the Oliver Foundation at LSU.
Daniel Thompson, Past Board MemberJersey Village High School - Houston, Texas
Daniel enjoys all sports, particularly basketball. He plays on his high school team. Daniel is an Honors student and would like to attend University of Texas, Baylor University or the University of Iowa. Daniel's special interest is biology and plans to become a physician. He enjoys singing, helping others and working with children.
Kimara Kuspa, Past Board President
Briana Buzali, Past Board President
Kimara Kuspa, Past Board President
Briana Buzali, Past Board President
Maggie Wurzer, Past Board President
Parker Kink, President Emeritus
Sophia Conti, Past Board Secretary
Natalie Gonzalez, Past Board Secretary
Juhi Aggarwal, Past Board Secretary
Natalie Gonzalez, Past Board Secretary
Ryan Lisse. Past Board Treasurer
Russell Shepard, Past Board Treasurer
Anthony Nguyen, Past Board Historian
Theresa Sturdivant, Past Board Historian
Anthony Nguyen, Past Board Historian
Katherine Freedman, Past Board Events Coordinator
Lizzie Colton, Past Board Member
Kevin Shen, Past Board Member
Edward Baker, Past Board Member
Daniel Thompson, Past Board Member
Lizzie Colton, Past Board Member
Kevin Shen, Past Board Member
