Erik Stenswold, Pinecrest Camper 2011-present
Who Am I?
My name is Erik Stenswold, a Pinecrester from Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Patchogue, NY. I started going to camp in 2011 and since served as Assistant Cabin Leader and Cabin Leader and have sat on the Student Council. I am the first from my congregation to attend Pinecrest, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
How I've Spent The Last Year
This last May I graduated from Suffolk County Community College with an AS in Music. I will be finishing my college education at Concordia College, studying music and religion.
May has been a busy month for me, as I also interviewed for the position of Youth Director at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, NY after Pastor Paul Egensteiner posted about the opening on our Pinecrest Facebook page. I’m very excited to say that I will be moving to Westchester, NY in August to start at my new school and to serve as Director of Youth at Emanuel to lead and walk with young Lutherans in their journey of faith.
When I started at Pinecrest I was a person who thought, “I think I could do it” or “I might be able to lead” to a person who says, “I can do it, I can lead”. Pincerest has given me the opportunity to learn how to lead, and then taught me to take that confidence and lead in my community, in my school, in my church and wherever else the Holy Spirit might move me. Pinecrest taught me that true leadership is being a servant, to lead in doing God’s work.
Who Am I?
My name is Erik Stenswold, a Pinecrester from Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Patchogue, NY. I started going to camp in 2011 and since served as Assistant Cabin Leader and Cabin Leader and have sat on the Student Council. I am the first from my congregation to attend Pinecrest, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
How I've Spent The Last Year
This last May I graduated from Suffolk County Community College with an AS in Music. I will be finishing my college education at Concordia College, studying music and religion.
May has been a busy month for me, as I also interviewed for the position of Youth Director at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, NY after Pastor Paul Egensteiner posted about the opening on our Pinecrest Facebook page. I’m very excited to say that I will be moving to Westchester, NY in August to start at my new school and to serve as Director of Youth at Emanuel to lead and walk with young Lutherans in their journey of faith.
When I started at Pinecrest I was a person who thought, “I think I could do it” or “I might be able to lead” to a person who says, “I can do it, I can lead”. Pincerest has given me the opportunity to learn how to lead, and then taught me to take that confidence and lead in my community, in my school, in my church and wherever else the Holy Spirit might move me. Pinecrest taught me that true leadership is being a servant, to lead in doing God’s work.
Jamaal Williams, Pinecrest Camper 1999-2007
Pinecrest Student Council Vice President 2007
t 2001Who Am I?
My name is Jamaal Williams and I’m a Pinecrester from New Hope Lutheran Church in Jamaica, NY. I was a camper for 8 years, serving as a Cabin Leader for 5 of those years, and served as the Student Council Vice-President in 2007. My confirmation class brought me to Pinecrest back in 1999, but my Pinecrest family kept me going back every summer to explore my faith and recharge my leadership.
How I’ve Spent The Last Year
In June 2013, I moved to Detroit, MI to run Adam Hollier’s campaign for the Detroit City Council – 5th District. Adam is my best friend from college and he reached out to me to help him run his campaign to represent his hometown and neighborhood. Even though we lost the general election, I gained an amazing perspective on Detroit, community engagement, and economic development. In April 2014, I moved (back) to Boston, MA to join City Year as the National Recruitment Manager for the organization. Now I travel to 10 schools in the southeast to build relationships with high schools, college, and universities to assist in generating applications to City Year’s AmeriCorps program, where young adults serve as tutors and mentors to struggling students in low-performing schools across the country.
My Pinecrest experience helped me to grow as a leader and grow in my faith, recognizing that servant leadership can truly change the conditions of those around us. I learned how to empathize, how to meet people where they are, how to plan engaging events, and how to have fun (a necessary component of a healthy life). Service has been at the center of my world, both personally and professionally, and Pinecrest gave me the courage to remain true to that.
If you're interested in learning more about City Year please click here
or contact Jamaal directly.
Pinecrest Student Council Vice President 2007
t 2001Who Am I?
My name is Jamaal Williams and I’m a Pinecrester from New Hope Lutheran Church in Jamaica, NY. I was a camper for 8 years, serving as a Cabin Leader for 5 of those years, and served as the Student Council Vice-President in 2007. My confirmation class brought me to Pinecrest back in 1999, but my Pinecrest family kept me going back every summer to explore my faith and recharge my leadership.
How I’ve Spent The Last Year
In June 2013, I moved to Detroit, MI to run Adam Hollier’s campaign for the Detroit City Council – 5th District. Adam is my best friend from college and he reached out to me to help him run his campaign to represent his hometown and neighborhood. Even though we lost the general election, I gained an amazing perspective on Detroit, community engagement, and economic development. In April 2014, I moved (back) to Boston, MA to join City Year as the National Recruitment Manager for the organization. Now I travel to 10 schools in the southeast to build relationships with high schools, college, and universities to assist in generating applications to City Year’s AmeriCorps program, where young adults serve as tutors and mentors to struggling students in low-performing schools across the country.
My Pinecrest experience helped me to grow as a leader and grow in my faith, recognizing that servant leadership can truly change the conditions of those around us. I learned how to empathize, how to meet people where they are, how to plan engaging events, and how to have fun (a necessary component of a healthy life). Service has been at the center of my world, both personally and professionally, and Pinecrest gave me the courage to remain true to that.
If you're interested in learning more about City Year please click here
or contact Jamaal directly.