Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Julia Kuzmenko

Julia Kuzmenko, from Portland, Oregon is serving on team oak 1 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. She arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start her 10-month service term. Oak 1 is made up of ten people from across the country who will serve together around the Midwest.

Julia says” I just graduated high school and I know AmeriCorps is the perfect opportunity for me to learn to be independent (away from my family), a good leader, and see what opportunities may lie in my future.”

Before Julia joined the NCCC program she had just graduated high school and was looking forward to leaving for the program.

Oak 1’s second round project is at the Historic Methodist Campground, in Des Plaines, IL

The Historic Methodist Campground (HMC) has many historic buildings that need to be cleaned up after the flood of 2008 and the flood in 2013. Oak 1 will assist in restoring and the recovery of these cottages. A wide variety of tasks will include: scraping and painting 50 vacant cottages, removing/repairing rotten porches, landscaping the 35 acres that surround the property, and painting the interior of the 1900 Dining Hall and historic hotel.

Some fun facts about Julia:

Q: What is your favorite TV show and why? Friends, because it’s hilarious.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? Either a geologist, biologist, or freight attendant.

Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be? Fly

Q: What is the most challenging and/or exciting thing you have done? Going to Florida for a week.

Q: If you could come back as animal which one would it be? Mouse

Q: What is your favorite book? The Bible