Save the date and REGISTER at the button above for the upcoming fall event!
Session Descriptions
12:10-12:40 Get Your Head in the Game: Applying to College – This is a time for you to get insider knowledge on the college admissions process from an Admission Officer! What are colleges looking for when it comes to the essay? How can you stand out with extracurriculars and academic courses? When is the best time to apply? And where can you find additional financial aid to make your top choices feasible? All of these questions will be answered during this session by Olivia Kitt an Admission Officer at the University of Richmond.
12:40-1:25 Financial Aid & Scholarships 101 – Financial Aid & Scholarships 101 offers an overview of the college funding process, including financial aid basics, FAFSA completion, scholarships, grants, loans, and key deadlines. Designed for students, families, and educators, this session provides essential information and tips to help make higher education more affordable and accessible.
1:25-2:25 College 101 – Hear from members of the Kiwanis Family who have been in the college setting recently on topics such as what to expect your first week, how to make friends, how to study, and other topics helpful for a college student just starting out
Meet the Speakers
Applying to College, Olivia Kitt
Olivia Kitt is a native of Roanoke, Virginia, where she went to Patrick Henry High School and was first introduced to the Kiwanis Club through Key Club. She served as Editor and President of PHHS’ Key Club and served as Lieutenant Governor for Division 15B, her senior year. Olivia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Roanoke College. Since graduating, she has worked in the field of Higher Education and Undergraduate Admission at three VA private institutions. Olivia currently serves as the Assistant Director of Admission and Partnerships at the University of Richmond. This will be her second Admission cycle at UR, and fifth cycle in the field. She enjoys recruiting students from across the country and being a part of their journeys as they find their home away from home.
College 101 Moderator, Dr. Charles E. Gibson III
Charles E. Gibson III, EdD, DHA, serves as Chief Engagement and Belonging Officer and Director of the Intercultural Center at Randolph College. He brings nearly two decades of experience across the higher education, human resources, and nonprofit sectors. His academic credentials include Doctor of Education, Education Specialist, and Master of Arts degrees from Appalachian State University; a Doctor of Healthcare Administration degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg; a Master of Education degree from The Pennsylvania State University; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg.
College 101 Panelist, Erina Haque
Erina is a Crescere Aude Scholar at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN triple majoring in Political Science, Economics, and Spanish with a minor in National Security on the pre-law track. In high school, Erina served as a 2023-2024 Distinguished District Governor and 2022-2023 Robert F. Lucas Outstanding Lieutenant Governor in the Capital District. At Vanderbilt, Erina serves as the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Law Review, where she works to facilitate scholarly civil discourse on legal and political issues. Outside of classes, Erina loves going on nature hikes, trying new matcha options, and spending time with her loved ones.
College 101 Panelist, Hyun Sung (Tim) Do
Tim Do was a part of Capital District Key Club, serving as both Division 11A Lieutenant Governor and Secretary-Treasurer. He attended Johns Hopkins University, majoring in Neuroscience. During college, he was also a part of Johns Hopkins University Circle K, later serving as the Northeast Lieutenant Governor. He is now attending medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine. Some fun facts: he has lived in 3 different countries, he is an avid pickleball player, and he is trying to learn more Korean cuisine recipes.
College 101 Panelist, Macy Lindblom
Macy Lindblom is a proud Key Club alumna, having served as LTG of Division 2A out of Alexandria, VA, and in her senior year of high school, Capital District Governor. This past May, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Latin American Health in the U.S. – an interdisciplinary major integrating biology, Spanish, public policy and leadership. She is now taking a gap year working as a Presidential Fellow in the UVA Office of the President while applying to medical school. While at UVA, she stayed true to the spirit of servant leadership first instilled in her through Key Club – taking on leadership roles in the pre-med fraternity, serving as a tour guide, teaching English as a second language, and volunteering on the inpatient pediatric unit at UVA Health. She was also deeply involved with Madison House, UVA’s largest student-run service organization. She could not be more excited to speak with everyone and share more about life in college.
Financial Aid & Scholarships 101, Adam Bailey
Adam Bailey is the Director of Financial Aid at Randolph College and has over 10 years of experience in higher education financial aid administration. His expertise includes compliance, scholarship management, financial aid operations, and student financial wellness. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving access, affordability, and student success through strategic and compliant financial aid leadership.
Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 12:00PM EST to 3:00PM EST
The Kiwanis Club of Capital – Next Generation e-Club presents “The Game of Life:” a webinar-based event focused on college and career preparation for students ages 14-22.
The event will feature a variety of sessions on topics ranging from applying to college, navigating the financial aid process, exploring trade schools, tips for finding a job, building a resume, developing financial literacy, and more! There is a spectacular lineup of speakers from the educational system, community career services, and across industries.
This event is open to any and all high school and college students ages 14-22. We hope the event will provide motivation, education, a space to ask questions, and a sense of community for participants, and that all attendees will leave feeling prepared to tackle new challenges as they prepare to further their education and enter the workforce.
Spring 2026 Game of Life Speakers
Brandy Stephens, M.Ed., SHRM-SCP
As the Vice President of People & Culture at Fello, Brandy is dedicated to enhancing the employee experience and fostering a culture of connection that reflects and amplifies Fello’s core values. Her work not only strengthens the internal community but also positively impacts the people Fello supports every day. Brandy holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Towson University and a Master of Education in Higher Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Kristina Dlugozima, CPA
Kristina Dlugozima is an accountant who has spent the last two decades working in companies with $500M-$100B in annual revenue and currently serves as the Controller of Vertical Mechanical Group. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Virginia and holds a B.S. in accounting from Northeastern University and an MBA from George Mason University. Outside of work, Kristina has spent over 20 years in the Kiwanis Family serving as club and foundation treasurer for her home club of Tysons, VA for the majority of those years.
Thomas Dickinson
Thomas Dickinson is in his 28th year with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and for the past 15 years, he has served as a Work-Study Facilitator at their two technology schools. In that role, he has had the privilege of helping hundreds of students launch meaningful careers — all while growing a robust network of business partners.
Nancy Cataldo, Director of Talent Acquisition
Nancy Cataldo is an experienced Talent Acquisition leader with more than 24 years of recruiting and human resources expertise across nonprofit, automotive, corporate, and consulting sectors. She currently serves as Director of Talent Acquisition at Fello, where she partners with organizational leadership to build strong talent pipelines and support mission-aligned growth.
Before joining Fello, Nancy held senior talent acquisition roles at Legence, Lucid Motors, and Stellantis, and led recruitment operations for global organizations spanning automotive and professional services. Throughout her career, she has focused on developing strategic recruiting practices, improving hiring processes, and strengthening cross-functional partnerships to enhance organizational performance.
Nancy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Madonna University and is passionate about helping organizations attract, engage, and hire diverse, high-performing talent while mentoring early-career professionals on building successful careers.
Andrew Wong
Andrew Wong is an Air Force officer with 27 years of military service. Andrew first enlisted into the Army Reserve in 1999 and after 9 years, he transferred to the Air National Guard and was commissioned as an officer in 2009. Most of his time was spent in part-time service before transitioning to a full-time career in 2014, first as a federal technician and now on active duty orders at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Spring 2026 Game of Life Sessions
Session Title
Speaker Name
Session Description
Your Resume, But Make It Fire
Brandy Stephens
Ready to stand out? In this session, we’ll take your resume from basic to blazing. Whether you’re applying for your first job, a leadership opportunity, or prepping for college applications, you’ll learn how to showcase your strengths, tell your story, and highlight the experiences that make you you.
Financial Planning for the Future You
Kristina Dlugozima
This workshop will go over practical ways to make financial decisions keeping the future you in mind. Making a budget, making informed choices for large purchases, how to use credit responsibly are all important parts to ensuring you are setting yourself up for success.
Trade Schools and Apprenticeships: Prepare for your future career with hands-on training and experience
Thomas Dickinson
If you’re pursuing a career in the skilled trades, a trade school or apprenticeship could be your pathway to success. These programs typically combine classroom instruction with hands-on training in a shop or on a job site, and they often take less time—and cost less—than earning a traditional college degree.
Your First Job Starts Here or Getting Hired: What Employers Really Look For
Nancy Cataldo
In this session, I’ll share practical, real-world guidance on how students and early-career job seekers can position themselves for internships and their first jobs. Drawing from my experience as a Director of Talent Acquisition, I’ll walk through what employers actually look for beyond experience, how to build a strong resume with school, internship, and volunteer work, and why creating a LinkedIn profile early can be a powerful career tool.
Pathways to the Military
Andrew Wong
To some, military service can be a great option due to benefits like job security, free education (GI Bill), comprehensive healthcare, leadership training, travel, and a strong sense of purpose and camaraderie, though it involves significant commitment, discipline, and potential risk, while offering a structured path of personal and professional growth. Then comes the tough decision of deciding which branch you will join and whether you want to enlist or commission as an officer. This session will help you navigate through some of these pathways towards a military career.
Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children and our communities. We meet virtually, but our focus is still hands-on service!
The Kiwanis Next Generation E-Club is starting a new year, and we want you to be part of it. Come meet us, hear what we’ve been doing, and discover how you can help build stronger communities alongside people who care.
Come see what we’re doing and where you fit. Your next great idea, connection, or opportunity to serve could start this week.
TODAY!Want to make a Monday a little easier? Let Panda Express make you lunch or dinner, and support a great cause!
Use our fundraiser code at checkout and we get 28% of the profit for our community service projects including supporting Key Clubs, building a Little Free Library, and more!
Signature Service Project
Saturday, September 26, starting at noon EST
College and Career Preparation
Save the date and REGISTER at the button above for the upcoming fall event!
Session Descriptions
12:10-12:40 Get Your Head in the Game: Applying to College – This is a time for you to get insider knowledge on the college admissions process from an Admission Officer! What are colleges looking for when it comes to the essay? How can you stand out with extracurriculars and academic courses? When is the best time to apply? And where can you find additional financial aid to make your top choices feasible? All of these questions will be answered during this session by Olivia Kitt an Admission Officer at the University of Richmond.
12:40-1:25 Financial Aid & Scholarships 101 – Financial Aid & Scholarships 101 offers an overview of the college funding process, including financial aid basics, FAFSA completion, scholarships, grants, loans, and key deadlines. Designed for students, families, and educators, this session provides essential information and tips to help make higher education more affordable and accessible.
1:25-2:25 College 101 – Hear from members of the Kiwanis Family who have been in the college setting recently on topics such as what to expect your first week, how to make friends, how to study, and other topics helpful for a college student just starting out
Meet the Speakers
Applying to College, Olivia Kitt
Olivia Kitt is a native of Roanoke, Virginia, where she went to Patrick Henry High School and was first introduced to the Kiwanis Club through Key Club. She served as Editor and President of PHHS’ Key Club and served as Lieutenant Governor for Division 15B, her senior year. Olivia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Roanoke College. Since graduating, she has worked in the field of Higher Education and Undergraduate Admission at three VA private institutions. Olivia currently serves as the Assistant Director of Admission and Partnerships at the University of Richmond. This will be her second Admission cycle at UR, and fifth cycle in the field. She enjoys recruiting students from across the country and being a part of their journeys as they find their home away from home.
College 101 Moderator, Dr. Charles E. Gibson III
Charles E. Gibson III, EdD, DHA, serves as Chief Engagement and Belonging Officer and Director of the Intercultural Center at Randolph College. He brings nearly two decades of experience across the higher education, human resources, and nonprofit sectors. His academic credentials include Doctor of Education, Education Specialist, and Master of Arts degrees from Appalachian State University; a Doctor of Healthcare Administration degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg; a Master of Education degree from The Pennsylvania State University; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg.
College 101 Panelist, Erina Haque
Erina is a Crescere Aude Scholar at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN triple majoring in Political Science, Economics, and Spanish with a minor in National Security on the pre-law track. In high school, Erina served as a 2023-2024 Distinguished District Governor and 2022-2023 Robert F. Lucas Outstanding Lieutenant Governor in the Capital District. At Vanderbilt, Erina serves as the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Law Review, where she works to facilitate scholarly civil discourse on legal and political issues. Outside of classes, Erina loves going on nature hikes, trying new matcha options, and spending time with her loved ones.
College 101 Panelist, Hyun Sung (Tim) Do
Tim Do was a part of Capital District Key Club, serving as both Division 11A Lieutenant Governor and Secretary-Treasurer. He attended Johns Hopkins University, majoring in Neuroscience. During college, he was also a part of Johns Hopkins University Circle K, later serving as the Northeast Lieutenant Governor. He is now attending medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine. Some fun facts: he has lived in 3 different countries, he is an avid pickleball player, and he is trying to learn more Korean cuisine recipes.
College 101 Panelist, Macy Lindblom
Macy Lindblom is a proud Key Club alumna, having served as LTG of Division 2A out of Alexandria, VA, and in her senior year of high school, Capital District Governor. This past May, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Latin American Health in the U.S. – an interdisciplinary major integrating biology, Spanish, public policy and leadership. She is now taking a gap year working as a Presidential Fellow in the UVA Office of the President while applying to medical school. While at UVA, she stayed true to the spirit of servant leadership first instilled in her through Key Club – taking on leadership roles in the pre-med fraternity, serving as a tour guide, teaching English as a second language, and volunteering on the inpatient pediatric unit at UVA Health. She was also deeply involved with Madison House, UVA’s largest student-run service organization. She could not be more excited to speak with everyone and share more about life in college.
Financial Aid & Scholarships 101, Adam Bailey
Adam Bailey is the Director of Financial Aid at Randolph College and has over 10 years of experience in higher education financial aid administration. His expertise includes compliance, scholarship management, financial aid operations, and student financial wellness. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving access, affordability, and student success through strategic and compliant financial aid leadership.
Contact information
Have any questions about this event? Contact us at: [email protected].
Check out our previous events below!
Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 12:00PM EST to 3:00PM EST
The Kiwanis Club of Capital – Next Generation e-Club presents “The Game of Life:” a webinar-based event focused on college and career preparation for students ages 14-22.
The event will feature a variety of sessions on topics ranging from applying to college, navigating the financial aid process, exploring trade schools, tips for finding a job, building a resume, developing financial literacy, and more! There is a spectacular lineup of speakers from the educational system, community career services, and across industries.
This event is open to any and all high school and college students ages 14-22. We hope the event will provide motivation, education, a space to ask questions, and a sense of community for participants, and that all attendees will leave feeling prepared to tackle new challenges as they prepare to further their education and enter the workforce.
Spring 2026 Game of Life Speakers
Brandy Stephens, M.Ed., SHRM-SCP
As the Vice President of People & Culture at Fello, Brandy is dedicated to enhancing the employee experience and fostering a culture of connection that reflects and amplifies Fello’s core values. Her work not only strengthens the internal community but also positively impacts the people Fello supports every day. Brandy holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Towson University and a Master of Education in Higher Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Kristina Dlugozima, CPA
Kristina Dlugozima is an accountant who has spent the last two decades working in companies with $500M-$100B in annual revenue and currently serves as the Controller of Vertical Mechanical Group. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Virginia and holds a B.S. in accounting from Northeastern University and an MBA from George Mason University. Outside of work, Kristina has spent over 20 years in the Kiwanis Family serving as club and foundation treasurer for her home club of Tysons, VA for the majority of those years.
Thomas Dickinson
Thomas Dickinson is in his 28th year with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and for the past 15 years, he has served as a Work-Study Facilitator at their two technology schools. In that role, he has had the privilege of helping hundreds of students launch meaningful careers — all while growing a robust network of business partners.
Nancy Cataldo, Director of Talent Acquisition
Nancy Cataldo is an experienced Talent Acquisition leader with more than 24 years of recruiting and human resources expertise across nonprofit, automotive, corporate, and consulting sectors. She currently serves as Director of Talent Acquisition at Fello, where she partners with organizational leadership to build strong talent pipelines and support mission-aligned growth.
Before joining Fello, Nancy held senior talent acquisition roles at Legence, Lucid Motors, and Stellantis, and led recruitment operations for global organizations spanning automotive and professional services. Throughout her career, she has focused on developing strategic recruiting practices, improving hiring processes, and strengthening cross-functional partnerships to enhance organizational performance.
Nancy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Madonna University and is passionate about helping organizations attract, engage, and hire diverse, high-performing talent while mentoring early-career professionals on building successful careers.
Andrew Wong
Andrew Wong is an Air Force officer with 27 years of military service. Andrew first enlisted into the Army Reserve in 1999 and after 9 years, he transferred to the Air National Guard and was commissioned as an officer in 2009. Most of his time was spent in part-time service before transitioning to a full-time career in 2014, first as a federal technician and now on active duty orders at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Spring 2026 Game of Life Sessions
Facebook Posts
Kiwanis Club of Capital District - Next Generation e-Club
Kiwanis empowers communities to improve the world by making lasting differences in the lives of children and our communities. We meet virtually, but our focus is still hands-on service!
Links: https://nextgenerationkiwanis.carrd.co/
The Kiwanis Next Generation E-Club is starting a new year, and we want you to be part of it. Come meet us, hear what we’ve been doing, and discover how you can help build stronger communities alongside people who care.
Come see what we’re doing and where you fit. Your next great idea, connection, or opportunity to serve could start this week.
Here's the link: us06web.zoom.us/j/86302905761?pwd=6SPAzRJA37cY3LOKqW7FtEdttyJbWE.1
Join us for the new year. We’d love to meet you! ... See MoreSee Less
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Happening tomorrow!DON’T WAIT UNTIL SENIOR YEAR TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. 🎓
College and career decisions can feel BIG. It’s hard to know where to begin.
That’s why the Kiwanis Next-Gen E-Club is bringing students The Game of Life, a webinar focused on college preparation.
Come ready to learn, think, ask questions, and start making plans for the future you want.
📅 Saturday, September 26
🕛 12:00 PM EST
💻 Online webinar
👥 Ages 14–22
Your future doesn’t have to be figured out today. But it’s not too early to explore it.
Register here: k20360.site.kiwanis.org/signature-service-project/
#CollegePlanning #College #Kiwanis ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
TODAY!Want to make a Monday a little easier? Let Panda Express make you lunch or dinner, and support a great cause!
Use our fundraiser code at checkout and we get 28% of the profit for our community service projects including supporting Key Clubs, building a Little Free Library, and more!
www.community-fundraiser.com/virtual-fundraiser/events/promotions/159e283e-2cd5-1dbc-75e1-8ac5c1c...
#KidsNeedKiwanis #orangechicken #fundraiser ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook