Meet the Counselors

Our counselors and coaches are as enthusiastic about gaming and technology as our campers, and come from top university programs in computer science, game development, economics, sports performance, and design. We run a background check as part of our hiring process and we train our staff to educate and inspire your child.

Counselors and Coaches

Ace Lowder

Hiya! I’m Ace and I studied how to make games at UCI! I like playing Minecraft, Roblox, and Hulu/Netflix. If you like any of those then that means we are already best friends 😀 I love seeing the kids being enthusiastic in their classes. It’s so fun to see them learn in the courses and put their skills to the test. If you ever see me in-game make sure to say hi!

Alan Shepherd

I love coaching Overwatch because there is nothing better than watching a player improve. Seeing students develop over the course of a season is one of the best feelings in the world. Coaching is a very rewarding experience and I love every second of it.

Ana Nguyen

Hi! I’m a recent grad from UC Irvine with a major in Computer Game Science. If I’m not playing or making games, you can find me throwing myself at whatever new interest has caught my eye (currently it’s gouache?). I believe that games should make people happy, so I love seeing the kids come together and express their creativity at Connected Camps!

Andeanna Mata (Ande)
ExtraFancyRice

Hello, everyone! I’m ExtraFancyRice, and it’s a pleasure to meet you! I’m a student at Azusa Pacific University with a major in Psychology. I love school and teamwork based activities, and like to find ways to bring people together both with Minecraft and learning in general.

Andrew Waldman

Coaching esports inspired me to pursue a new degree in Performance Psychology and to become a mentor who helps people realize their potential and goals while being in a community of great people who share a similar passion, and I look forward to working through Connected Camps and NASEF to reach more students.

Austin Walch

I started getting into the Overwatch competitive scene when I joined the varsity team at the University of Utah. I love the game and I love teaching others how they can get better. Getting to work around video games has always been a dream of mine, which is why I’m so excited to start coaching with NASEF this year.

Aveary Hicks

My dedication to being an Esports coach comes from my love of a growing Esports community that I want to positively contribute to. I look forward to being able to educate and encourage players in a game I am passionate about.

Bianca Victoria

Hi everyone! Computer Game Science major currently studying at UC Irvine. I have a background in game design, digital art, and coding. I like to play League of Legends, Minecraft, and also draw comics on the side. Playing video games have helped me create friendships that I didn’t have before. Looking forward to using video games as a way to keep kids connected with each other!

Bobby Barker

I’m currently pursuing a general studies degree at my local community college. I became an Overwatch coach after I took a group of random people to the playoffs in one of Jayne’s Peasant Cups. After that experience, I wanted to make everyone I coached become the best player they can be. Since then, I have coached multiple amateur teams and have enjoyed every second of it.

Branden Ulloa

My name is Branden and I was born and raised in Santa Ana, CA. I currently attend UCI as a Computer Game Science major and have had a passion for games all my life and taught myself how to program growing up in order to make my own games. My favorite part of being a counselor is being able to instill that same passion into the next generation and being able to pass my knowledge and skills to others. In my free time I like to play Overwatch, Super Smash Bros. and various other games with my friends and of course work on my own games.

Brandon Hesslau
Salted_Cashew

Hey! My name is Brandon Hesslau and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. I’ve been coding and developing games for about 5 years now. I’m currently a student at DePaul University studying computer science. You can always find me working on a new project whether its game development, programming, or even music composition related. Minecraft is such an amazing tool to learn about pretty much anything. I look forward to getting to know the campers and can’t wait to see what awesome things they create!

Brenden Alvarez

I’ve been involved in esports as a player for about 6 years now, and have recently transitioned to a coaching role. I love video games and esports and want to provide for students the experience that has helped shape the person who I am today. I want to do everything I can to help esports grow, since I believe the community is one of the best ones to be a part of.

Brianna McKenna
passere

Hello! I’m a recent graduate in biomedical engineering and soon-to-be graduate student. I’ve been teaching and tutoring youth for several years, and I’m excited about the awesome opportunities in Minecraft for teaching STEM. In my free time, I’m often reading, writing, or speedrunning video games.

Brock Cheung

I started getting into coaching throughout my time as a player in the amateur scene. I wanted to give back to the community by helping by coach lower level players to help prepare them for not only the amateur scene but beyond. With my experience working with contenders coaches on a regular basis, I work with players to help them keep a strong mentality and help them mechanically so they can grow in many different aspects of the game that they can apply to real life.

Chris Cordoba
Salted_Cashew

Hello! My name is Chris Cordoba. My passion for video games has brought me to DePaul University where I am majoring in Game Design. I am a part of the eSports program at my school and I compete against other colleges on my Varsity Overwatch team. I love competing and how it brings people together while teaching the value of cooperation. I want to prove that video games promote social learning and compassion in children. Video games are always portrayed in a negative light in the media and I want to remove that stigma around them and show the good they can do for a child’s development.

Cierra King
KingCompany4

Hello! My name is Cierra and my Minecraft came is KingCompany4. I spend most of my time exploring tech, but when I am not I am usually playing Minecraft. My favorite Minecraft activity is building new towns, and mimicking different famous Architectures. I love exploring the game and experimenting with different tools in Minecraft!

Christopher Eckenrode (CJ)

I am a physics major at Illinois Tech. I also participate in the on campus theater troupe and a cappella group, and love reading about random historical moments in my free time. I play a lot of Minecraft, and a variety of singleplayer games like Fallout, Rimworld, Stellaris, and Starbound. I’m passionate about teaching, and believe it is the best way to truly learn.

Dean Welby
bandityoshi

Hello! My name is Dean. My Minecraft username is bandityoshi. I have a degree in Mathematics from UIC. For the past few years I have been teaching students mathematics and writing. I am very much looking forward to combining my love for teaching and my love of video games at Connected Camps. I spend most of my free time singing, playing guitar, and playing other video games like Pokemon, The Legend of Zelda, or Mario Kart.

Devlin Nipper

I have been an eSports competitor and coach for 4 years. Over those 4 years I have coached 2 teams to the NASEF Grand Finals, coordinated multiple collegiate teams, and was named Vice President of eSports for Northern Arizona University where I am currently a senior. My games of choice are League of Legends, Town of Salem, Mortal Kombat 11, and Overwatch.

Dexter Knaack

I’m a life-long LA resident and will be attending USC studying Game Design. I have been playing Minecraft for years and am excited to teach kids a variety of subjects through such an engaging platform. My favorite thing to do in Minecraft is automate systems in modded minecraft.

Evan Cheng
DoctorFrolicks

Evan here! I’m a student at UCI, majoring in Computer Game Science. As you’d expect, my dream is to make video games for people to play! Why? Because I want to deliver potent, transformative experiences that not only entertain, but educate (see: this job), inspire, save, delight, revolutionize, – you get the point!

Gage Walton

Hi everyone, I’m Gage and I’ve lived in San Diego my entire life. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Computer Game Science at the University of California, Irvine. I’ve been playing video games for as long as I can remember and some of my favorites are Overwatch(Overwatch League too), Halo, Destiny, and Pokémon. I love having the opportunity given by Connected Camps to combine my love for video games and teaching kids!

Gregory Boehm

My name is Gregory and I was born and raised in Santa Monica, CA. I have a background in science education and I currently produce and edit esports videos for a small website. Overwatch has been my favorite game for the past two years, and I am very excited to be able to combine my love of teaching with my love of Overwatch. I also coach Rocket League and League of Legends.

Harry Potter

Since Overwatch released in 2016, it has fueled my passion for E-Sports and my drive to improve. I hope to foster a stronger community in the game by teaching new talents within the competitive scene. A healthy scene grows from the bottom to the top, and coaching new talents is an excellent way to persevere game integrity long-term.

Hector Ramirez
Cowwhy

Yo, my in game name is cowwhy but you can call me cow. During my down time I’m usually solving puzzles, learning a new programming language or playing minecraft. I’ve been playing minecraft for a few years now and I still find it fun which goes to show how many possibilities there are in the game.

Isaac Kim

Overwatch is an awesome esport, and I’ve been playing, coaching, analyzing, or running tournaments for it since its release. One of my favorite memories ever is when my teammates and I won the grand finals of a national high school league together! We were ecstatic and never felt closer as friends. As a coach, I want to foster an experience like that for another team, and help my students develop themselves as players and as people.

Jon Quinn

I have been playing League of Legends since Season 4, and it developed my passion for esports. During my time in college, I was part of Ohio State University’s Esports and LoL Club, where I helped establish the University’s foundation for esports.

Jonathan Russell
meltdown10

My name is Jonathan Russell. I’m from Chicago and have lived here my entire life. I am attending my 4th year at DePaul University. My major is Game Design and my minor is in Animation. I enjoy making games, both physical and digital, as much as I enjoy playing them.

Jorge Flores
Joji99

Hello! I’m currently studying Computer Game Science at the University of California, Irvine. I’ve had a deep passion for all things gaming since my childhood. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of programming and game design to today’s young visionaries. In my free time, I like to play Overwatch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and create digital art.

Joseph Powell
King_Moosh

Hi there! I am a recent graduate, having studied Game Design and Development at Quinnipiac University. I have been playing Minecraft for about 10 years or so, it being my favorite video game. I am passionate in many subjects, and consider myself a jack of all trades! I am aiming to become a professor in Game Design, and love working with a company like Connected Camps! Never hesitate to say hello!

Joshua Eckhart
SirWilliamWalrus

Hello! My name is Josh and I have been playing video games for as long as I can remember! I’m so extremely passionate about it that I am pursuing a career in Game Design! I love teaching and learning new things from video games to the real world! I am so geeky that I even host a live Star Wars radio show at my college!

Julian Liao (Juju)
meltdown10

Hi I’m Julian but you can call me Juju. Minecraft will always have a special place in my heart because it’s the game that inspired me through Bukkit plugins to pursue coding. I am a soon-to-be graduate studying for my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at San José State University. Besides coding, I also have a passion for Astronomy because space is so incredibly beautiful and full of mysteries. In my free time, I like to play PC games, especially Cooperative Games, and go hiking. My goal as a coder is to develop or help develop amazing software and web applications that will help people. I am so excited to be working with other counselors in sharing my passion and knowledge with the kids I will be teaching. I enjoy watching their unique thought process behind each build and code because sometimes I learn a thing or two from them.

Karen Pham

Katarina Marstellar

I love the community which gaming has opened for so many people and I intend on developing esports through sportsmanship and competition. I look forward to what the future of gaming has to offer.

Keegan Wade

I’ve been playing Overwatch competitively since its release, so Im looking forward to helping other players on their journey through the game, as they learn and develop both as individuals and teammates

Lauro Remulla

My love and passion for competition in esports goes beyond my own personal pursuits. I’m eager to help others become the best they can be!

Liam Sheehan

Hello! I’m Liam, a Game Design student from Connecticut. I am excited to be a part of the Connected Camps team to help share my passion for learning with others, especially our students. When I’m not working (or designing a game,) I play piano, guitar, and I sing. I am also quite interested in foreign language acquisition, which consumes a decent bit of my free time.

Lianna Pang
deserted_minds

Hello! I’m Lianna and I’m from New York! I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in game design. I love to immerse myself in video games and analyzing the relationships between the player and the game. Some of my favorite games include Portal, Assassin’s Creed, Subnautica, Astroneer, Left 4 Dead 2, and Inside. Games are an important part of our lives and I hope to bring the joy and fascination I find in games to others.

Maxwell Westreich

Hi everyone, I’m Maxwell Westreich from Los Angeles. At the moment I am pursuing a bachelor degree of science in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a concentration in digital circuit design. For the last decade I have been playing minecraft, which (through redstone engineering) is actually what got me interested in electrical engineering in the first place. I am so excited to be a part of this team, and to be able to share what I have learned.

Megan Timmermann
megti

Hello! My name is Megan, and I’m currently a university student majoring in 3D Animation with a minor in Game Design. I’m very passionate about video games and how they can be used bring people together. It’s amazing to be a part of a community that shares this passion and uses it to teach kids in a fun and safe environment.

Micah Cavender

Hey fellas, my name is Micah! My background is in communication studies, which has helped me coach in esports for a few years. I love games, theatre and music and I’m looking forward to traveling outside of the U.S. once I finish my studies. One of the things I love about being a Counselor is getting students excited about learning and meeting others through our fun programs. I am always looking forward to seeing what crazy things the students do next.

Morgan Buyse

Hey everyone, lovely to meet you! I’m Morgan, but you’ll know me in game as MissMX. I’m a student at St. Edward’s University where I study Entrepreneurship and Graphic Design. My passions, which I discovered through Minecraft, include creativity and innovation, and I can’t wait to provide all my campers with the same positive experiences Minecraft gave me.

Nicholas Pena

I’m an avid gamer with over a decade of experience backing me, and a long-time LoL player of 6 years and numerous competitive matches at a high level. I’ve got a burning passion for esports and video games, and being given the opportunity to give players unforgettable memories and bonds with their teammates is a dream come true for me. I’m very excited to be a part of the future of esports.

Nickolas Landry
Heiisama

Hey everyone! My name is Nick, and my Minecraft username is Heiisama. I love everything about Minecraft, Video Editing and Game Design, and I’m an expert at all three! If you see me online, don’t be afraid to come say hi.

Peter Pyun Jr.

I have been playing games quite literally all my life! I love the competitive aspect of games and the drive not just to win, but to build connections with teammates as well. I love team-based games where people come together to accomplish something, and I think that’s amazing.

Sebastian Carbajal
QuantumRamen

Hey everyone! I’m from East Los Angeles and currently studying at the University of California: Irvine as a Computer Game Science Major. When I was in middle school, I spent a lot of time on Minecraft, so I can relate to our campers on a personal level. I feel so proud to be a part of this great program, because I’ll be teaching these kids things I wish I knew at their age, which will greatly benefit them in the long run for their future.

Shane Black

I’m currently studying Mechanical Engineering and I enjoy science and math. I love all things minecraft, but I especially love working with redstone and making complicated circuits within my builds. I also love playing eSports like Overwatch and League of Legends, as well as board games like Settlers of Catan and Twilight Imperium 4. I can’t wait to meet all of the campers and build a community in my classes!

Shawn Leung

I have been playing Overwatch since it’s Open Beta and I have since developed a community for Overwatch players within the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Gaucho Gaming Organization. I aim to not only coach developing youth, but to also encourage students to pursue higher education. I also strive to create a welcoming space for those who feel there isn’t a place for them at school or home.

Soren Anderson
BlueZabu

Hey there! My name is Soren (BlueZabu in-game), and I live in Los Angeles. I’m a recent graduate from Pitzer College, and I majored in Media Arts and Computer Science! I’ve played games pretty much my whole life, and they’ve been monumental in aiding my own personal growth and education. Some of my favorites are Smash Bros, The Witcher, Dark Souls, Final Fantasy, and of course – Minecraft! I look forward to being a member of the Connected Camps community, and helping players create new memories.

Thomas Feltz
xDarkDiamond

Hi! I’m Thomas, also known as xDarkDiamond ingame.
I’ve been playing Minecraft since 2015. I most enjoy using commandblocks to make minigames and custom creations! Hop into the Kidsclub server to see some of them 🙂 My favorite part of working at Connected Camps is seeing what sort of crazy things the campers come up with and build, it’s awesome to watch one of their projects come together and to work with them to faciliate that

Tyler Houston
tahouston

Hey, there! My name is Tyler Houston. I am currently a student at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois studying Game Design. I have an intense passion for game worlds and how they immerse us. Currently, I am a Level Designer on two Fallout mod teams, Fallout: Cascadia, and Fallout: London! I very much look forward to getting to know the campers, and seeing what awesome things we can create together!

Zhen Wu

I attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My interest is in Science, Coding, Entrepreneurship. I practice Jiujitsu and Mixed Martial Arts. As for game, I mainly play Minecraft but I spend more time on Netflix than anything else. A dream of mine is to start my own business or build my own product!As a counselor, I love to see what kids create, how they work together with one another, and seeing them enjoy what they learn!

Volunteer Counselors

Alexa
indigoalex

Hey there! I’m Alex, but you can just call me indigo. I started playing Minecraft in 2012 on Pocket Edition and I’ve been playing on PC since 2015. My favorite thing to do in Minecraft is design games, build detailed maps for them & then play them with others! In my spare time, I like to play whatever game I’m into at the time, chat with friends, watch YouTube, listen to music & read. If you ever see me around, feel free to ask me for help or just say hello!

AQUASONG341
.

I’m aquasong! I’ve been playing the Java edition of Minecraft for quite a while now and i’m excited to get to know all of you in-game! In Minecraft, most of my inspiration comes from books I have read and movies I have seen. If you ever want to talk about the things you’re into, I’m always ready to chat! If you ever need any help, I’m always ready to jump in and give ya hand! Just give me a shout- and happy building!

Ethan
azulus

Hi, I’m Ethan. I’ve played Minecraft since stone cutters were still in the game. I have played on Pocket Edition and PC. My favorite things to do in Minecraft are to help with massive builds and build giant battleships. I also play the guitar (I have 3 guitars). I love Connected Camps because you can see people’s giant creations.

Gabriel
TheMCLionSheep

Salutations! I’m Gabriel, aka TheMCLionSheep. I started Minecraft on the PE edition in 2013 and moved to Java soon after. I quickly enjoyed the community aspect, joining with friends often, and gained a knack for building and commands. Outside of Minecraft, I enjoy coding, as well as parkour (Yea, real parkour!) and martial arts. Connected camps has truly allowed my passion for friends and community to grow, and to spread my skills and love for the game to the campers. I hope to show you all I know!

WolfishString51
.

Hello, I’m Wolfish. I’ve been playing Minecraft Pocket Edition since around the year of 2013 and I started playing Minecraft Java Edition since the summer of 2018! In Minecraft my favorite thing to do is either making note block music, playing in the survival mode, or making mini games for multiple people. In my spare time, I just either play games that I’m really into or sometimes draw. And my favorite thing about Connected Camps is that people help each other out when they are in need.

ItsWxb
.

Hello I’m ItsWxb but you can call me Web! I’ve been playing the Java edition of Minecraft since April of 2013. I love building in Minecraft because of how much the player is able to express themselves. I also enjoy making mini games for people to play. Some of the things I like to do outside of Minecraft are skateboard (wear your helmet!), snow ski, camp, cook, and draw. Connected Camps is an awesome community and I love helping out. Feel free to ask me any questions you have and make sure to say hello!

John
L33tech

Hello! I’m John, but you can call me L33T (leet) or L33Tech. I’ve been playing Minecraft for 7 years now on both the Pocket and Java editions. I like to play plugin or modded survival and minigames. When I’m not online, you’ll find me reading, camping, or listening to music. I also work on computers, and maintain the TeamSpeak music bot. My favorite part of Connected Camps is helping with Kids Club, and working on survival or minigames. I make videos and livestream on YouTube as well, say hi if you see me!

Kailas
Kailas_B_

Hello, I’m Kailas. I’ve been playing Minecraft for quite some time now (since beta I think) and have a fairly broad skill-set in the game. The thing I really enjoy about Minecraft is probably building redstone machines and being free to do whatever I like, really. However I do some other things than just Minecraft and videogames in general. I’m an amateur blacksmith and a cyclist as well.

Liam
craftyldrmod

Hi, I’m Liam, also known as craftyldrmod. I like redstone. I play Slime Rancher, Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft. I have been playing Minecraft for almost 2 years. I like to build TNT cannons. My favorite thing about being a volunteer mod is helping other people.

Matt
DarkkillerM

Hello! My name is DarkKillerM, also known as Matt! I’ve been playing Minecraft since 2013. I like working on massive projects, which involve detailed building and command blocks. Aside from Minecraft, I am a big Pokémon fan, and love listening to music. If you ever see me around, feel free to say hello, and ask any questions. I will be glad to help you.

Nick
nickatee

I have been playing PC Minecraft since 2014 and have loved it ever since. It taught me many things like how to type, design, and work as a team. My favorite things to do in Minecraft include building original redstone contraptions, modding with command blocks and helping other people build, fix and debug their Minecraft builds. My hobbies include botting, mining and HODLING cryptocurrency, aggressive skating, trampoline, musical theater, piano, comedy and most importantly (drum roll please) MINECRAFT!!! Other then Minecraft, my game is Overwatch. At Connected Camps, I get to do something I love and guide and advise up and coming Minecraft enthusiasts as they explore the many adventures Minecraft offers.

Nolan
ChummyChutoy

Seth
Blond_01

Hello everyone, The Blond Boy – or Seth here! I’ve been playing Minecraft for 5 years, 3 of those on the Connected Camps Kid Club server. Some of my favorite things to do in Minecraft are building structures, working with redstone, and messing with commandblocks. In addition to playing Minecraft I compose music, create skins, design graphic models, and watch YouTube to relax. The best part of Connected Camps is the people you meet. You get to interact with people who love the same game you do. As a volunteer counselor, you get to see people work together as a team, and figure out things on their own. I try to be as helpful as possible while also keeping things light with my sense of humor. If you see me around, give me a wave. I’m Blond. [^ ^ ]/

Thomas
xDarkDiamond

Hi! I’m Thomas! I’ve been playing Minecraft since 2015. I most enjoy doing Commandblocks and making crazy automated farms in Minecraft survival! My favorite part of volunteering here is seeing what sort of crazy things the campers come up with and build, it’s awesome to watch one of their projects come together.

William
WillJVNinja

Hi, my name is William and I go by the user WillJVNinja. I’ve been playing Minecraft since 2015. My favorite things to do in Minecraft are building, hanging-out in Kids Club Server and Outschool, playing mini-games made by other campers, and Minecraft Survival. I like playing video games, hiking, bicycling, listening to music, and being online in Connected Camps so I can meet tons of cool people. Connected Camps is awesome! I love being able to hang-out and helping other campers. I really like how Connected Camps can bring kids together from all over to play Minecraft and have tons of fun.

Zoe
r6v

Hey! My name is Zoe, my Minecraft name is r6v. I have been playing Minecraft since early 2014, and I love to play survival and build cool stuff, especially cave bases. Minecraft is the main game I play, never got into anything else. In real life, my hobbies are speedcubing, playing with my doggo and cats, reading, and sometimes drawing. I also play piano and some ukulele! For the distant future, I really want to get into architecture! I love being a Volunteer because I get to meet so many new people and help out to make the server a better environment.

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