Who We Are:
Jessica Kotnour:I am a high school student from the lovely land of Central Florida and have lived with OCD throughout my middle and high school careers. After working through and beating my OCD, I began to turn my focus on how I can help others going through the same thing. I can't wait to start working with kids with OCD in a professional setting, but I realize that I don't have to wait in order until I'm older to help others. I started this project in May, but it really didn't take off until I met Katie who agreed to come on board and make this dream a reality. It is so remarkable to see something that I've only thought about becoming concrete.
Katie Strang: I’m an Honor Roll student at Hobart and William Smith colleges. I have a job in the Dean’s office at school, as well as a part time job at a retirement facility when I’m at home. I’ve volunteered with kids for a long time, coaching middle-schoolers for a science competition for seven years, leading a Sunday school class for two years, and assistant teaching at a dance studio. The next step for me is being open about my own struggles and doing something to help others. When I met Jessica at the IOCDF conference this July (where we both spoke on panels) and she shared this idea with me, I knew I had to get on board. The last couple weeks of getting things rolling have been exhilarating, and I can’t wait to see where we will take this with your support!
Alyse Schacter: I am a Pre-Med Student at the University of Ottawa in the cold and beautiful city of Ottawa in Canada! I am working towards my dream of becoming a pediatrician and that goal keeps me going! In high school I had the opportunity to organize city-wide leadership camps and I had always wanted to have a chance to be involved in organizing camps again so this is really a dream come true! Working with kids has always been one of the greatest joys in my life- whether it is volunteering at a school, daycare or camp. When I met Katie and Jess and heard about Camp Audeamus at the recent International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation Conference, I could not wait to get on board. Growing up I was blessed to go to overnight camp every summer even when my OCD was very severe. It was thanks to my amazing family, the camp staff and my incredible group of camp 'sisters' that I was able to attend even when I was facing a lot of challenges. The memories I made at camp still bring me so much joy and I am beyond excited to make that possible for other kids. I believe that through providing love, strong, support, and a fun environment, we can make each camper's experience special and unforgettable.