Arbeitsgruppe 2023

Sarah Schreiber
Hallochen! My name is Sarah Schreiber (she/her) and I am a 2020 alumna turned mentor this year. I’m from Virginia Beach, VA, but am now studying international relations in Syracuse, NY. Before going to college, I took a gap year to participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange where I lived in Dresden, Germany. Afterwards, I spent my first semester of college in Florence, Italy, meaning that I lived in America for only 2 months last year! Outside of school, I love to dance, bake, ski, and stay active in general. My favorite German artists are AnnenMayKantereit, Kraftklub, and Von Wegen Lisbeth. I am also the person that asks to pet all of the dogs and I’m always down for a Mario Kart tournament or late-night karaoke! I can’t wait to meet everyone and share my passion for all things German, bis bald!

Karolina Mazur
Hello! My name is Karolina Mazur (she/her), and this summer, I will be a language mentor at the German Academy. I am a rising sophomore at Washington and Lee University, majoring in Biochemistry. I am an international student from Szczecin, Poland. My academic interests are mainly focused on healthcare, pharmacology, and learning foreign languages. I spent my first 19 years living and growing up in Western Poland. During my gap year, I spent my entire summer volunteering in physical therapy and general care in Cusco, Peru. After returning to Europe, I moved to Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, where I spent over half a year working as an in-home caregiver in Kiel. I started learning German in middle school and have been taking classes ever since. At W&L, I spent my whole freshman year taking German classes. My favorite hobby is solo traveling and learning new languages. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, watching documentaries, and cooking. I am very excited to be a part of the German Academy in Lexington this summer!

Quinn Doyle
Hallo! My name is Quinn Doyle and I am from Alexandria, VA. I am a rising sophomore at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN, and I am majoring in Linguistics and German. I am particularly interested in literature, translation, pedagogy, and philosophy. A fun fact about me is that I am on my school’s Quiz Bowl team and compete in academic and pop culture trivia tournaments. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, learning languages, listening to music and podcasts, and going for walks. I attended the German Academy during the summer of 2020 and I am excited to return (in person!) as a mentor this summer. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great time! Bis gleich!

Hannah Peters
Servus! My name is Hannah Peters(she/her), and I am a rising senior at James Madison University studying Elementary Education and German. I am a 2019 German Academy alumna turned mentor this year. I have been learning German for 8 years and studied abroad in Vienna, Austria last summer. I love to read, watch movies, hang out with my cat, spend time outside, and take care of my plants. I love keeping myself busy and being involved in several organizations at JMU, such as German Club, Delta Phi Alpha, University Program Board and Saferides. I am so excited to return to Washington and Lee and meet everyone. I am looking forward to an AMAZING summer! Tschüssi!

Jonathan Falls

Hello! My name is Jonathan Falls (he/him). I graduated with B.A.s in International Relations and German from Virginia Tech in 2022. I am an alumnus of the 2016 German Academy and served as a language mentor in 2019. I lived with a host family in Bavaria in 2015 as part of the AATG Summer Study Program, and have returned to Germany and Austria several times. I currently live in Roanoke, VA, where I am a musician. Outside of music and German, my interests include reading, especially continental philosophy, writing, and exploring the mountains of Southwest Virginia. I am thrilled to return to the German Academy!

Grayden Holliday

Hallo! I am Grayden Holliday from outside of Richmond Virginia. I currently attend Washington and Lee University and am pursuing a minor in German. In 2020, I attended the German Language Academy as a participant while in high school, and am now excited to return as a language mentor to be able to share my knowledge and passion for the German language and its cultures. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy rock climbing and all sorts of outdoor activities. I also play the cello in the University orchestra. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and being a part of the 2023 German Academy this summer!

	Johnatan Wilkey My name is Johnatan Wilkey, a German teacher for Chesterfield County Public Schools. I avidly follow the German Bundesliga, and my favorite soccer club is Borussia Dortmund. (Heja BVB! Schwarz gelb allez!) I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A. in German. I am the Vorplatter of Richmond’s traditional German/Bavarian dancing group, the Hirschjäger. (Insert Juchzer) My mother and her family moved to Germany from Poland forty years ago. My mother and grandparents live in the town of Hanau, which is 20 minutes outside of Frankfurt. During my yearly trips to visit my family, I have also spent extended periods of time in Austria and Switzerland, with a day trip to Liechtenstein for good measure. In my free time, I like to hike, bike, run, play soccer, and play video games (zocken). I am super excited to share my passion for German with everyone.
	Ulrike Suchanek My name is Ulrike Suchanek (she/her), and I am a German teacher for Loudoun County Public Schools. I was born and raised in Germany. In high school, I decided that I wanted to see the world, so I learned the Czech language during my senior year at the ABF in Halle. After only one year of learning Czech, I went to the Czech Republic to study and earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology. After living and working in the Czech Republic, China, and Hong Kong, I moved to the United States where I obtained my Master’s in Education from Thomas College. Today, I still love to travel and speak the Czech language at home. My other passion is arts and crafts. I’m looking forward to sharing my German and Czech language skills with you.
	Teresa Breitenthaler My name is Teresa Breitenthaler (she/her) and I am a German teacher for Loudoun County Public Schools. I just finished my 25th year! Growing up, I spent 7 years in Frankfurt, then studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria, where I met my husband and ended up staying to teach for 9 years. Traveling, especially to places I have never been, is one of my favorite things to do. Taking students to German-speaking Europe is another favorite. I am a huge soccer fan and follow Red Bull Salzburg and Liverpool (YNWA)! In my free time, I enjoy hiking, watching Fußball, reading, and working out. I am really looking forward to sharing my love for all things German at Governor’s School this summer!
	Vince Kesner Hello! I am Vince Kesner, the founder of the German program and current teacher at Cumberland Middle and High School. I am excited to teach at the academy for the first time this summer, wrapping up my 11th year of teaching. I graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 2012 with a B.A. in German and a minor in Education. During my time there, I also studied abroad at Philipps-Universität, where I enrolled in Master-level courses in Deutsch als Fremdsprache. My areas of interest in the field include fairy tales, the arts, pedagogy, STEM, and career exploration. In my free time, I enjoy drawing, painting, writing, and playing video games. Some of my favorites include Pokemon, Fortnite, and Final Fantasy. I’m looking forward to an amazing experience this summer!