Every semester at Cumorah Academy is unique, but what truly shapes the experience are the people who choose to serve.
Session 2 of 2026 begins with a new group of Student Leader Interns, individuals who once sat in the same seats, faced similar challenges, and decided to come back with a purpose.
SLIs are former students who return to serve the academy. Our SLIs are fully committed to their own responsibilities.
They are the ones who show up early, stay present, and lead quietly through their actions. Whether it’s supporting a student, organizing activities, or simply being a friend, their influence is felt in the small, everyday moments that make a big difference.
A Community Built Through Houses
To create connection and belonging, students are divided into five Houses. These groups help build unity, friendship, and a sense of identity throughout the semester.
The five Houses are:
Isaiah, Nephi, Moroni, Ruth, and Esther.
Each SLI is responsible for guiding one House, creating a space where students can feel seen, supported, and motivated. Through their leadership, these Houses become more than groups; they become communities.
This session, our SLIs bring dedication, empathy, and a genuine desire to serve. They help shape an environment where growth, connection, and purpose can truly happen.
Now, it’s time to meet the SLIs of Session 2 of 2026.
ESTHER MARTINS
Coordinator Roles: Health Coordinator
From: Brazil
Language: Portuguese
(She also speaks French and English)
Esther is from Brazil and currently lives in Curitiba. She works in the healthcare field and is very grateful to be back at Cumorah Academy as an SLI. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to rock concerts, and traveling.
For Esther, returning to Cumorah is a meaningful part of her journey. She values the opportunity to serve again and to be part of a community focused on growth and learning.
Scripture that inspires Esther’s leadership:
“The light of the body is the eye; therefore, when your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light.” (3 Nephi 13:22)
Esther believes that leadership is deeply connected to perspective. When we choose to focus on what is good and true, we can lead with clarity and positively influence those around us.
THAINA SOUZA
Coordinator Roles: Comity Activity
From: São Paulo, Brazil
Language: Português (She also speaks English)
Thainá is from São Paulo, Brazil, and serves as Community Activity Coordinator for the Nephi House. She has a background in Systems Analysis and Development and first came to Cumorah Academy as a student. That experience had a strong impact on her life and helped her grow in many ways.
After returning home, she felt a strong desire to come back not just as a student, but as an SLI. Now, she is living that opportunity and describes it as a very meaningful and rewarding experience. She enjoys family time, sports, and traveling, and brings a lively and positive energy to campus life.
Thainá believes leadership is about growth, consistency, and service. For her, being an SLI is a chance to positively impact students while continuing her own personal development.
ROCIO RIOS
Coordinator Roles: Contribution Work Coordinator
From: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Language: Spanish
Rocio is from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and serves as Contribution Work Coordinator for the Moroni House. She has a degree in Educational Sciences and is passionate about education and its impact on people’s lives. She first came to Cumorah Academy in Fall 2025 as a student with her husband, an experience that deeply changed their lives. They now live in Montevideo, Uruguay, working remotely for an Argentine company, and she is grateful to return as an SLI to serve again.
Scripture that inspires Rocio’s leadership:
“Behold my Beloved Son… hear ye him.” (3 Nephi 11:15)
Rocio loves this scripture because it reminds her to value each person individually. For her, leadership means serving others with the same personal care and attention Jesus Christ showed.
LEXI VANDERWALKER
Roles: Guest and Mentor coordinator, A/V tech supervisor
From: United States, North Carolina
Language: English
Lexi is from North Carolina, USA, and serves as the Guest and Mentor Coordinator and A/V Tech Supervisor for the Ruth House. She recently graduated from BYU-Idaho with a degree in Business Management and has had many international experiences, including studying at BYU-Hawaii and serving a mission in Mongolia.
Through these experiences, Lexi developed a strong love for people, cultures, and learning. She enjoys traveling and being in environments where she can grow while also helping others grow. At Cumorah, she brings both leadership and service into her daily work with students.
Scripture that inspires Lexi’s leadership:
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
For Lexi, leadership is about being strong in principles while always acting with love and charity toward others.
DARIA DMYTRASHKO
Coordinator Roles: Cleaning Coordinator
From: Ukraine
Language: Ukrainian
Daria is from Ukraine and serves as the Cleaning Coordinator for the Isaiah House. Her journey at Cumorah Academy began in Fall 2024, when she first came as a student. That experience had a deep impact on her life, both personally and spiritually, and helped shape many of her future goals.
During that time, she made a personal promise to herself that she would one day return as an SLI. Now, she is living that promise and feels very grateful to be back. For Daria, being part of Cumorah again is not just about serving, but also about giving back to a community that once helped her grow and change.
Scripture that inspires Daria’s leadership:
“A light of the body is the eye; therefore when your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light.” (3 Nephi 13:22)
For Daria, this scripture teaches that leadership starts with focus and intention. When we choose to see things with clarity and goodness, that light shines through in how we live and lead others.
The Impact of Student Leader Interns at Cumorah Academy
We are especially grateful for Esther, Thaina, Rocio, Lexi, and Daria. Through their example, dedication, and willingness to serve, they help create an environment where students can truly grow and feel supported throughout the semester.
At Cumorah Academy, leadership goes beyond tasks and responsibilities. It’s about developing character, lifting others, and building a strong community centered on faith, learning, and purpose.
If you’re looking for an experience that challenges you to grow and become your best self, Cumorah Academy might be the place for you. Come and discover what it means to learn, serve, and lead with purpose.
Written by Kiane Matzenbacher.
