Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 19 Team Leader Spotlight: Timothy Koster

Timothy Koster, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the Support Team Leader for the Oak and Pine units in NCCC’s Class 19. He arrived in Vinton on January 8, 2013, to start his 11-month service term supporting a total of thirteen teams based out of the North Central Region.

“I enjoy serving others,” Timothy says. It was one of the main things that drew him to join NCCC. “I like working with people and hearing their unique stories. It is my dream to run a non-profit organization someday, and I hope to incorporate my experiences in AmeriCorps NCCC to my professional career.”

Prior to joining NCCC, Timothy was working a maintenance job. He was also attending Grand Valley State University, working toward his MBA in business. He graduated high school from Southfield Christian School in June of 2008. After NCCC is over, he plans to go back to school and work full time.

Timothy has many skills that he brings to the NCCC. He enjoys working hard, and serving with others. He also enjoys playing sports. That will help keep him motivated to complete NCCC’s physical training, which is required three days a week for all Corps Members and Team Leaders.

One of the things that NCCC strives to embrace is diversity, and Timothy has some experience with that already. “I traveled around eastern China for three weeks for a class trip,” he says. “I learned a lot about Chinese culture.”

The Oak unit consists of six NCCC traditional teams, which are currently deployed in the following places: Rapid City, S.D.; Holland, Mich.; St. Paul, Ind.; Madison, Wis.; New York City, N.Y.; and Augusta, Mich. The Pine unit consists of seven NCCC FEMA Corps teams, which have all just returned from N.Y. and N.J., where they were helping to recover from Hurricane Sandy.

Some fun facts about Timothy:

Q: What was your first job? Mowing lawns

Q: What is your favorite movie? Princess Bride

Q: What will be your first words of advice for your team members? “Go outside of your comfort zone.”

Q: What is one place in the world that you really, really wish you could visit? Netherlands

Q: What is your favorite candy? All – yes, all. (However, Payday is not candy.)

Q: If you could come back as an animal which animal would it be and why? Slow loris

Q: Are there any sayings your parents repeated over and over that you can still remember clearly? “Come on bud, there are so many other things to do with your time.” – my father on television

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? Read/sleep/fish

Q: Could you give us one reason to join AmeriCorps NCCC? All the awesome volunteer opportunities and all the cool people.