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Meet our new class of Kudzu Ambassadors |
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The Kudzu Ambassador program aims to represent our alumni who have grown up attending our programs and remain involved with Camp Kudzu and the type 1 community while excelling in their personal lives and professional goals. These eight individuals were chosen from hundreds of our alumni because of their stellar representation of Camp Kudzus effectiveness. They will be honored at this year's Annual Benefit Luncheon, held on November 13, 2018.
It is with pride that we present this year's new Kudzu Ambassadors:
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Brian Starks: Brian has volunteered at Camp Kudzu since 2007 and has served as a CIT, counselor, and head staff. Brian is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia (UGA) and a Pre-Doctoral Fellow at UGAs Center for International Trade and Security. Brians research investigates the proliferation pathways for conventional arms and weapons of mass destruction technology. His work and research have previously led to time spent in the aerospace industry and multiple national nuclear laboratories. In his spare time, Brian enjoys camping and reading.
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Erin Dever: A Georgia native, Erin began attending Camp Kudzu in 2004. Since 2006, she has served as a CIT, MCIT, clinician, and medical committee member. She graduated from NGCSU in 2011 and spent 2011-2017 as an RN at Northside Hospital Cherokee. In 2013, she met her husband, Nate, while both were volunteering at Fall Family Camp. She recently graduated from the University of North Georgia as a nurse practitioner and plans to find a job working in endocrinology, where she hopes to have a positive impact on others living with diabetes.
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Caroline Graff: Caroline has been attending Camp Kudzu since she was in elementary school. She spent ten years as a camper, transitioning through the Counselor in Training program, and has now been volunteering for seven years as a counselor and head staff member. She cannot imagine spending her summers any other way. In 2015, Caroline graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelors degree in Music Education. She has been teaching middle school chorus in Fulton County ever since. Caroline has lived in Atlanta all of her life and loves to travel, explore the city, and volunteer in her spare time.
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Julie Cortes: Julie has been attending Camp Kudzu since Fall of 2003. She has volunteered as a CIT, counselor, and producer for Camp Kudzu: The Musical for the past several years. Julie has been a professional child caregiver for the last six years and has recently launched her own event planning company. In her free time, she enjoys trips to Disney World, party planning, and spending time with family and friends.
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Laura Gillespie: Laura has been attending Camp Kudzu since 2002 and has served as a CIT, counselor, and head staff volunteer. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2016 with a bachelors degree in biology. She is currently enrolled in Augusta Universitys Physician Assistant Program. In her free time, Laura enjoys running, being outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family.
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Mindy Bartleson: Born and raised in Georgia, Mindy currently lives in Boston with her two kitties, Lilo and Stitch. She's grown up with Camp Kudzu and has attended camp every summer since 2001 as a camper, CIT, volunteer counselor, and volunteer head staff. She graduated
cum laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor in Social Work degree and a minor in Sociology, and she served as president of Dawgs for Diabetes. She currently works in marketing and program management and maintains a popular blog about life with chronic illness and mental health. When she's not working, writing, cuddling with her kitties, or talking about camp, you can find her traveling, reading, crafting, running, and staying a kid at heart.
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Nicole Bernath: Nicole joined the Camp Kudzu family in 2006 as a CIT and has continued to volunteer as a counselor and head staff. Her only regret is being too stubborn to give camp a try as a camper! Thanks to camp, she quickly transitioned from someone who felt isolated by diabetes to a confident advocate for herself and others. She graduated from the University of Georgia and has pursued a career in marketing while also working to spread type 1 diabetes awareness through her childrens accessories business, donating a portion of her proceeds to Camp Kudzu. She married her husband, Daniel, in 2014, and they welcomed their daughter, Aurora, in 2016. She thanks Camp Kudzu for lifelong friends and always looks forward to volunteering at camp programs throughout the year.
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Zach Whigham: Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Zach has been involved with Camp Kudzu since the beginning and has risen through the ranks as a CIT, counselor, and a clinician. He graduated from the University of North Georgia in 2018 and has recently started a job at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta as a registered nurse. He credits Camp Kudzu with his desire to pursue the field of nursing as well as brightening his life in many other areas. In his free time, he enjoys music, running, and travel.
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