Board of Directors
Sue Counterman
Board Secretary and College Scholarship Program Director
Sue has been teaching science in the Denver area for the past 27 years. Through her work in the middle school social justice program, she came to know Arok Garang, the founder of Seeds of South Sudan. Sue is privileged to know Arok, and through him to gain a deep understanding of his trials as one of the original Lost Boys. Sue stated, “not only is Arok a remarkable, resilient individual, he is a leader in supporting orphans from South Sudan, as recognized by the Dinka leaders of the Kakuma Refugee Camp. For me, it is a privilege to contribute in a small way to helping these most marginalized children in the world.” Sue has been a board member since 2012, supporting SOSS as board secretary, and has developed the College Scholarship Program. Sue traveled with Arok and another supporter to visit the SoSS program and the Kakuma Refugee Camp in the summer of 2017 where she saw firsthand the positive impact of the Seeds of South Sudan program. SoSS is changing lives for children that otherwise would have no hope for an education or healthy meals to sustain their bodies. The support of the caring SoSS community is providing all the necessities for a productive life and giving students the opportunity to develop their capabilities.
Board Secretary and College Scholarship Program Director
Sue has been teaching science in the Denver area for the past 27 years. Through her work in the middle school social justice program, she came to know Arok Garang, the founder of Seeds of South Sudan. Sue is privileged to know Arok, and through him to gain a deep understanding of his trials as one of the original Lost Boys. Sue stated, “not only is Arok a remarkable, resilient individual, he is a leader in supporting orphans from South Sudan, as recognized by the Dinka leaders of the Kakuma Refugee Camp. For me, it is a privilege to contribute in a small way to helping these most marginalized children in the world.” Sue has been a board member since 2012, supporting SOSS as board secretary, and has developed the College Scholarship Program. Sue traveled with Arok and another supporter to visit the SoSS program and the Kakuma Refugee Camp in the summer of 2017 where she saw firsthand the positive impact of the Seeds of South Sudan program. SoSS is changing lives for children that otherwise would have no hope for an education or healthy meals to sustain their bodies. The support of the caring SoSS community is providing all the necessities for a productive life and giving students the opportunity to develop their capabilities.
Board Secretary and College Scholarship Program Director
Sue has been teaching science in the Denver area for the past 27 years. Through her work in the middle school social justice program, she came to know Arok Garang, the founder of Seeds of South Sudan. Sue is privileged to know Arok, and through him to gain a deep understanding of his trials as one of the original Lost Boys. Sue stated, “not only is Arok a remarkable, resilient individual, he is a leader in supporting orphans from South Sudan, as recognized by the Dinka leaders of the Kakuma Refugee Camp. For me, it is a privilege to contribute in a small way to helping these most marginalized children in the world.” Sue has been a board member since 2012, supporting SOSS as board secretary, and has developed the College Scholarship Program. Sue traveled with Arok and another supporter to visit the SoSS program and the Kakuma Refugee Camp in the summer of 2017 where she saw firsthand the positive impact of the Seeds of South Sudan program. SoSS is changing lives for children that otherwise would have no hope for an education or healthy meals to sustain their bodies. The support of the caring SoSS community is providing all the necessities for a productive life and giving students the opportunity to develop their capabilities.
Karen Markham
Seeds of South Sudan Board Member
Karen, a Colorado native, practiced as a Physician Assistant in the fields of Pediatrics, Allergy and Asthma for 35 years. After retiring, Karen sought volunteer activities as a way to give back to her community. She and her husband, Dan, have sponsored a student through the Seeds of South Sudan College Scholarship Program for several years.
After meeting Arok Garang, Karen was so inspired by his remarkable life story, his passion for rescuing, educating, and mentoring orphan children from the Kakuma Refugee Camp, and his sheer kindness and humbleness, Karen wanted to increase her involvement with the Seeds of South Sudan and joined the Board of Directors. “I often am reminded of the quote my daughter used to tell me, ‘To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.’
I hope my small contributions to this fantastic nonprofit may help change the world for at least one person.” Karen believes that the impact that this foundation has had on the lives of these orphan children and their capacity to become future leaders of South Sudan is truly changing the world one person at a time.
John Gonder
Board Member, Special Projects
In his advice to his children, Professor Stephen Hawking said, “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet; and that work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it.” My own father gave me the same advice. Although I am now retired, I still look at the stars and find meaning and purpose in volunteer activities that help others reach for the stars in their life.
My work life has included many fulfilling adventures: high school math teacher, US Air Force weather officer, city planner in Denver, commercial real estate sales and research, and economic development manager for counties and cities. My personal life includes a loving wife, son and daughter-in-law, and two grandsons.
My volunteer activities now include Montview Presbyterian Church, Seeds of South Sudan, Model A Club of Colorado, Habitat for Humanity, many family and grandchildren activities, as well as camping and travel to distant places.
I got to know Arok Garang when I sought a speaker for a church forum on “The Lost Boys of Sudan”. Arok had a compelling story to tell, and I soon joined him in seeking to fulfill the hopes and dreams that he has for the Seeds of South Sudan nonprofit organization. The refugee orphans that he rescues from the Kakuma Refugee Camp are given the opportunity, through education, to reach for their stars, and become future enlightened leaders in their home country of South Sudan.
Kent Nelson
Seeds of South Sudan Board Treasurer
When he was Financial Administrator at Arvada Covenant Church, Kent Nelson met Arok Garang, who was working with another church member to obtain the federal tax exempt designation, 501 (c) 3, for Seeds of South Sudan.
After Kent retired, Arok recruited him to serve a three-year term on the board as treasurer, which he began in the Spring of 2014. Kent is now serving a second three-year term on the board. As treasurer, he prepares monthly statements for the board, as well as paying invoices and sending wire transfers to Roots Academy to pay for student tuition, uniforms, food, supplies, shopping and staff support.
Since SoSS began paying college tuition for six students, Kent now executes wire transfers to Kenya so the college students can cover their tuition and expenses. He also pays the rent at Home Base in Nakuru, the large family home where all the SoSS students live when school is not in session.
To explain why he is willing to spend many volunteer hours on SoSS, Kent comments, “I believe in the power of education. I want to see the new country of South Sudan settled with our students taking leadership roles there.”
At a board meeting, Kent saw a photo of five new students who left the Kakuma Refugee Camp and were wearing their Roots Academy uniforms. “One of the students had such a smile on his face – expressing such thankfulness at getting out of the refugee camp and having an opportunity for an education at Roots Academy. Seeing his joy makes all the work and effort of serving on the board worthwhile.”
