GW Student Activities Center

TRAiLSGuide Hall of Fame

Naomi Rennard

Naomi heard a terrible statistic the other day: 90% of the lives of typical Americans are spent indoors. Well, not this American girl. Naomi plays outside anytime she can! She loves hiking, picnics, sunsets, and the ocean. Most days you will find her dreaming of the next time she can escape the city. A Midwest girl, Naomi knows the plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Southwest’s beautiful deserts, but it was TRAiLS that provided her with an outlet for exploring the East! And she looks forward to continuing to explore it. If you're ever looking to take a walk or climb a tree, find her - she's love to take part!

Joe Laliberte
Joe hails from the great state of New Hampshire, home to some of the best outdoor adventure in the world. Up North, Joe loves to surf (you’re only a true surfer when you can say you’ve surfed in New England when it’s snowing!), ski, climb, camp, kayak, swill, and everything else outdoor adventure related. This is Joe’s fourth year at THE George Washington University, and third year as a TRAiLS guide. After being in the big city for awhile, he realized that he needed to do more of the outdoor activities that he loves. In other words, watching the wars between the black squirrels on campus just wasn’t doing it for him! This hunt for adventure eventually brought Joe to TRAiLS. So he’s psyched to go on some of the best trips GW has offered with the rest of you TRAiLers! Joe is also a member of the GW Rugby Team.

Collin Swan
Hailing from western Pennsylvania, where the outdoors were always just around the corner, Collin is happy to find a group of like-minded colleagues longing to escape from the sometimes monotonous hustle and bustle of the city. Outside, Collin finds a sense of peace that only mountains, fresh breezes, camp-stove cooking, and swilling can provide. Of the many outdoor activities, he most enjoys whitewater rafting and kayaking, so if you're ever looking for him, chances are he’s out on a river! Come out on the TRAiLS and start having some great adventures!

Cate Waugh

Hey y’all! Cate was born in Atlantic Beach, Florida. She’s lived on the ocean since the day she was born, and learned to ride a surfboard before she learned to ride a bike. Surfing has taken her all over the world – from Costa Rica to Australia to the Dominican Republic – and has truly taught her to appreciate and take care of the outdoors. The things Cate loves most in life are the ocean, her dog Noosa, grilling out, and camping. A senior at GW, this will be Cate’s third year as a TRAiLS guide, and she looks forward to planning some truly awesome activities for y’all to partake in. So come on out and see you on the TRAiLS!

Ally Pregulman
Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Ally loves everything to do with the outdoors… especially mountain biking! Her favorite outdoor adventures so far have been backpacking and rock climbing in Wyoming and South Dakota (back-side of Mt. Rushmore!), scuba diving in Cozumel, and, of course, a mountain bike trip through the Rockies! This is Ally’s second year at GW, and her first as a TRAiLS guide, though she’s been involved with TRAiLS since participating in Project Exploration 2006. As much as Ally loves DC, she also enjoys escaping the city and exploring the green areas – so if you ever want to go play in a park, in a river, or on a mountain, she’s your girl! See you out on the trails!

Cody Wix
How Y’all doin’?! Cody was born, bred, and raised in SWEET HOME ALABAMA! He grew up fishing, hunting, giggin’, camping, hiking, and anything else you can think of. He grew up swimming on the Tennessee River and he’ll always be a river rat; however, he now prefers to be climbing rocks whenever he can. He started climbing three years ago and hasn’t looked back. His dream trip is to go rock climbing in Patagonia and, of course, to one day summit the Seven Summits (the highest peak on each continent). But don’t worry, Cody dosen’t keep his head in the clouds... he just a down-home good ole’ boy who likes to play outside. So if you like the outdoors, southern hospitality, and a good time, then he can't wait to meet you. ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Dionna

Hey, hey! Dionna was born and raised in the mighty, mighty Midwest. Her hometown is Akron, Ohio, and some of Akron’s greater accomplishments include obtaining the title “Rubber Capital of the World,” launching DEVO's excellent career, and producing Lebron. Growing up, Dionna lived on her family farm until she was 14, and spent most of her childhood outside running around and jumping off roofs. She served as a Park Ranger in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park last summer, and this is her second year at GW. Dionna has been involved with TRAiLS ever since she went on Project Exploration 2006, and she’s really excited for her first year as a TRAiLS guide. Dionna also plays ultimate for GW, and can often be found hanging out and throwing around on the quad. Her favorite trips so far have been camping on the Florida coast, climbing Mt. Princeton (a Colorado “14er”!), and kayaking off the coast of Ocracoke Island. She loves playing outside and exploring both DC and nature, so she hopes to see YOU around on the sidewalks… and on the trails!

Krysta Sadowski
Hello all! A GW Junior, Krysta can't wait for yet another year of mischief and shenanigans with TRAiLS! After growing up in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont, Krysta put her passion for the outdoors to the test by hanging out in the desert for a few months on a NOLS course - she's been stuck on the trails ever since! Chilling in the backcountry is Krysta's perfect balance to city living. She loves playing outside in any capacity (skiing, rock climbing, caving, kayaking, etc.) but backpacking is her bread and butter to happiness. Krysta looks forward to seeing you all out there!

Nicole Fox

Hey everyone! I come from the woods of Kintnersville, Pennsylvania (no, not from Colorado, as many seem to think – although I sometimes like to pretend I am). My heart does belong to the West, though, and it’s always a tough decision to come back to the city after scampering on rocks and trails out there during the summers. Luckily for all of us, TRAiLS is here to provide a much-needed escape, and I’m incredibly excited to be able to lead other gearheads into the wilderness this year. I love running on, hiking along, and building trails, as well as snowboarding, snowshoeing, camping, slacklining, cooking my organic homemade powerbars, and, of course, climbing anything I can. Hope to see you at the rock gym (my second home) and out on the trails!

Lee Burlison

Hey everyone! I'm a senior this year from the smog city that is Los Angeles, California. This is my second year as a TRAiLS Guide. Last semester I spent time in Spain and Morocco. I love long walks on the AT and dinner by Whisper Lite. My number favorite activity other than crawling around in the wilderness are ice breaker games like Pole/Tandem/Princess and the Animal Game. My favorite food is vegitarian chili made by campfire. My favorite animal is the bear. No particular reason for that one, I just like bears. If you are interested in joining me on my annual drive across the country - contact me immediatly!

Clay Jenkins

Growing up in the suburbs of southern New Jersey makes one restless. Living in a place where gray squirrels were “wild” and intensely fertilized lawns were “beautiful” leaves a void that can only be filled by mountains, beaches, rivers, deserts, oceans and anywhere far away from everything. The only thing better than experiencing these places on my own has been experiencing them with other people who enjoy it as much as I do. Rock.

Adrienne Lagman

Hey ya'll! As one of the few Southern Belles from Birmingham, Alabama
to hazard living this far into Yankee territory, I realize that all is
not lost for the Great Confederate Cause. I've embraced my wild side and
been able to infiltrate GWTRAiLS for my first year as a guide.
Obviously this is all part of my plan to help the South rise again!
(mwahahaha!) Ok, so maybe I'm a little bit of a hippie at heart. Being
here in D.C. has made me realize how much I miss the Mountains and the
lushness of the Heart of Dixie. As a senior Anthropology major, I'm
most looking forward to seeing how many people I can introduce to the
great love of their lives-nature of course! Ever since I started doing
TRAiLS my sophomore year I haven't been able to live without taking a
walk and smelling the fresh air in the woods once in a while. I hope
ya'll will see what we have planned this year and come hang out with
us. I'm really friendly and always out to meet cool people, so if you
see me on campus, don't forget to say hi!
Peace,
Adrienne

Elliot Schottland

Interested In: Women

Relationship Status: Single

Political Views: Liberal

Interests: Hiking, biking, New Zealand, wearing cologne while going to clubs that have exorbitant cover charges, sleeping under the stars, getting a new toothbrush, the Christmas/Chanukah holiday season, conservation, recycling but most importantly reducing.

Clubs and Jobs: GW TRAiLS, golf caddy,

Favorite Music: Grateful Dead, Exit Clov, Bluegrass, Pearl Jam, Gaelic Storm,

Yonder Mountain String Band, Frank Zappa

Favorite Books: Catch-22, 1984

Favorite Movies: Manchurian Candidate, Brain Candy, The Big Lebowski

Website: http://www.big-boys.com/articles/throwpaper.html

Audrey Kruse

Finally in my senior year, I have returned to TRAiLS as a service coordinator and GORP maker extraordinaire. I hail from New Jersey, play ultimate, wear sandals a lot and eat no meat. I love being in the outdoors and can’t get enough of backcountry habits like swilling and snowboarding. Hope to see you all out on the TRAiLS!

Laura Marchelya

Well, it's senior year andI am happy to have "Michael Jordan status" and be back on the TRAiLS team after taking some time off. In the past year I have scaled mountains on five continents. I have avoided flood waters in Brazil and been disappointed by the drought season in Thailand. I'm glad to be back in a place where the trails are well marked (more often than not) andI speak a common language with people (hopefully). When I'm not in the TRAiLS office or playing outside, you can find me with a lacrosse stick, at a bar (the joy of finally being 21 in the District), or at a live music venue. If I seem intriguing and you want to know more than what you've seen on facebook.com or through this all-encompassing bio, come on a trip because playing outside is what I do best.

Rebecca Finger

Finally as a Senior, I have decided to take my next great step towards hippie-dom by returning as a TRAiLs guide here at the George Washington University. As if being a vegetarian, Environmental Science major from Colorado wasn't bad enough, I have declared that my love for the wilderness could not merely stop there and that I wanted to not only learn, but also teach the 300 different ways to hug a tree. Having the fortune to be born in (or actually near) the Rockies, it came as no surprise to my family that at age 5 I was much more comfortable on skis then walking on flat land. My love for the outdoors quickly grew from there as I spent the next 15 years infatuated with anything during whichever season that would allow me to go play outside. I hope this year I will be able to continue to survive using the 'wilderness way' of living all while having an amazing time with everyone crazy enough to come on our trips.

Chris Kiple

Coming direct from the Plains of Nebraska, this TRAiLSGuide has come to the raging metropolis of Washington, D.C. to see people and tall buildings. However, somewhere along his journey to the Urban East he lost his wilderness way and has been struggling to cope within the confines of the city.

TRAiLS Assistant Program Coordinator

Tucker Burton

Hey! My name's Tucker. I also go by "Uncle Tucker" and "Gandalf!" I'm a grad student here at GW in the school of education. It is with great humbleness that I step into the role that was once filled by the Great Director--Jeremiah Davis. I am extremely excited about this upcoming year and all of the opportunities that await. It's going to be testa! We have the highest caliber staff of guides who are cooking up some excellent adventures. Despite what you may have heard, there are plenty of places to get out and enjoy some wilderness adventurin'. So tie your shoes because you are in for the some of the most important experiences of your life.

2004 - 2005

Adam Benzing - "Capt. Planet"

Capt. Planet (aka 'Adam Benzing' by day) began his devout love of the outdoors early in life while being raised by wolves in the backwoods of Maine. Since being run out of the pack by a jealous alpha male Adam has found the transition to human society somewhat challenging. He tempers the emotional pain caused by the strange looks people give him on the street by taking advantage of every opportunity to play outside. If you see him be sure to say hello and try not to make any sudden movements.

Ashley Randall

Hello fellow outdoors lovers! Ashley grew up in the Great Lakes state of Michigan, but went to a boarding school in North Carolina. So while she’s a Midwest girl, she’s also a southern belle at heart. This is Ashley’s fourth year at GW, and she’s very excited to be a third year TRAiLS guide! Ashley has been a TRAiLS “groupie” since she was a participant in Project Exploration 2005. She loves to go on adventures of all sorts, and enjoys trying new things. Her favorite trips have been backpacking in Costa Rica and volunteering in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Park. This past summer, Ashley spent two months completing a NOLS outdoor course in Australia. She’s also a member of the GW ultimate team, and you can often find her on the quad tossing around a disc and just enjoying being outside. She loves making new friends and hopes to see YOU out on the trails!

Laura Hemker(2003-2005)

Hey, my name is Laura Hemker, from the lovely, Boise, Idaho. Here at GW, I'm a junior majoring in International Affairs and Italian. Now, contrary to what you may be thinking, potatoes are not my favorite food, instead you could win my heart any day with a good ol' fashioned Italian meal. We're talking the pasta, the bread, and a good bottle of wine. As far as outdoor activities go though, I love to ski above all else. And I love my mountains (aka the Sawtooths or the Tetons). But when the snow's not flying, or the mountains aren't close by, I'm into climbing, backpacking, whitewater rafting, and have recently taken up triathlons as a new way to keep in shape and have some fun (granted your definition of 'fun' has to be flexible). So look for me around campus and as long as I don't hear any 'I da ho' jokes I'll hook you up with the rest of the trails crew and a good time!

Dave Nolte - "Nolte Picnic"(2003-2005)

I am a senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. Spaghetti with meatballs is my favorite food but I also like a good grilled cheese now and then. I've noticed that everything tastes better when you are camping, and have even allowed myself to enjoy the fine culinary art of swilling while backpacking. Growing up outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania, I started camping at a young age with my family. I was involved in Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout at 16. I was able to do trips from backpacking in Philmont, New Mexico to canoeing in Ontario, Canada. I have always loved outdoor recreation and I missed being able to go on trips after arriving at GW freshman year. TRAiLS offers a unique opportunity for GW students to take advantage of the variety of resources this area has to offer at affordable prices. You also get to meet lots of other students interested in the outdoors.

Sarah Schancupp

What's up y'all. I'm a senior this year with a major in psychology and a minor in political science. I am originally from HOTlanta, and when not being overwhelmed by the humidity I was able to do some fantastic hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I have been raised around horses and I am always down for some good horseback riding. I have recently discovered my interest for water sports such as kayaking, water skiing, and above all whitewater rafting. After graduation I am planning on pursing psychology and becoming a therapist. Let me know if you don't mind your brain being picked apart. I am really looking forward to being a guide this year and meeting all the people on this campus who have a passion for the outdoors. I can't wait to take advantage of the surrounding areas with all of you. Stop by the office and say hello!

Carissa Townsend - "Cawissa"

My name is Carissa Townsend and I'm a senior majoring in philosophy. I love spending as much time in the backcountry as possible whether it be kayaking, climbing, or just hiking my way up a mountain. I find hanging out in nature to be the best way to truly clear my mind and re-center my priorities, most notably what delicious meal I will eat the moment I return to civilization. I'm really excited to be part of the TRAiLS family and I can't wait to get out there with other GW students who want to get dirty in the great outdoors!

2003 - 2004

John Swyko

John has been doing outdoor stuff since the tender age of 3 when he climbed to the top of the jungle gym and told all the other little kids to start calling him Reinhold Messner. On the way down he fell, skinned his knee, cried a lot, and didn?t venture outside again until he was 13. He spent this generally indoors childhood playing with legos at his home in Rochester, NY. During his teenage years, he became active in the Boy Scouts and camped a lot. For the past two summers he has worked at Philmont National Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM, where he gets paid to backpack and couldn?t be any happier. During the off-season (September to May, that is) he majors in religion right here at The George Washington University.

Director of TRAiLS Hall of Fame

2003-2005

Jeremiah Davis

Jeremiah Davis was the Director of this ragamuffin group and couldn't have been prouder. When not backpacking or climbing, he was busy pursuing a Master's Degree in Public Health and filling out medical school supplemental applications. He also represented the University as a Presidential Administrative Fellow and an adjunct faculty member of the Exercise Science Department. If you get a chance, say "hi," swap ideas or war stories, and talk about how TRAiLS can serve the students of the GDub community. Jeremiah wears North Face clothing and shoes, packs a Gregory pack, endorses Platypus drinking products, and always carries a good book on the trail as his 'luxury item.'

Hannah Carlton, Assistant Program Coordinator

Haling from North Carolina, home of Tar Heel Basketball and Appalachian Blue Grass, Hannah spends her time dancing jigs and playing in the dirt. Having traipsed across 47 of the 50 states, she’s working on hitting the last three and then starting all over again. According to her, there’s always more adventure to be found, no matter how familiar a place may be! Before coming to GW, Hannah spent a year as a Trail Crew Leader in Alaska where a bear attacked her tent, a mountain lion held her hostage, and several moose tried to become hood ornaments of her jank van! Since coming to DC, she has found that the city offers a wilderness of its own (oh dear!). You’ll find her in the TRAiLS office, molding young minds in the classroom, or being lost in the city (stupid state streets). Smile, do a jig, and get outside!