About Our Team
Johnny Costello is a fourth-year medical student at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated with a degree in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As the director and one of the founders of Strings of Hope, he has been very influential in getting the Foundation up and running. Johnny began our relationship with the UW Hospital Burn Unit where he volunteered for four years. He is also one of our fastest stringers. During medical school, Johnny has conducted research in Pediatric Urology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He currently coordinates our Foundation's charity efforts and events across the country. He enjoys playing tennis and biking.
Scott Klettke is a fourth-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He is one of the founders of Strings of Hope. Scott is the designer behind the website and maintains its content. He is also one of our stringers. Scott is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he majored in Molecular Biology. During medical school, he has conducted research in Emergency Medicine at Milwaukee Regional Medical Center and ran our charity event at the ATP Tour's Indianapolis Tennis Championships. He enjoys playing tennis, biking, and skiing.
Mark Winston is a sixth-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he is enrolled in the school's six-year medical program. He was a member of the university tennis team and acted as both a player and racquet stringer for the team. In his free time, Mark volunteers at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and conducts research on pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta at the Bone Mineral Disorder Clinic. He is currently working on our charity efforts in the Kansas City area and helping the Strings of Hope Foundation expand to other areas of the country.
Maureen Costello is a recent graduate of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C with degrees in Secondary Education and History. While at CUA, she was a member of the intercollegiate varsity tennis team. Following graduation, she worked as a U.S. History and English teacher in Seoul, South Korea and is currently a graduate student studying Education Policy at Loyola University in Chicago. Maureen is the head of public relations for Strings of Hope and is working to continue expanding our Foundation's charitable work throughout the country. She enjoys playing tennis, photography, and traveling.
Jonathan Bodager is a Sophomore at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he is a member of the intercollegiate varsity tennis team and is pursuing pre-medical studies and degrees in environmental science and public health. He was a top ranked USTA State and Midwest player who frequently played in high level junior tournaments around the country. Jon made state high school championship appearances as a sophomore, junior, and senior and was selected the top player in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area in 2006. He worked with Strings of Hope to incorporate the Foundation and file all of the approval documents to achieve charitable 501(c)(3) status. Jon also is a founder and organizer of the Pro-Logic Tennis Foundation, an organization which provides children of low and moderate income families with opportunities to experience tennis.
Brandon Bodager is second-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is a graduate of Northwestern University where he majored in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Brandon's role with Strings of Hope has been to assist with the development and design of an informational brochure for use at events and in fundraising. He has also participated in our charity events. Brandon was a top ranked State and Midwest USTA juniors player. He led his high school team to conference championships three years and made two state singles championship tournament appearances. Prior to medical school, Brandon worked as a volunteer in physical rehabilitation at Mather Pavilion, a residential nursing care community in the Chicago area. He is also a volunteer with the Pro-Logic Tennis Foundation.
Joe Zechlinski, a stringer for Strings of Hope, is a fourth-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Biomedical Engineering with an emphasis in biomechanics. In college, Joe volunteered with Shorewood EMS as an EMT-Basic. He recently helped in a remodeling project as part of Caring Home Makeover in Madison, WI. He enjoys biking and tennis but his true passion is sailing, having been active with the UW Sailing Team and the Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center as an instructor. He also crews aboard Mainstreet, a 48-ft sailboat out of Port Washington, WI, and with his parents in Sheboygan, WI.
Ross
Klettke is attending the Vancouver Film School where he is learning classical and 3D animation. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Computer Science. He is one of our stringers and has also
designed the Strings of Hope logo. He is teaching Recreation Department tennis to children this summer. Ross enjoys tennis, soccer, volleyball, biking, and drawing.
Greg Curtiss is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Geological Engineering and Geology and has a masters degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. He enjoys tennis, ultimate frisbee, and biking. He is an active member of Engineers Without Borders, which works to solve water and sanitation problems around the world. Before beginning graduate school at the University of Washington in urban planning and sustainable design to help change the world, Greg spent time studying in Beijing, China. Greg's fastest stringing time for a racquet is 12 minutes; he has been stringing for 5 years.