About LinkYear

Adam Donyes

Founder/Executive Director

(2003) B.A. in Communications from Boise State University

(2004) Kanakuk Institute

(2007) M.A. in Youth and Family Ministry from John Brown University

(2012) Certified Centurion through the Colson Center for Christian Worldview

Adam is extremely passionate about maximizing the potential within each and every individual that steps foot onto the Link Year campus. He has been speaking across the nation and world for the past 8 years showering his passion for Jesus upon others. He holds an active role in the teaching aspect of the Link Year Program and also operates as an ad-junct Professor for the Public Speaking course Link Year offers through JBU.

He is dreaming about raising a remnant of young leaders to change this nation for Christ. Aside from Link Year, Adam's greatest passion in life is his family. First his wife Stephanie, and his son Aiden West.

Adam Martin

Assistant Director

(2006) B.S. in Business Finance from Texas A&M University

Adam was a BYX (Brothers Under Christ) while in school and worked at the Kanakuk Colorado camp for 9 summers. He moved to Branson, MO and began working for Kanakuk Ministries as an Event Director of AFTERdark and Pure Excitement. That took him to over 70 different college campuses over 5 years and helped impact over 100,000 college students with the gospel.

Adam is a native of College Station, Texas and was married in August of 2011 to his wife Katlyn. They are proud parents of their son Trent Arthur!

Adam began working with Link Year from the beginning in 2011 as the Assistant Director. Adam loves challenging young men in that transition from boyhood to manhood. He is also the ad-junct Professor for the Intro to Economics course offered through JBU

martin@linkyear.com

@AdamDMartin

Stephanie Donyes

Women's Director

(2005) B.A. in Education from Ole Miss.

(2006) Kanakuk Institute

Stephanie is defined by all who know her as someone who is filled with joy and she loves to shower that upon college age students. In a world that is constantly trying to rob young women of that joy by selling them cultural lies, Stephanie loves discipling young women back to the Cross where she believes is the only place we'll ever find true joy and security. As the Women’s Director of the Kanakuk Link Year her role is primarily focused on nurturing growth and discipleship amongst the female Link Year students and staff. She also operates as the ad-junct Professor for the Wellness class offered through JBU. In addition, She also leads Bible Studies with the women and assists in administrative needs. But above all, her biggest passion is being a Wife and Mom to Adam and Aiden.

@sdonyes

Tanya Beardsley

Assistant Women's Director

(2009) B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies-Double Emphasis: Families in Society, Personal and Family Relationships from the University of Texas at Austin

(2011) Kanakuk Institute

(2012) M.A. in Ministry with a Counseling Emphasis from John Brown University

Tanya is originally from Granbury, Texas. She has been working with Kanakuk Kamps since 2007 and has an uncanny knack for discipleship with young women. Tanya helps with several administrative needs within the Link Year, as well as discipling young women. Tanya served her internship with Link Year in the inaugural year, and was such a perfect fit we invited her to come and serve on staff full time. She also serves as the ad-junct professor for the Career Planning course offered through our partnership with JBU.

tanya@linkyear.com

@tbeards7

Autumn Wang

Academic and Discipleship Coordinator

(2009) B.A. in Psychology from Florida Gulf Coast University

(2011) Kanakuk Institute

(2013) Certified Centurion through the Colson Center for Christian Worldview

Autumn joined the Link Year team in 2012. Prior to that she had spent a year traveling as a Field Consultant for her sorority, Tri Delta, with their Executive Office in Texas. She spent that year opening up a number of new Tri Delta chapters across the country.

Autumn graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2009. She was Tri Delta President and a cheerleader while in school and worked at Kanakuk K-1 camp for 5 summers.

She is passionate about both discipleship and instilling leadership skills into students. She loves building relationships and being able to see individual growth in students walk with the Lord. She also operates as the adjunct professor for the Psychology course offered through our partnership with JBU.

Autumn is a native of St. Petersburg, Fl and was married in April 2012 to her husband Brian. She enjoys time with her family, relaxing in coffee shops, thunderstorms and traveling to new places with her husband. She and her husband Brian both live in Branson, Missouri and feel incredible blessed to do ministry together and be a part of the Link Year team.

@autgrace

Brian Wang

Men's Director

(2005) B.S. Organized Leadership Supervision from Purdue University

(2007) Kanakuk Institute

(2013) Certified Centurion through the Colson Center for Christian Worldview

Brian joined the Link Year team in 2012, after serving four years as the Area Director for the St. Petersburg, FL K-Life Chapter. While there, he led and served the mission to transform the youth culture for Christ in St. Pete.

Before diving into youth ministry, Brian moved to Branson, Mo and began working for Kanakuk Ministries as an Event Director of AFTERdark and Pure Excitement. It took him to over 35 different colleges over 3 years and helped impact over 50,000 college students with the gospel.

"My passion is for people and relationships. I love walking alongside students as they refine who they are in Christ and take the steps to establish their purpose in life. I have found out first hand the importance of having a vision for your life as a whole, not just what your vision for school or a career is."

Brian graduated with a degree in Organized Leadership Supervision from Purdue University in 2005. He was a scholarship football player while in school and worked at Kanakuk K-2 camp for 5 summers.

He also operates as the ad-junct Professor for the International Studies course offered through our partnership with JBU. Brian is a native of Fort Worth, Texas and was married in April 2012 to his wife Autumn.

brian@linkyear.com

@wangbrian

Link Year

LEADERSHIP

KANAKUK KAMPS