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
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.
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.
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.
Sebastian Carbajal
QuantumRamen
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.
Evan Cheng
DoctorFrolicks
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!
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.
Joshua Eckhart
SirWilliamWalrus
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!
Drake Everlove
I love esports and I have had a deep passion for video games all my life, and think the esports industry has a lot of room to grow and I want to be a part of shaping its future. I’m always excited to see how our students develop over the course of their season.
Jorge Flores
Joji99
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.
Brandon Hesslau
Salted_Cashew
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!
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.
Ryan Hoskins
I love Overwatch and have been playing soccer competitively for most of my life. Bringing my passions for teaching, sports and Overwatch together is a dream come true.
Tyler Houston
tahouston
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!
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.
Cierra King
KingCompany4
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!
Nickolas Landry
Heiisama
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.
Emily Leckie
I have a strong background in teaching and coaching youth through many years of experience in the 4H program. Esports is a recent love of mine, and I can’t wait to bring my skill set to this theater.
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.
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.
Andeanna Mata (Ande)
ExtraFancyRice
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.
Brianna McKenna
passere
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.
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.
Lianna Pang
deserted_minds
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.
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.
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.
Joseph Powell
King_Moosh
King_Moosh
Hi there! I am a current Game Design and Development college student. I have been playing Minecraft for about 10 years or so, it being my favorite video game. I am aiming to become a professor in Game Design, and am extremely excited to be working with Connected Camps! Never hesitate to say hello!
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.
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.
Hector Ramirez
Cowwhy
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.
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!
Jonathan Russell
meltdown10
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.
Namir Salvant
I enjoy coaching Overwatch because it gives me the opportunity to teach something that I am passionate about analyzing and playing.
Samantha Scott
Greekgeeksam236
Greekgeeksam236
Hi everyone! My name is Sam and I’ve been playing Minecraft for six years now. Some of my favorite games other than Minecraft include Legend of Zelda, Skyrim and House of the Dead 2 and 3 Return. My favorite thing to do in Minecraft is building elaborate cities. Feel free to say hi to me if you see me around any of the camps or labs!
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.
Chance Sweeney
I’m an avid Game Designer looking to develop my career within the gaming industry. I aspire to make games that everyone can enjoy. I’ve played video games both for fun and competitively since I was young. I’ve participated as a player from small Halo tournaments to playing on my college’s League of Legends and Overwatch teams. As a coach, I desire to pass down my knowledge to others who aspire to develop their skills.
Megan Timmermann
megti
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.
Christian Vidal
I have played and coached not only esports but traditional sports as well. My goal is to give these students a fun and safe environment to grow and make memories!
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
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.
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.
Dean Welby
bandityoshi
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.
Richard Xie
I am currently a graduate student studying at The University of Findlay pursuing my Master degree in Occupational Therapy. I became an Overwatch coach for one reason: I love video games! To me, Overwatch is a fantastic game to not only enjoy casually, but it also provides an opportunity to prove yourself by climbing the ranks competitively. I look forward to being an avenue of support and knowledge for all of my players.
Volunteer Counselors
Ethan
azulus
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.
Matt
DarkkillerM
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.
Thomas
xDarkDiamond
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
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.
Alexa
indigoalex
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!
James
ItsWxb
ItsWxb
Hello my name is James, and my Minecraft name is 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!
Liam
craftyldrmod
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.
John
L33tech
L33tech
I’m John, and have been playing Minecraft for 6 years or so on Pocket Edition and PC. I enjoy playing plugin or modded survival and Missile Wars. I like camping and working on computers as well as reading and music. My favorite part of Connected Camps is helping with Kids Club and minigame creation.
Kailas
Kailas_B_
Kailas_B_
Name: Kailas. Username: Kailas_B_. Favorite thing in MC: Redstone and banners. Personal interests: Motorsports, robotics. Time played MC/how: since late alpha, on PC.
Charlotte
AQUASONG341
AQUASONG341
Hello hello! I’m Charlotte or AQUASONG341 in-game. I’ve been playing Minecraft since 2015 and I have spread my realm out from not only the PC but to the Xbox edition as well. In Minecraft, most of my inspiration comes from books I have read and movies I have seen. I’m always open and willing to help anyone out with construction and architecture problems! That’s why I love being here at connected camps – I get the opportunity to help others create whatever their heart desires!
Gabriel
TheMCLionSheep
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!
Grace
WolfishString51
WolfishString51
Hello, my name is Grace! But, I prefer to be known as 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.
Nick
nickatee
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
ChummyChutoy
Seth
Blond_01
Blond_01