2012 Seminar Planning Committee Members

The NCYLS planning committee meets monthly to plan all aspects of the seminar from recruiting students, to improving the website to planning alumni events. These talented volunteers spend countless hours ensuring that schools, parents, students and speakers all have an amazing experience at the seminar. You too could be part of the excitement! Find out more by visiting the volunteer page.

Molly Doctors
Co-Executive Director




Molly is the Director of Operations and eCommerce at PACT, an environmentally and socially responsible apparel company based out of Berkeley, CA.  She graduated with highest honors from UC Berkeley in 2009 with a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy.  After attending NCYLS as a participant in 2004, Molly came back in 2005 as a JCrew volunteer.  Since then, she has worn many hats at the organization and is thrilled to now be serving as its Associate Executive Director!

Elisa Trimboli
Co-Executive Director

Elisa is a graduate from California State University, Chico with a BS in Recreation Administration and an MA in Education. For the past four year, she has been working at Chico State for Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE) as the Outreach Manager. CAVE is the largest student-led non-profit organization in the CSU system dedicated to provide volunteer community service programs. At CAVE, she met two very committed NCYLS members who recruited her to be a team lead for the 2010 seminar. She was hooked with the first “Outstanding.” NCYLS is directly involved in growing confidence high school leaders and changing the lives of others, including hers!

Ivan Rodriguez
Associate Executive Director



Ivan is currently a student at the University of California, Berkeley and a 2006 NCYLS alumnus. Ivan graduated with honors from Gilroy High School and is pursuing a joint degree in Business and Economics. Ivan volunteers for NCYLS because he has seen the positive impact the seminar has on students, and enjoys mentoring the students long after the seminar.

Dan Vu
Senior Recruitment Director

Dan Vu is currently an Associate Brand Manager at Neutrogena in Los Angeles.  Dan first volunteered for NCYLS in 2004 as a team leader, and became staff director in the following year.  Dan is a graduate of UC Berkeley and has an MBA from Northwestern University.  Dan just received the prestigious Volunteer Recognition Grant from Johnson & Johnson.

Claire Butterworth
Recruitment Technology Director



Claire has been involved with youth leadership since she attended her first HOBY seminar 20 years ago. She has played a variety of important roles for NCYLS and is now the President of the Board. Claire is currently attending AJU in Los Angeles for a Masters Degree in Non-Profit Management. Claire attended Clarkson University for her undergraduate degree, and has worked for Adobe Systems and Teach for America in the past. She is married to Charlie Butterworth and just had her first daughter, Willow.


Kelsey Mac
Team Staff Director



Kelsey MacIlvaine (preferably known as Kelsey Mac) is a senior at Humboldt State University. After attending NCYLS in 2005, she has served in numerous positions including JCrew, Recruitment, and Operations, however this is her first year as a Team Lead! She also cofounded FLOW, the Future Leaders' One-day Workshop which is a brainchild of NCYLS. She is currently pursuing a degree in Recreation Administration in hopes of starting a camp of her own where the NCYLS spirit can continue!

Scott Backovich
Co-Senior Program Director

Scott Backovich is an internationally demanded youth inspirational speaker and assembly presenter. While still in his early 20's, Scott has presented to thousands of students across North America, appeared as a teen expert on international online radio, and has been a featured guest on CADA's leadership podcast. After discovering his passion for helping others at a young age, Scott began traveling the US supplying his powerful message to teens at high schools, leadership conferences, and retreats. Each year, Scott returns to speak at the organization which provided him with his inspiration to help others: NCYLS. Scott also serves as a proud committee member and Alumni Coordinator. Finally, while not speaking or traveling, Scott can be found chasing his second dream: becoming a sample guy at Costco.

Jay Virdee
Program Director



Jay is currently the Associated Students Commissioner of Community Affairs at California State University, Chico. He is also attending Chico, double majoring in psychology and communications. Jay keeps coming back to NCYLS every year because he loves to interact with the students and seeing them grow to become our future knowing they can make a change. He was a student of NCYLS in 2007 and been working with the team since 2008.

Charlie Butterworth
Senior Media Director



Charlie is a movie trailer editor currently living in Los Angeles with is wife Claire Butterworth (NCYLS Board President.) Charlie graduated from UCSD in '98 with a degree in Media (film, video, and photography.) Charlie volunteers for NCYLS because he loves the challenge of editing the video each year, and he loves seeing the emotional growth in the students over the course of the weekend. Charlie has been with NCYLS since 2006.

Yasmine Bensidi
Operations Director

Yasmine Bensidi is a senior at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, CA. She is in the process of finding the perfect college and finishing her last year of high school.  NCYLS has inspired Yasmine to use her passion and make a difference in her world. It is because of the NCYLS spirit that she decided to give back to the organization that gave me so much when she was a sophomore.

Kathryn Liu
Facilities Director



Currently an active member of the Recruitment Team, Kathryn is a senior at Monte Vista High School and headed to UC Berkeley this fall (Go Bears!).  Following her participation as a student, Kathryn has since continued to volunteer for NCYLS, driven by her passion to engage promising new recruits from diverse backgrounds, to assist them in establishing focused connections with their peers and making a difference in their communities.

Autumn Albers
Recruitment Director

Autumn is a recent Stanford graduate who currently teaches biology to Stanford sophomores. She attended NCYLS in 2005 and has since been involved in J-Crew, Operations, Recruitment, and as a guest speaker on various NCYLS panels. Autumn loves everything about NCYLS and feels so fortunate to be a part of the beautiful and inspiring NCYLS community. She can't wait for NCYLS 2012!

Cindi Choi
Team Leader Coordinator

Cindi is a manager at SunPower, a solar energy company in the Silicon Valley, where she enables people to harness renewable energy from the sun.  Cindi has a BA from Rice University (2000) and a MA from University of Queensland (2006). Cindi has volunteered with NCYLS for two years, because she enjoys building a program that makes a tangible impact on our future generation of leaders.

Bill Tickner
Team Leader Coordinator

(bio coming soon)

Rachel Honeth
Team Leader Coordinator

(bio coming soon)

Lily Goto
Website Coordinator

(bio coming soon)

Kyle Northington
Alumni Relations Sub-Committee

Kyle Northington lives in a small rural town close to the Nevada border, called Bridgeport. He is currently a Junior at Lee Vining High School, and is an intern for the local newspaper, and is involved in several clubs. Kyle loves NCYLS, and working on the alumni sub-committee and helping to make the seminar as great as possible is his passion. Kyle believes that NCYLS does so many amazing things, and helps hundreds of students become leaders in their schools. It is a truly unique and outstanding experience!

Emma Doctors
Alumni Relations Sub-Committee

Emma Doctors is a Junior at Miramonte High School in Orinda. She plays tennis, is involved in art, and her passions are dance and photography. She enjoys being involved in NCYLS because she gets to work with a family of people who share the same passions as her.  Also, she loves NCYLS because there are no preconceptions; you are able to be yourself, and go in with an open mind.

Shannon Colin
Alumni Relations Sub-Committee

Shannon is currently an undergrad freshman at UC San Diego. She is unsure about her career path but is excitedly pursuing education in the fields of political science, Spanish, and psychology. She is an active member of her school’s comedy improv team, FOOSH, and she enjoys going on runs and hanging out at coffee shops with her lovely amigos. Shannon loves NCYLS because it promotes the discovery of passion and leadership, it allows students to gain confidence by breaking out of their comfort zone to try new things, and it forms a community of outstanding and genuine people.

Ahren Ramirez
Alumni Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Kevin Illastron
Alumni Relations Sub-Committee

Kevin Jan is a Senior at Alma Heights Christian Academy and attended NCYLS in 2010 and became a JCrew in 2011. His passions are sports, photography, and architecture. He has ran for Cross Country and played Football, Basketball, and Baseball. He is the treasurer in ASB and former Chaplain of Alma Heights. He sings for the Choir, volunteers for Drama, and occasionally takes pictures for Yearbook. Kevin is currently a part of the United States Air Force as a delayed entry trainee. His time with NCYLS changed his life tremendously, he became more confident with people he didn't know and volunteers whenever he can get the chance to. He currently helps an organization in San Francisco's Tenderloin called City Impact. His goal in life is to serve in any shape or form! 

(Bio coming soon)

Sri Ramesh
Operations Sub-Committee

Sri is a senior at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino of the Bay Area. She first heard about NCYLS through her school sophomore year, and has loved the people, memories, and experiences she has had ever since. Since NCYLS that year, she has become very involved with Leadership, the California Scholarship Federation club for volunteering, and FBLA, and loves to dance in her free time. She is super excited to be part of NCYLS Operations Staff with Molly and Yasmine this year!

Saira Shakeel
Operations & Program Sub-Committee

Saira Shakeel is a junior at De Anza High in Richmond . She is part of many clubs at her school, including two community service clubs, and leadership. This year, she is working on bringing back De Anza's customs and traditions and preserving its culture. NCYLS was the most memorable experience oh Saira's life. It taught her how to become a better leader, and motivated her to give back to her community. NCYLS has given her so much, she feels honored to volunteer, and help in any way possible.

Rebecca Smith
Operations Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Jane Hong
Program Sub-Committee

Jane Hong is an alumnae of NCYLS 2010. She is currently a junior at Castro Valley High, and is busy applying everything she learned at NCYLS to her school and community. After attending NCYLS, Jane was extremely thankful to the various staff members and supporters of the seminar that had given her a chance to grow as a leader. She's extremely excited to be helping future sophomores experience the same outstanding time that she had at NCYLS!

Eric Iwashita
Program Sub-Committee

Eric Iwashita is currently a senior at Branham High School in San Jose, California. He first heard about NCYLS in 2009 and is grateful for all of the friends, experiences, and memories that NCYLS gave him to help him become the person he is today. The inspiration, leadership training, and motivation that Eric gained during the seminar has carried over into his everyday life and community. He is currently the ASB President of his high school, serves on Congressman Mike Honda's Student Advisory Council, is actively involved in community service, and was a NCYLS JCrew last year. He is so excited for this year's seminar and looks forward to making NCYLS as memorable for the sophomores as it was for him!

Julia Kusel
Program Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Joaquin Lewis
Program Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Diego Rios
Program Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Taylor Heinen
Recruitment Sub-Committee

Taylor is a graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory and am an alumnus of NCYLS 2008. He is now attending Louisiana State University where he is majoring in Kinesiology with a focus on Athletic Training andhe is also an Ambassador. Over the past few years Taylor has become very involved with Special Olympics, which is the passion that he discovered while at NCYLS.

LeeAnn Patrick
Recruitment Sub-Committees

LeeAnn Patrick, a senior at Woodside High School, did not know what she was getting into when she first was selected for NCYLS. Since attending the 2009 seminar as a sophomore, she has found that she cannot leave behind the NCYLS experience. A Junior Team Lead at the 2010 seminar and now a member of the Recruitment Sub-Committee, LeeAnn does what she can to bring the experience and inspiration of the Northern California Youth Leadership Seminar to other young leaders.

Austin Hagwood
Recruitment Sub-Committee

After attending NCYLS as a sophomore in 2009, Austin has attempted to utilize the values of leadership, passion, and service to make a difference and improve the lives of others locally, nationally, and globally. Austin has held leadership positions at Quincy High School ranging from Service Club President, to Superintendent's Representative, to ASB President. Austin doubled the size of the QHS American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team, raising thousands of dollars for cancer research, and implemented his Service Club role to partner with the American Red Cross, initiating a Help for Haiti Fundraiser and participating in the Heifer International Program. He also interned at the Plumas County District Attorney's Office and was an organizer for Barack Obama. Austin was selected as one of two California Delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program, a government immersion program in Washington, D.C., where Austin met President Obama, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, CIA Director Leon Panetta, and other national leaders. He will be attending the University of Notre Dame next year, and he hopes to study Political Science and Public Service.

Kimia Etemadi
Recruitment Sub-Committee

Kimia is in her second year at UC Berkeley and she loves every minute of it. After her amazing NCYLS experience in 2007 she have been encouraged to help out her community and give back. Currently Kimia is a volunteer at the Highland Hospital in Oakland, helping out in the Maternal and Child Health Care department. She has also been accepted into a mentoring program where she teaches middle school teens about making wise decisions regarding school, relationships, and family. In her free time, she loves to do kick boxing, yoga, and rock climbing. As part of the recruitment team this year she plans to bring in more outstanding students who can benefit from this amazing conference and give back to their communities as well. She can't wait for NCYLS 2011!

Colton Jang
Recruitment Sub-Committee

Colton is a senior at Campolindo High School. He attended NCYLS 2010 as a sophomore and came back for seconds as a JCrew leader the next year. His favorite cheer is unquestionably the Baby Shark. Following in the footsteps of the incredible leaders he met at NCYLS, Colton has founded two non-profit organizations. The Dictionary Drive has collected hundreds of dictionaries for an under-served elementary school in Richmond and the Lamorinda Kiva Club has raised thousands of dollars to loan to entrepreneurs in developing countries. In his free time, Colton enjoys raising his eyebrows one at a time.

Andrea Lowitz
Recruitment Sub-Committee

Andrea Lowitz is a senior at Cupertino High. She attended NCYLS as a sophomore in 2010 and was a JCrew leader in 2011. Through her experiences at NCYLS, Andrea has learned the power and importance of community service. She is passionate about helping to fight world hunger and educating the public about social issues through documentary film making.  In her free time, Andrea enjoys rock climbing, baking blood orange brownies, and paying the free rice vocab game at freerice.org. 

Gabriela Medina
Recruitment Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Tiffany Wu
Recruitment Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Mike Leland
Recruitment Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Hailey Finnane
Recruitment Sub-Committee

(bio coming soon)

Taylor Rogers
TBD

I am senior at Central Valley High School and will be attending Azusa Pacific University this fall, where I will be majoring in Nursing. I have been class president every year since junior high and I now serve as my school's ASB President. I first attend NCYLS as a sophomore in 2009, so this year will be my 3rd year volunteering for NCYLS. Serving a JCrew 2010 and now on the Recruitment Sub-committee, my passion for NCYLS continues to grow. This seminar is truly outstanding, and gives the participants the opportunity to learn and grow to their full potential as student leaders.




 

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