Meet the DA Summer Team

Nigel Cabral is a Southern California native who moved to Durham in 2020. For the past 15 years, Nigel has served the youth in his community through initiatives in the nonprofit sector. Specifically, he has reached out to these communities through athletic programs such as the Boys & Girls Club and multiple head coaching sports positions across the country. In addition to his work at DA Summer, Nigel is the head coach for the Durham Academy women’s varsity basketball team.

A native of West Tennessee, Makenzie (Mak) Pendergrass moved to Durham in October 2022. Over the last six years, Mak has worked in a youth nonprofit organization, led recreational summer programs, and coached athletics. She has used her Sport Administration degree in a variety of ways to combine her passion for sports and working with youth. Over the past two years at Durham Academy, Mak dove into many roles, including as a member of the Extended Day and DA Summer teams, and as a girls basketball and softball coach. Mak finds joy in spending time with her dog, attending sporting events, and traveling to the beach or back home to see her family.

Erika Newkirk, Durham Academy’s director of human resources, is also serving as DA Summer’s Camp Evergreen pre-K/kindergarten coordinator this summer. Erika is a former classroom teacher who transitioned into education-based human resources — first with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools before joining the DA community in 2022. She is a graduate of N.C. Central University with both a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Master of School Administration. She also holds a Master of Arts in Elementary Education form Winston-Salem State University. Erika is also certified in working with academically and intellectually gifted children.

Jon Beyle joined the DA faculty in 2021 as a fourth-grade teaching assistant. He previously served as a PE and health teacher at Chapel Hill’s Phillips Middle School and track and field coach at East Chapel Hill High School. He holds a B.A. from UNC-Wilmington and an M.S. from United States Sports Academy. 

Anna Sundy ’15 serves as health and safety coordinator for DA Summer, where she leads efforts to ensure a safe and well-managed environment for all campers and staff. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Boston University and a Master of Science from Auburn University. She is currently working toward a Master of Science in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University. Sundy is American Red Cross-certified as a First Aid/CPR/AED instructor and holds additional training in seizure first aid, youth mental health first aid, and emergency response in athletics. She brings extensive experience in emergency planning, health protocol implementation, and crisis response, and has worked closely with EMS, fire, and police departments on safety drills and emergency action planning. 

Samantha Bodine has worked in education for five years as a tutor, literacy specialist and substitute teacher, and 2025 marks her second year with DA Summer. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from N.C. State University and an associate's degree in art from Wake Technical Community College. "I'm passionate about the arts in every sense of the word," she said. "Music, books and painting are essential to my life, and I'd argue humanity at large."