Counselors   Chad Hixson My name is Chad Hixon. I am a rising senior at Emory University majoring in Political Science. I have a deep passion for politics and hope to run for office someday. In addition, I am a member of the Emory University Men's Basketball team. This past season, I was named to the Honorable Mention All University Athletic Association team. Prior to coming to Emory, I spent two years at Oxford College of Emory University where I also played basketball. Outside of basketball, I enjoy reading, writing, and discussion current events with friends as well as anyone willing to listen. Linnea McCalla Linnea McCalla is a May 2009 graduate of Emory University, and she majored in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies. After last year's experience as a full time counselor, Linnea is back and working as the Counselor Coordinator and will be working as the full time counselor again. During her time at Emory, Linnea participated in NAACP, volunteered at Druid Hills High School, volunteered with Jumpstart, Transforming community Project, and worked the Center for Women. She intends on going to law school after working for a year with City Year in Philadelphia. In doing so, she also plans on building underprivileged communities through her volunteer efforts while mentoring the youth. Once she is finished law school, she plans to peruse a career in Civil/ Human Rights or Public Interest Law. Her interests are listening to music or spoken word, enjoying time spent with family and friends, and enjoys spending time with and mentoring children. Viola Thomas Viola Thomas is a 2007 Emory graduate who majored in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. She is currently employed by Total Learning Concepts as a Math and Science Instructor, tutoring children of all ages to grow and develop to their fullest potential. Her experiences as an instructor have piqued her interests in childcare and education leading her to pursue a career involving and directly impacting children. In the fall, Viola will begin her studies at the University of Michigan to attain a Masters in Social Work specializing in the clinical practice of mental health in children and adolescents. She thoroughly enjoys working with children in varying capacities as it always proves to be a learning experience both for her and her students. Whether it was through her Sunday school class or being an aunt with 5 nieces and nephews under the age of six, her life thus far has been blessed with the presence of children and she wouldn’t want it any other way. Working with children has always been a rewarding experience for her and she hopes that the experiences she will gain from her time at Challenge and Champions will help groom her to become a truly adept Social Worker and Psychologist in the future! Brittni Williams HEY! My name is Brittni Jene' Williams. I was born in Dayton, Ohio but I grew up in Georgia. I am a rising Junior at Emory University majoring in Psychology, with the determination of earning my Phd as a Clinical Psychologist. My favorite past time is dancing and I love hanging out with friends and shopping, and listening to music. Also, I strongly believe that the way to heal the world is to start with the younger generation. Children are our future and they deserve the love and care needed to face life's challenges with courage and enthusiasm. I hope to provide such care through working with Challenge and Champions Summer Camp! Royce Badger Royce Badger is a 2009 graduate of Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Anthropology. He plans to attend law School and pursue a joint JD/ LLM degree in the Fall of 2010. While at Emory, Royce was an active Emory scholar, a former Model United Nations participant, and an active French club member. He also studied abroad for his entire junior year in Paris. Besides spending his summer preparing for his LSAT, Royce thinks that Challenges & Champions Leadership Camp is an excellent opportunity to both give back to the community and foster a mutual learning environment for the counselors and the kids. In his free time, Royce enjoys travelling, swimming, going to sporting events (especially basketball), tutoring, reading, and stimulating open dialogue. Sandeep Pathi Hi everybody my name is Sandeep Pathi and I am at Challenge and Champions as a part-time counselor for 2009. I am a rising senior at Emory University and majoring in Economics with a minor in Sociology. I have not fully decided on my future pursuits but am looking into Law School as a strong possibility. I decided to join Challenge and Champions because I view working with children of all ages as a highly rewarding experience, as I found out in my past roles as a mentor in the Big Brother program and as a volunteer at Boys and Girls Clubs. In fulfilling its role with an educational component as well as a fun component, Challenge and Champions is a great camp to be a part of. I also enjoy playing and watching all kinds of sports and reading anything.