MEET THE TEAM
ADAM
Adam has been attending First Presbyterian church for the last twelve years and has been involved in the youth program for the last seven. Born in Staunton, VA, he moved to Massanutten, VA in 1998. After graduating from Spotswood High School in 2007, Adam went on a long term mission trip to Long Beach, Mississippi to assist with relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He has also traveled to Philadelphia, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Dominican Republic to participate in short term missions. Adam graduated from James Madison University in December 2013 and has been working at First Presbyterian since then. He also married the love of his life, Amy, in August 2015! In his free time, Adam loves to ski, snowboard, canoe, camp, hike, watch movies, and hang out with friends.
Fun Fact: ask me about my 5 foot pogo stick
CASSANDRA
Cassandra came to First Presbyterian Church when she moved back to the area in 2011. She was born in Dallas, Texas and was raised in various locations in Colorado before relocating East with her family during High School. She graduated in 2007 from James Madison University with degrees in Psychology, Spanish, and Latin American Studies and went on to serve as a missionary in the Amazon for 2 years, followed by a year of serving in Maracaibo, Venezuela with Cru. After returning home, she completed a Bible Certificate from Columbia International University in SC, and had plans of moving back to the Amazon to work with an unreached tribe..but God had other plans...working for a church! Cassandra is also a licensed professional choreographer and instructor for Zumba Fitness and a NASM Personal Trainer who can’t stop dancing whether she’s eating, sleeping, or driving in the car. She also enjoys reading, cooking, playing with her cat, Mia, and pumpin some serious iron.
Fun Fact: Cassandra has a hearty appetite for tarantula, howler monkey, and turtle feet.
BROOKS
Brooks first attended First Pres in 8th grade during the days of 6:33. He is a graduate of Turner Ashby High School and Blue Ridge Community College, and was the Youth Intern at First Pres this past summer. He enjoys international traveling, with stops including Scotland, China, England, South Africa, and the Dominican Republic. He LOVES golf and fishing, as well as baseball, soccer, and basketball and still thinks that he will one day become a professional athlete. He is a lover of food, music, movies, reading, and the occasional 8 hour binge of The Office on Netflix. In college he was involved with Young Life and worked many weekends at Rockbridge Alum Springs in Goshen, Virginia. He has worked setting up conferences at JMU, as a soccer and basketball ref, as a server at Applebee's, as a production assistant on a dairy farm, and now as a sales floor rep at Target. He has a strange obsession with roller coasters and will challenge anyone to trivia.
Fun Fact: Although terrified of them, he has ridden horses on 3 different continents during his travels.
AMY M.
Amy grew up in the valley and attended Eastern Mennonite High School. In 2012 she graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a double major on Geography and Spanish. She currently works at Explore More Discovery Museum and Skyline Literacy. Amy has been helping out with the youth program for the better part of the last two years. She leads the girl's small group and loves helping out wherever she can! She also recently married the love of her life, Adam Miller.
Fun Fact - Amy has been to 21 different countries and hopes to triple that in her lifetime!
SARAH P.
Sarah is a native of Harrisonburg and grew up attending youth at First Pres.In 2008 she graduated from James Madison University with an education degree. She currently works at Matchbox Realty and Management. Sarah has been involved with the youth group for the past five years. She helps co-lead girls small and loves every minute of it.
Fun Fact: She is not related to Jon or Cassandra contrary to popular belief. She also likes to refer to herself as fun sized and not short.
ALLISON S.
Born and raised in Harrisonburg, Allison graduated from Bridgewater College in 2008 with a B.S. in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration and a minor in Equine Studies. Allison currently works at the HPD (so you better watch out!) and love to love on our youth group girls. Allison has a "mild" addiction to reading, coffee, and anything Africa.
Fun Fact: Ask me about my "unusual" lion experience...
HEATHER W.
I graduated from JMU with a Masters in Psychological Science and I’m currently a Behavior Analyst at Virginia Autism Spectrum Services. I work with young children with autism and it is my passion. Last summer (2014) I was an intern with First Pres and really enjoyed using what skills I have to help the kids at the Philadelphia missions trip we went on. In my free time I’m taking my first tap class!
Fun Fact: I’m under 5 feet :)
CAROLINE S.
My name is Caroline Shull. I've grown up going to First Pres and in the youth program. I just graduated from JMU with a business degree and I work at the children's museum in downtown Harrisonburg. I'm excited to be helping out with some of the youth programs in the church!
Fun fact: I can sing the names of all of the U.S. Presidents in order
JENNA S.
Jenna Smith grew up at First Presbyterian Church and was blessed to be part of junior and senior high youth group under the leadership of her mentor, The Rev. John "Skip" Hastings. She earned a B.A. in communications from Mary Baldwin College and has been a volunteer youth and small group leader since 2000. Jenna works at Stuart Hall School in Staunton, where she is Associate Director of Alumni and Major Gifts and co-advises the senior class. In her "spare" time, she enjoys reading, people, coffee, and Bible Study Fellowship, and moderates the Presbytery Youth Council, SPYCE!
Fun facts: Her college mascot is a squirrel named Gladys!
SARAH R.
Sarah first became involved at First Pres as a volunteer with the middle school youth in the spring of 2010. She grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and moved to Harrisonburg to attend James Madison University. Sarah graduated in May 2010 with an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She taught first grade at Ladd Elementary School in Augusta County for one year before God called her to join the staff full-time at First Pres. Sarah enjoys Jesus, her cats (Dandelion & Alena), laughing, and volunteering with the First Pres youth group. She is happily married to the love of her life, Matt.
Fun Fact: Sarah never gets tired of poop jokes
LAURA P.
THOMAS W.
What can we say about Thomas...
He's Thomas
Interested in Partnering with our Youth program?
Click HERE to fill out ourYouth Partnership Form
© 2016 All rights reserved