History

Search Silicon Valley launched in September 2005 with the support of many individuals. We especially thank our founding board members, Magdalena Paul and Ken Olivier, for leading the charge to make the Silicon Valley site a reality.

In 2006 we climbed new heights in making Summer Search Silicon Valley a reality:

• 18 students from 10 Peninsula and San Jose schools joined us in our first year.
  
• 100% completed their challenging summer programs!

In 2007 we plan to expand our program into more schools and reach more deserving students.

• Our goal in the coming three years is to serve 125 students annually.
  
• Like our sister offices, we will help our students graduate high school and go to college.
  

Staff

Kamba Tshionyi, Executive Director
Haddie Lyons, Program Associate
Meghan Kirkpatrick, Program Associate

Kamba Tshionyi, Executive Director
Kamba received an AB in Human Biology from Stanford University and an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. He also played basketball at Stanford and was captain of the Final Four team his senior year. Before joining Summer Search, Kamba was a Peace Corps health education volunteer in the central African country of Gabon, as well as later working with an information technology company in London for two years. Having grown up in a family of educators, mentoring during college, coaching, and spending one year as a Program Associate in the San Francisco office, Kamba is excited and honored to be the Executive Director and grow the new Silicon Valley site.

Haddie Lyons, Program Associate
Haddie was born and raised in Zig Zag, Oregon. She graduated from Montana State University in 2003 with a degree in Elementary Education. Growing up among the Cascade Mountains, and later the Rockies, Haddie developed a love of the outdoors. Her final semester of college was spent in New Zealand student teaching where her passion for travel began. Haddie has worked as a River Guide for canoe trips on the Missouri River, participated in Americorps *NCCC as a corps member in 2004, and spent 2 years as a Counselor and Teacher at a wilderness therapeutic program. Her combined love of travel and the outdoors sparked her interest in Summer Search, where she is thrilled to have the opportunity to help send students on their own life-changing summer experiences.

Meghan Kirkpatrick, Program Associate
Meghan grew up in San Jose, California.  She received a BA in American Literature and Culture from University of California, Los Angeles and an MA in English Literature from San Jose State University.  During college, Meghan spent a year studying Spanish Literature in Granada, Spain.  She loved living abroad and decided to join the Peace Corps after college, where she served as an Environmental Education volunteer in Bolivia.  Before joining Summer Search, Meghan taught in various settings, including Dahl Elementary School, Almaden Tutoring Club, and San Jose State University.  She is excited to join Summer Search and help students develop their leadership abilities.