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​Board Members

Brenda Hill, Board Chair
Brenda is married to Donn, and has two grown sons, two amazing daughter in-laws, and two of the sweetest grandsons on the planet. Brenda's family feels incredibly blessed and humbled not only to know David, but to be a part of supporting the Khor Wakow Project.  

Since 2013, Brenda has had the opportunity to be impacted firsthand by the work in South Sudan as the Khor Wakow Education & Program Director.  To say it has been a life-changing experience for Brenda and her husband would be an understatement. Brenda has trained teachers and Donn has trained pastors during several site visits to the schools.
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During this time, Brenda has seen thousands of people impacted by God through David's heart to do more for the people of the Khor Wakow region.  In 2011, God helped the organization bring access to clean water in Dunyal Village. In late November 2014, nearly a year into the war, God fed thousands of people who had not fled the very unstable region through a coordinated relief agency air delivery. Brenda has seen thousands of women and children get access to school in seven villages every day since 2016. In the midst of a war? Yes.  And finally, Brenda has been encouraged to see David's dream of building a school in his home village become a reality in 2021.  Brenda and Donn have a very realistic understanding of how challenging each one of those things is and that is why we give all glory to God for making a way.

Brenda is currently administrator for Westside Christian School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. God loves the children in South Dakota as much as the children in South Sudan- so it is a perfect fit.  Brenda still serves as more of a consultant/advisory role of the education program in Dunyal Village, but it is a great honor and privilege to now serve on the Board in whatever way helps the Khor Wakow Project achieve the mission God has given it.
Donn Hill, Treasurer
Krista Youngberg, Secretary
Krista is a Sioux Falls native. Krista spends her time at GreatLIFE as the Member Experience Director and getting people involved in leading healthy lifestyles. Teens from Ransom Church Sioux Falls also kept Krista me on her toes as she leads them through a life group on Wednesday evenings.  In her free time, Krista enjoys traveling, preferably to new continents, or drinking coffee beverages from various local coffee shops. She has a passion for connection. If that leads to other countries or here in the neighborhood, God draws Krista to those opportunities. Krista is excited to be working with the Khor Wakow Project and to provide education and opportunity to God’s children around the world.
Daniel Hirschman, Board Member
Daniel grew up in Northwest Iowa and moved to South Dakota where he attended college. He met and married the love of his life, Jessica, 18 years ago. They have two daughters, Tabitha, and Hannah. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. While at USD, Daniel worked in the office of Disability Services as their Office staff. After graduation he started working for the Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey located north of Sioux Falls. It was while he attended USD that he first met David. Daniel’s brother invited him to their house for Thanksgiving and the rest was history. Daniel’s family instantly adopted him into their family. He remembered years ago when his brother had an emergency, he left his baby with David. When asked why he picked David of all the people he knew in Vermillion, he said “I had complete trust in David”. David is like a brother to him. Daniel and his wife, Jessica, have supported David and this work since he first talked to him about it. David and his family are like family to the Hirschman’s. They believe God has special plans for David, not only for a school, but for all the health and humanitarian endeavors to be done for the people. They will support David through this endeavor for the long haul.
Randall Hill, Board Member
Randall is currently working at GreatLIFE as the Vice President of Fitness. He grew up in Harrisburg and attended college at Black Hills State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He's been blessed with a wonderful wife, Allison and two sons, Bridger and Tresson. "Seeing God work through David, my mother, Brenda Hill, and the Khor Wakow project has been humbling and inspiring. I look forward to serving any way that I can." says Hill. 
Beth Jensen, Board Member
Beth is a Board-Certified Family Physician with Sanford Clinic. After 10 years of traditional practice, she resigned to challenge cultural norms and attempt to improve food disparities in her community. She continues to work through Sanford AcuteCare. Beth is married to Matt Jensen, administrator, marketer and thought leader at Vance Thompson Vision. Beth also has three daughters who attend Spanish-immersion schools and make their mother proud.
Dawn Fischer, Board Member
Dawn was born and raised in Milbank SD and graduated from Milbank High School. She attended college for two years at the University of Minnesota, Morris and then transferred to USD where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Social Work. Dawn is married (Jon) and lives in Hartford SD.  She has one daughter (Cassandra), and a 4½ year old grandson (River). In her free time, she enjoys camping, working on the acreage, scrapbooking, playing with their puppy, and spending time with friends and family. Dawn has worked in various roles throughout her life: working in payroll at Hamline University and Land O’Lakes in Minnesota, an Office Manager at Carroll Institute, a counselor for an adolescent residential facility, a Juvenile Corrections Agent for the Department of Corrections in Sisseton, and currently as a Staff Support person for Court Services in Sioux Falls. When she started her current position, she met David who introduced her to the Khor Wakow project.  She admires David’s dedication to this cause by doing everything he can to improve the lives of the people in the village. Dawn looks forward to being a part of this project in whatever capacity is needed.
​Tony Burke, Board Member
Tony is an inspirational human with over 25 years of facilitative leadership experience, who is a proactive, collaborative, community-focused visionary bridge walker, with expertise in organizational and community change management. He leads with the values of accountability and kindness. He also excels in fiscal management, strategic planning and foresight, portfolio development, program creation/enhancement, public/media relations, human resource development, and facility management.
Lyndsay DeMatteo, Board Member
Lyndsay obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Valparaiso University in 2002 before going on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2005. She has more than sixteen years of legal experience and has extensive experience in trial law. Focusing a considerable portion of her career on criminal defense and abuse and neglect, Ms. DeMatteo has handled thousands of cases in her career, from low-level misdemeanors up to and including homicide trials, and is well-respected by her peers, judges, and the legal community. Lyndsay takes pride in making herself accessible to her clients. She tells her clients the hard truths so they can best prepare for their legal battles. With considerable trial law experience, Lyndsay isn’t afraid to fight for her client’s rights. What sets Lyndsay DeMatteo and DeMatteo Law Firm apart is her unyielding dedication to her clients. Lyndsay is known for treating her clients as if they were her own family. She devotes her legal training & experience to saving clients' money, time, & pain so they can get back to their lives.

Lyndsay believes in Jesus Christ, the Son, God our Father, and the Holy Spirit. She believes those who believe in Jesus are justified by His death and resurrection and are forgiven of all their sins. She is excited and blessed to be a part of the Khor Wakow project which continues under the covenant of God's grace thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives life to believers, empowers us for godly living, and equips us for service. Finally, Lyndsay believes the one, holy, universal, and global Church is the Body of Christ and is composed of the communities of Christ's people. Lyndsay strives every day to care for all of God's creation and seek the good of everyone.​
Advisory Committee Members
  • Tom Stenvig
  • Deb Norris
Former Advisory Committee Members
  • Ben Jacobs
  • Janet Lindermann
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