Meet Our Staff

A wonderful aspect of our programs is that many of our delegates return to staff programs after they have successfully completed their time in the program.  Our staff to delegate ratio is approximately 1:5 which gives delegates a great deal of individualized attention.  Many staff members return year after year to continue their own leadership development and help create an amazing experience for even more students.

Meet Farah F. Sheikh

Farah Sheikh

I began my MLW journey after hearing a presentation at convention my Junior year of High School. I attended as a rising Senior,and began staffing the next year. I’ve been staffing MLW programs for 6 years now and have been a member of the Senior High Staff,the Gear Up Outreach Programs Staff,and the Advanced Leadership Seminar Staff. I have had the pleasure of directing both Gear Up and ALS during my time with the organization.

After high school,I attended American University and graduated with a degree in Business Administration with a Marketing and Management dual specialization. I now live in New York City and work for an advertising agency. I could go on forever about the things I like about staffing MLW programs,but the one thing that keeps me coming back is the look on each delegate’s face during their favorite MLW moment. The real-life impact that this organization has on Maryland’s youth is something I value more than I can explain.

Meet Grant Kilduff

Grant Kilduff

MLW has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have learned so much from it and have been able to apply the experiences to many situations. Seventh grade was the first year I attended MLW and had no idea what to expect. To my relief,the day I arrived felt like I had a second home. The staff was so nice and friendly,and I made an instant connection with the other delegates. I attended all three programs (MSEL,SHW,and ALS) and loved every minute.

Now that I have been staffing MSEL for two years I have been able to give back to the delegates in my groups. Staffing is an amazing experience. The greatest feeling for me was when I looked at a delegate and saw how far they had come throughout the course of a week. Valuable life skills are learned and can be applied to everyday life. You also become very open to talking in front of people. Being at MLW made me rather confident with public speaking,and now,as the president of my school’s Student Government Association,I have regular meetings with administrators and PTSO (Parent,Teacher,and Student Organization) members.

I currently have a seasonal job working at STX Lacrosse and have established somewhat of a side business of my own dog-sitting. Although these endeavors are limited in nature,they require interacting with people,taking responsibility,and following something through to completion;many of these traits learned directly from MLW. After high school I plan to go to a four year college and pursue a career related to exercise science or physical therapy.

Meet Sterling Grimes

Sterling Grimes

I first came to MLW in 2005 as a representative from my school’s SGA. After Senior High,I attended ALS in 2006 and knew that I could not leave this organization behind. I joined the staff in 2007 and have been working with MLW ever since. I have staffed SHW (2007-2011),Gear Up (2008) and ALS (2011). After high school,I attended the University of Maryland College Park (Go TERPS!) where I studied Government &Politics and Spanish.

I am now concurrently teaching 7th and 8th grade English in Philadelphia while pursuing my Master’s degree in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. I staff MLW because of the life-changing relationships I am able to forge with staff and delegates. They teach me more than I could ever hope to learn alone,and they have shaped much of who I am as a family member,friend,teacher and mentor.