Residential Staff
Laura Archambault: Residential Staff
Laura has graduated from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology. For fourteen years she has worked with youth in various different ministries.
She holds certifications in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguard and First Aid with the American Red Cross.
Laura has a passion for youth because of her understanding that the teenage years are the most crucial years for many teens growing up in today’s culture. Her desire is to help teens avoid making bad decisions in life by helping them think through the consequences of their actions and to develop a deep relationship with God that matures throughout the teen’s life.
Laura is married to her husband Nick. She enjoys swing dancing, traveling, art, and helping her husband with photography.
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Nick Archambault: Residential Staff
Nick is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Theology at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. For the last three years Nick has enjoyed working with the youth of America.
He holds certifications in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguard and First Aid with the American Red Cross.
As Nick was growing up, he would observe his peers either making positive or negative choices. As he observed his peers decisions, he couldn’t help but see the consequences of their choices. His passion is to help show teenagers how to live with biblical principles as their guide for making proper choices in life.
Nick serves the teens at Shepherd’s Hill Academy along with his wife Laura. He enjoys photography, sports, hiking, and reading.
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Mary Brubaker: Residential Staff
Mary has completed two years towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. She has worked with youth for seven years.
She holds certifications in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguard and First Aid with the American Red Cross. She was previously trained and certified in Wilderness First Responder – Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI).
Mary has been actively involved in doing the Lord’s work in the lives of Shepherd’s Hill Academy students and their families for three years. She ultimately enjoys walking alongside the girls and encourages them with God’s truth. She shares with the students her testimony of, freedom, hope, healing and satisfaction in Christ.
Mary is married to her husband Eric. Together, they enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Mary also enjoys cooking, reading, homemaking, and gardening.
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Libby Burklin: Residential Staff
Libby will complete her Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA in 2011.
Libby has worked with teens for the last four years. She’s worked with kids in her youth group, and for an urban ministry for inter-city teens. She loves the challenge of working with teenagers who are dealing with a lot of issues, and wants to invest in their lives and be a good role model for them.
Libby enjoys playing volleyball, reading and traveling to nice places.
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Andrew Embry: Residential Staff
Andrew holds certifications in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguard and First Aid with the American Red Cross. He was previously trained and certified in Wilderness First Responder – Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI).
Andrew has a passion for serving the youth of this nation. He sees that many teens have given up hope on living according to biblical principles. Andrew works alongside the teens at Shepherd’s Hill Academy to offer them hope in the possibility of living out those principles in a practical way.
Andrew enjoys sports, swimming, and NASCAR racing.
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Amy Embry: Residential Staff & Director of Food Services
Amy obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education with her major in Youth Ministries from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. She has worked with Shepherd’s Hill Academy students for five years.
Amy’s desire is to share God’s truth to the youth of today in order to enhance their life from the deceptions of society, the media, and the negative cultural influences inflicted upon them. She wants to teach our young people the meaning of a full existence and the way to eternal life; and how to appreciate justice, righteousness, and the beautiful aspects of life by having a relationship with their Maker.
Amy is married to her husband Amin. They have two children, Kaley and Kaden. Her hobbies and interest include soccer, basketball, Nebraska College football, reading and scrapbooking.
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Isaac Fox: Residential Staff
Isaac is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Missions and Adult Education. For four years he has been working with youth and has loved every minute of it.
Isaac notices the dramatic affect broken families are having on teens. He wants to help teens fill in the gap that this brokenness leaves behind by sharing with them the love of Christ and His Truths.
Isaac loves music, working with wood, hiking, backpacking, and photography.
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Sarah Harvey: Residential Staff
Sarah carries a Bachelor of Science in Cross-Cultural Studies with minors in Counseling, Bible and Theology from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. She has worked with youth for five years and served in various leadership roles for her church youth trips, discipleship relationships, and mentoring college freshmen.
Sarah’s first priority is to serve the Lord and to be obedient to His persuasions and callings. She considers her best quality to be her adaptability, and is committed to serving the Lord and to love His people. Sarah loves to serve the students at Shepherd’s Hill Academy by being able to eat, work and wake up in the early morning alongside the students, and refers to it as “simply live life with the students.”
Sarah is interested in health care, traveling and exploring. She desires to teach health education as a missionary overseas. She enjoys hiking, camping, and being outdoors. She also likes aquatic sports, including swimming and water skiing. Some of her favorite things are chocolate and the color orange.
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April Hobby: Residential Staff
April holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. One of her degrees is in Cross-Cultural Studies for Medical Professionals, and the other is in Counseling Psychology. For the past two years she has enjoyed working with youth in various church ministries.
She has always had a burden for teens and college age students. She wants to invest in the younger generation and help them mature in Christ so they can navigate the temptations presented to them in today’s culture.
April loves to read, hike, paint, play guitar and sing.
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Mike Kowalski: Residential Staff
Mike is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Mike has been helping and working with teens find their purpose in life for the last five years.
Mike’s passion is helping teens find the answers to life’s difficulties. He enjoys having deep discussions with teens to help them work through the problems and the pains they are going through.
Mike enjoys movies and video games, motorcycles, and sports.
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Matt Kramm: Residential Staff
Matt currently attends Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies. Matt was raised to live up to a high standard of Biblical manhood, and wishes to pass that on to the next generation of young men. His desire is to lead the resident boys of Shepherd’s Hill Academy to the life source that will give them their identity, that is: Christ. Through grace, he hopes to empower them to live like real men in a world of apathy, to know true peace and to share that with the rest of their peers. He has worked with youth for nearly two years.
Matt is married to Stephanie, and they are recent parents of their own son. He enjoys spending time with his immediate and church families, leading worship, studying theology, writing songs, and playing sports/martial arts.
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Samantha Mathias: Residential Staff
Samantha currently has a Bachelor of Science degree in Cross Cultural Studies from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. She has enjoyed working with youth for the last four years including work with inner city ministries.
In working with inner city ministries she was exposed to the current and rising challenges of this generation. Her passion is to develop trust and meaningful relationships with the teenagers she interacts with so she can be able to remain a mentor to them in times of need.
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Philip Nixon: Residential Staff
Philip studied Church Missions for two years at Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA. He has 11 years experience taking care of youth through church youth groups and previously for Shepherd’s Hill Academy.
Philip has a heart for working with teens, and it comes from his own passion to know God in a deeper way. He considers it a privilege from God to be able to help encourage parents who have lost hope for their teen. Philip appreciates the opportunity to serve and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide him in all areas of life.
Philip is married to his wife, Vilmarie, and they have three children. He enjoys spending time with his family, sports, and helping others in need.
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Katie Nossick: Residential Staff
Katie is currently seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in early Childhood Education and a minor in Counseling/Psychology at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA.
She has worked helping young people for four years. Katie truly loves helping them to know the Lord in order to find their place in the world. As Jesus did for us, her desire is to offer loving guidance to our youth, and to help them turn their life around with a second chance.
Katie enjoys reading mystery novels, and going to the beach and the movies. She also likes photography, and spending time with her friends and family.
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Matt Trivett: Residential Staff
Matt spent three years studying at the Moody Bible Institute before coming to Shepherd’s Hill Academy. He has worked with youth for five years. It is Matt’s desire to help our youth to become free of addiction and the emotional pain that goes with it. It is in Matt’s heart to teach others of God’s grace that is extended to each of us.
Matt loves to participate in snowboarding, rock climbing, jujitsu, and baseball. He also plays the guitar.
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Kaelyn Watson: Residential Staff
Kaelyn is currently enrolled at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA pursuing a double major in Cross-Cultural Studies and Outdoor Leadership and Education.
She has worked with youth for four years in camp ministry, youth ministry at church, and soccer ministries. Her passion to work with at-risk youth comes from her own experience of being in foster care while growing up. She understands the challenges that our young people face today. Her desire is to show them there is hope with Jesus Christ, and He will help get them through life’s trials.
Kaelyn loves being in the great outdoors, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, etc. She also enjoys soccer, other sports, coaching, reading and learning new things.
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Elise Webber: Residential Staff
Elise has a Bachelor of Science degree in Interpersonal and Public Communication from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA.
Elise has a great deal of respect for our young people, and enjoys encouraging them to walk with the Lord and to seek Him. Elise believes our troubled youth can be turned around. She desires to help them succeed; help them find a new start in life, and to help them find hope in the Lord for their future.
Elise loves to travel and meet new people. She enjoys spending time with friends having coffee, or going on long walks with them. Elise loves to laugh, and laughter is a huge part of her everyday life. She cherishes life, and views it as an adventure.
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