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Tanya Banks-Christensen - Captain:
A native of Philadelphia, and a cum-laude graduate of Alfred College,
Tanya Banks-Christensen served as SULTANA’S First Mate in 2004 and
Alternate Captain in 2008 before taking command for the 2009 season.
Tanya has an impressive sailing resume that includes previous service as
the Executive Captain of the schooner Quinnipiack out of New Haven,
Connecticut. Tanya has also served as Mate on several traditional
sailing vessels including the schooners PROVIDENCE, A.J. MEERWALD,
WESTWARD and SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS. Tanya holds a United States Coast
Guard 200 Ton Near Coastal Master’s License. |
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Kirstin
L. Schoeninger – Education Director: A Magna Cum Laude
graduate of La Salle University with a degree in Communications,
Kirstin Schoeninger brings a strong background in education to
her second season as Education Director on Sultana. Schoeninger
has previously worked with the Philadelphia Phantoms, Work for
Progress, and comes to us most recently from Echo Hill Outdoor
School, where she was a teacher and staff naturalist. Ice
hockey and rugby have been among Kirstin’s outdoor activities as
both player and coach. |
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Collin
Peterson-van Kanegan – Chief Mate: Collin hails from
Portland, Oregon, and holds a BA from The Evergreen State
College in Olympia, Washington. Highlighting Collin’s
experiences; commercial fisherman in Egegik, Alaska aboard a
salmon boat on the Bristol Bay, dock worker and sailing
instructor teaching sailing skills and theory to 11-17
year-olds, and volunteer work aboard the LADY WASHINGTON.
Collin holds American Sailing Association and Power Squadron
certifications. |
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Jesse
Duff-Woodruff – Deckhand/Educator: Jesse holds a BS
with Majors in Environmental Studies (with a concentration in
Conservation Biology) and Biology. Outdoor experience, wildlife
research, and working with children highlight Jesse’s
background. Jesse has worked with a Nature Conservancy in Long
Island monitoring populations of imperiled shorebird species and
was awarded the Derieux Award for Excellence in Undergraduate
Research for findings at the 2009 Collegiate Academy of the
North Carolina Academy of Science. |
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Jonas J. Johnson –
Deckhand/Educator: Jonas is from Los Altos, California,
and holds a BSBA in Finance from Northern Arizona University.
Jonas’ work experience has included customer service in
Breckenridge, Colorado, to the J.L. Walkup Skydome at Northern
Arizona University. As a camp counselor at the Blue Mountain
Ranch Summer Camp in Colorado, Jonas was part of the summer
overnight programs and has experience working with children of
all ages. |
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William Dennis Laughlin –
Deckhand/Educator: William comes to us from Madison,
New Jersey, and most recently as a deckhand/educator on the LADY
MARYLAND. Williams’ background includes deckhand/educator on
the A.J. MEERWALD and the Schooner QUINNIPIACK, experience in
the banking and finance sector, and holds an MBA from the
University of Connecticut. William has had training with the
Sea Education Association, Massachusetts, and Standards for
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. |
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Scott J.
Spillias – Deckhand/Educator: Scott holds a B.S. in
Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology from Duke
University. As the Head Educator aboard the Schooner SEAWARD, a
naturalist at Camp Sea Lab, and a kayak guide and math tutor,
Scott has varied experience developing and managing programs for
children and adults. Among Scott’s skills are open water SCUBA
certification, Spanish, small boat handling, and tropical fish
identification experience.
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