Where Are They Now

Your own TI "blast from the past!"

We often hear: "I wonder what ever happened to...."

Here is your chance to find out!

This new area of our website is dedicated to our alumni and volunteers and we hope that it will grow exponentially as others begin to submit their stories and photos! By adding your own stories to this project, you are adding yourself to TI's history! We have such a unique mosaic of people involved with us over the past 26 years, and hope that you will add your contribution so we can recognize you as well. Click here to fill out your own Where Are They Now Form, and scroll below to check out some of the great submissions we have received so far! Thank you for helping us honor the people that have made TI what it is today!

And so we ask...where are YOU now?

Tym Rourke is a former Program Director of New Hampshire Teen Institute, and an alumni of the Summer Program of 1988. In Tym's own words he describes his Summer Program experience as: "A watershed event in my life. While there I came to the shocking discovery that it was actually possible for a 15 year-old to make a difference, and that a youth choosing to engage fully in community was one of the things needed most in our world. I moved forward with that intent and never looked back." Since his experience at the Summer Program, Tym is especially proud of his tenure as a Program Director for TI, where he worked alongside Heather Beaulieu to create the Leaders in Prevention Program. Tym is also a very proud father of his now 5 year old son Declan, who was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumor at 15 months of age. Declan is now 5 years old, and after having been treated for nearly two years, he shows no signs of disease. Some words that Tym tries to live by are "Be the Change you wish to see in the world" - Ghandi, and "My goal in life...is to be a thorn in the side of mediocrity" - Siouxsie Sioux.

Tym lives in Bedford, NH. He is currently working as a Senior Program Officer with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, where he oversees about $2 million annually in grants to prevent and treat substance use disorders in New Hampshire. Apart from this, Tym also teaches a course on substance use prevention at Keene State College, blogs about fatherhood, and is in the process of writing a book on his family's experience battling pediatric cancer. If you wish to connect with Tym, you may email him at tr@nhcf.org.

Alyssa Tremblay is an alumni from 2008's Summer Program. Alyssa describes her experience that summer as "life changing. At first I was really afraid because I was going to this camp and I didn't know anyone - but after the first day I realized that this place was judgment free. I was amazed at how everyone treated me amazingly and actually cared about me. I left after that week with not only new friends, but a new family." After her experience at Summer Program, Alyssa is most proud of having shared her story with people at a vigil for drug and alcohol awareness, something she claims she would not have been able to do without TI. Alyssa's advice to others is that "You are never alone. With TI, you will always have someone that will be there to catch you when you feel like you are falling."

Alyssa is a freshman at Keene State College in NH, where she intends to major in Psychology and hopes to someday work as a counselor. If you would like to contact Alyssa, you can email her at Alyssa.tremblay@yahoo.com.

Ron Champagne began his journey with Teen Institute at the Summer Program of 1983 (NH Teen Institute's FIRST Summer Program!). Ron describes his experience as, "Wonderful. I remember the day we showed up - I was standing there for maybe 17 seconds before three staff members approached me and introduced themselves. They were so full of energy, and eager to help! I can honestly say that even to this day, that week was the best week I've had in my entire life. It's something I'll never forget." Of all the things that Ron has seen and done over the past 25 years since experiencing TI Magic, he is most proud of his two daughters, both of which are active in their community.

Ron lives in Nashua, NH, working as a line worker for Public Service of New Hampshire. If you'd like to contact Ron, you may email him at: publiceagle1@gmail.com.

Gary Guzouskas is one of the three founders of New Hampshire Teen Institute, and began his TI journey with the Illinois Teen Institute in 1982. Gary describes that experience as an "exhilarating, enlightening, heart-wrenching, tremendous learning experience. What I learned about relationships and young peoples' lives in that period of time shook the foundation that I had, and caused me to do a lot more examination ever since." Since experiencing TI Magic, Gary is most proud of having built NH Teen Institute to the point that it is now using people who were TI participants in leadership and management roles - and to see TI graduates in places like the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and the office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. As Gary puts it: "That was part of our dream, and to see it come true is really very gratifying." Some words of advice that Gary would like to offer are: "Be a good listener, and be open to a variety of people's experiences - because through listening to them, we grow."

Gary is retired and living in Henniker, NH, though he still works part time and also teaches at Keene State College. If you'd like to contact Gary, you may email him at: gguzouskas@keene.edu.