Fellows Program

Elizabeth Blanchette is a graduate of Liberty University, where she received a 4.00 grade point average for her Master of Arts in Executive Leadership. She is also a summa cum laude graduate of Eastern Nazarene College (ENC). As a leader in corporate training for AAA, Ms. Blanchette is a strong proponent of education without social limitations. Her belief that all people are valuable children of God, fuels her passion to change lives through investing in the visions and goals of the world’s youth. Ms. Blanchette is honored to serve as Vice President of Alumni Relations for the NSHSS Executive Fellows Board. Elizabeth has been a member of NSHSS since 2010, serving as an NSHSS Ambassador and a four-year member of the (formerly) NSHSS Student Council before joining the Executive Fellows Board. Ms. Blanchette has traveled extensively, interning with youth programs – in management positions - in England, France, Ireland, and Wales. Through developing relationships and connections with NSHSS alumni, fellows, high school members, educators, and families, Ms. Blanchette hopes to assist and advance the alumni in their pursuit of excellence, while fostering a lifelong and worldwide NSHSS community based on fellowship and engagement.

April Kalinski is a graduate from the University of Nebraska. While getting her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and International Business, she was a member of the University’s Women in Business group as well as the accounting honor society, Beta Alpha Psi. After graduating in 2014, she was a member of the Board of Directors for a local Nature Center and park in Lincoln Nebraska. In 2016, she moved to the Chicago area where she continues her work in accounting with a manufacturing company. In her free time, she volunteers her time between managing the finances for a local cat rescue, planning Habitat for Humanity builds for her company, and fundraising with the Habitat for Humanity Young Professionals group.

Laura Amortegui is a Colombian American who has been living in the D.C. area for the past 20 years. She currently works at Cambium Assessment Inc. in business development and finances, working on writing and developing proposals. Previously, American Institutes for Research, and at Georgetown University, at the Center for Intercultural Development and Education, to coordinate the learning exchange between international students, Georgetown professors, and businesses in the area. She earned her M.B.A and B.A of Communications at Loyola University Maryland.

Josie graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College in 2020. She works as a public relations assistant at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and as a Senior Advisor at CollegeAdvisor.com. Josie is pursuing a JD/MD joint degree and is currently enrolled in the Harvard Premedical Program. In her free time, Josie loves to travel, bake, and spend time with friends.