Jeramie Heflin
Jeramie Heflin
HOWDY! My name is Jeramie Heflin, I am 24 years old and I am from McAllen, Texas (right near Mexico, and the beach!) Now I live in Konotop, Ukraine where I am an English teacher at the amazing School #3! I love traveling, playing sports, photography and music. My favorite quote is: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman. Can’t wait to see you at camp! PEACE!
Jason Harlen Rife
Jason and Madeline
Jason has lived in Ukraine since September 2010. He and his wife Madeline are serving in Krolevets Ukraine. He teaches at Specialized School No. 1 in the fourth, fifth and eighth forms. He has participated in two other Camp Excite projects. Jason has a degree in Political Science from the Ohio State University. Before joining the Peace Corps he worked as an assistant at the Foundation for Afghanistan, a non-profit organization providing economic assistance to Afghanistan. He has also worked as an assistant in an embassy, a waiter in a restaurant, and a sales representative in a Harley-Davidson motorcycle store. He enjoys history, travel, and learning new languages.
Madeline Rife
Jason and Madeline
Madeline is a very experienced camper thanks to the Girl Scouts and loves Camp EXCITE. Her home in Ukraine is the beautiful Krolevets, a town of about 25,000 in northern Ukraine, and her hometown in the States is the also beautiful Avon Lake, a town of about 25,000 in northern Ohio. She and her husband, Jason, have lived in Ukraine since September 2010. Before teaching at Specialized School No. 3 in Krolevets, Madeline worked at an international aid organization in Washington, DC. She was even lucky enough to visit Kyiv once on a business trip! She is (appropriately) excited for Camp Excite, and can’t wait to meet everyone.
Jenny Alton
Jenny Alton
Hi everyone, my name is Jenny Alton and I’m a Peace Corps volunteer living in the beautiful city of Sumy, where I teach at school No. 18. While I grew up in San Jose, California, I studied Literature/Writing at UC San Diego, and I call that lovely city my home. I love reading and writing, of course, but I also enjoy cooking, yoga, running, biking, and surfing. I’ve been to several Camp Excites, and they have given me some of my favorite memories of my Peace Corps service so far. I hope to see you at the next one!
Mike McClure
Mike McClure
Hi my name is Mike McClure and I am a volunteer from Northern California. I was born and raised in the city of Napa but I love San Francisco and I call that city home. I went to university at University of California at Santa Barbara and I majored in Global Studies with an emphasis on Chinese language and culture. I also have lived in China twice and I still speak some Chinese. My hobbies include running, boxing, cooking and hanging out with friends.
Zachary Pritchett
Zachary Pritchett
Dobriy Dehn Folks!!!! My name is Zachary, and I am from the great state of Georgia, home of the world’s favorite drink, Coca-Cola. I am 27 years old, and I grew up in Lithonia and Atlanta. I graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in Political Science, but when I go back to America, I hope to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to pursue a Master’s and Ed. D in Education. Here, I can also brush up on my Ukrainian/Russian as well. My hobbies include cooking, listening to music, and meeting new people. About 10 years after I leave Ukraine, I hope to return as a diplomat/ambassador to Ukraine.
Amanda Nelson-Duac
Amanda Lucille Nelson-Duac
Amanda is a Peace Corps Volunteer from the great state of Texas. She works at Gymnasium #2 in Semenivka, Chernihivs’ka Oblast. At university she studied International Affairs. Her hobbies include playing sports, cooking, playing the guitar, reading, learning to speak Ukrainian and Russian and listening to music. Her favorite Ukrainian foods are varennyki and halva – but she hates beets!
Jacque Peterson
Jacqueline Peterson
Hey there! I’m Jacqueline and whether your American or Ukrainian, one of the first things you’ll notice about me once I speak is my accent! You’ll think “where is that girl from?!” Nope it’s not Minnesota! I come to you from the Great Lakes state of Michigan 
I studied Psychology at Western Michigan University and now enjoy living life as a PCV in Sumska oblast. True to the Great Lakes I enjoy anything that involves the outdoors, water and sunshine! I cannot wait to meet all of you at this year’s Camp EXCITE so GET EXCITED because I know I am!!!!!
Sasha Shimazu
Sasha Shimazu
My name is Sasha, and I am an English teacher in Bogodukhiv, Kharkivska oblast. I am from California, and have also lived in Japan. In university, I studied International Business. My hobbies are watching American TV programs, playing tennis, and traveling. I have lived in Ukraine for 2 years, and am learning Russian (which I think is harder than English!). My favorite season is summer, because I have fun at summer camps!
Danny Zawacki
Danny Zawacki
Danny is a God among dodgeball players.
Brian McBeath
Brian McBeath
Greetings, my name is Brian McBeath. I am usually found in Bilopillia, a picturesque town in the middle of Sumska Oblast. When I am not teaching at School no.1 I can be found running around town or in my kitchen trying to stop my smoke detector from buzzing. I have spent most of my life in Richmond Virginia, but lived in Washington DC last. I have worked in a bank and on cruise ship so I can have fun and count. Camp Excite is one of my two favorite things in Ukraine (the other being Strawberry Vareniki) so come and enjoy it with us! Strawberry Vareniki not required, but very welcome!
Virginia Cartwright
Virginia Cartwright
Hi! My name is Virginia and I’m from North Carolina (but I was born in Virginia!). Now, I live in Okhtyrka and teach the best 5th-10th formers at School #1! I love playing football, kickboxing, cooking, traveling, and eating lots of dark chocolate. I studied Politics and International Affairs at UNC-CH (go Tarheels!) and the University of Glasgow in Scotland. My favorite food in Ukraine is Голубці , but I hate холодец! I also love Океан Ельзи!
Ann Yaremenko
Ann Yaremenko
Hi, Campers! My name is Ann Yaremenko. I’m from Ukraine, I live in Sumy. I help American volunteers from Peace Corps with Camp Excite. Several years ago I heard about Camp Excite, but I didn’t know how it would change my life! While spending time at Camps I met a lot of amazing people. And I want to thank all of you for that exciting atmosphere we usually have during Camp Excites.
Larry Gipson
Larry Gipson
Larry loves langauge learning camps — but seriously, alliteration aside, I’m excited to work with y’all at Camp Excite this summer! My childhood summers revolved around camps, for church, cub scouts and with my family. I grew up in Maryland, right outside DC, and I graduated from Yale, where I studied religion. I’ve been in Ukraine since September 2011 and hope to stay here for many years to come.
Nina Soloshenko
Nina Soloshenko
Hi, everyone! My name is Nina Soloshenko. I live in a little, beautiful Ukrainian city that is called Sumy. I’m an optimistic, sociable girl that enjoys spending time at Camps because it’s a great opportunity to meet really amazing people. Each time I participate in Camp Excite it gives me a lot of positive emotions. So I’m grateful to all the Campers for making my life a bit better!
Lyuda Kostyrka
Lyuda Kostyrka
Hello, my name is Lyuda and I am an English teacher. I graduated from Nizhyn State University. I live in a beautiful town called Konotop. In my free time I like to read books, to watch tv shows and to spend time with my friends. And also I like to learn foreign languages. I love Camp Excite! Thanks to it I met a lot of friends. I always have an unforgettable time there with a lot of fun games and activities. I am happy to be a part of the Camp Excite team. Thank you American volunteers for doing such a great job!
