Team Diversity

Our team members each came from different backgrounds and used their unique cultural experiences to enhance our website and to expand the cultural impact of our global issue. Our members came to live in the United States from a variety of countries including China and the Philippines. Many of our members speak second languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, Ilocano, and some Tagalog. Just like our team was diverse, our sources were also diverse. Our researches researched primarily online and used sources ranging from official UN reports to news websites and personal websites. They also used books from the library, magazine articles, and online periodical databases.

To learn more about our team diversity, feel free to read about our individual team members:

Jeff- Researcher & Writer
Jeff is a content writer/researcher who wrote the section about Asia and several other sections of the site. He has been very enthusiastic about creating a website and started the team this year. Jeff is a Chinese-American born in Norfolk, Virginia who is currently a junior in high school. His first language was Cantonese, and after attending the Tidewater Chinese School he learned to speak fluent Mandarin. His parents own an authentic Chinese restaurant where he works. He is also the President of the Asian Association at his school and the Vice President of Interact Club which is a local and international community service club. Additionally, Jeff is a member of the Organized Chinese Association and plays the violin in a local symphony.

Jessica- Website Developer
Jessica is one of the two website developers who helped code the entire site along with her sister, Rachel. She has created several websites before and used her previous knowledge of HTML and websites to create the site. Jessica is a Filipino-American who was born in Virginia Beach. In addition to English, Jessica understands Tagalog fully, and has been studying Spanish for six years. She is a junior in high school and is very active within the school. She is a yearbook editor, part of class council, a member of SCA, and President of the International Baccalaureate Student Organization.

Krista- Researcher & Writer
Krista worked as a researcher, writer, and interviewer in addition to organizing an AIDS Orphans Awareness Day at her high school. She helped to assign team roles and keep the project going. Krista is a high school junior who plans on majoring in International Relations in college. Her reverence for other cultures is seen through her many activities; she is the President of the Interact Service Club, a state-ranking member of the debate team, and an extemporaneous speaker on foreign affairs for the forensics team. She is also a member of the Central Library Teen Council, whose projects including organizing an annual Cultural Day event. Outside of school she plays guitar in a local band and enjoys composing music. Last summer she went on a mission trip to Nicaragua, where she volunteered at an orphanage and had the opportunity to meet many children affected by poverty and violence. She was also a part of the 2007 ThinkQuest team Young Blood: Children of War, which was about child soldiers.

Nikholas- Graphic Designer
Nikholas is the graphic designer and was responsible for all the original designs on the site. He was thrilled when he heard the news that he was selected as one of the members for the ThinkQuest team. Nikholas is a Filipino-American born in Agana, Guam who is a junior in high school. He has lived in several places around the world, including Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines. He now resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His first language was English; however, Ilokano, one of the native languages of the Philippines, is frequently spoken in his household. His parents were both born in the Philippines and are full Filipinos. He is a member of the school’s Interact Club. Nik is also involved in his Catholic church, where he plays violin along with other church musicians.

Rachel- Website Developer
Rachel is the second website developer and designer of the website's layout and structure. She joined alongside her sister Jessica to assist in website design. She is currently a freshman in high school and is the youngest member of the team. She aided the team with her experience in website design and extensive knowledge in HTML. She is Filipino-American, born in Virginia Beach. Additionally, she is treasurer for her school’s Freshman Class Council and a member of IBSO, Operation Smile, and the yearbook staff. She enjoys playing violin in her high school orchestra and in her free time designs graphics and website layouts for others’ use.

Trystyn- Researcher & Writer
Keia researched information about Africa and the impacts of AIDS as well as other sections to the website. She also helped to organize meetings and to correspond with people involved in reducing the amount of poverty and number of AIDS orphans in the world. She is a Filipino-American who is also one-fourth Chinese. She was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and lived in Okinawa, Japan for most of her childhood. As a military brat, she has been to several different countries including Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and the Philippines. She currently lives in Virginia Beach, VA and is in the eleventh grade. She is a member of the International Order of Job’s Daughters and has been a Past Honored Queen of her bethel. She enjoys bubble baths and roller coasters. In her spare time, she likes to dance, play violin and piano, and sing.

Mr. Harrison- Head Coach
Mr. Harrison is the head coach for the AIDS Orphans: A Generation Lost ThinkQuest team. He helped to ensure that the team had access to the correct software to design this website and that the team was up to date on registration paperwork. He teaches AP/IB Computer Science and AP Statistics at Princess Anne High School, a host school of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. His deep knowledge of computers and his patience has incredibly inspired the team.

Ms. Camper- Assistant Coach
Ms. Camper is the assistant coach who used her skills as an English grammar scholar to proofread the content for this website. Additionally, she helped to sponsor the team’s AIDS Orphan Awareness Day. She is a National Board Certified teacher, and teaches IBMYP English 10 and IB English 12 at Princess Anne High School. She is loved and respected by all of her students for her intelligence, kindness, and sense of humor.