At the League of Education Voters Foundation 2022 Virtual Event on October 13, we presented awards to outstanding student-led projects – one from Western Washington and one from Eastern Washington.
Here are the finalists:
TeenSelfHealth.com
Student: Laney Brackett, a senior at Inglemoor High School in the Northshore School District
Project Description: Laney has put in over 100 hours of training in order to work with the suicide hotline called teen link. Laney’s website includes interviews about how to cope with depression with teens who have survived suicide attempts and a variety of health officials. She has created a Caressentials club that focuses on mental health self-care. She’s doing outreach to other schools in Washington to provide them with materials/resources to create their own Caressentials club.
Project Website: teenselfhealth.com
STEM is FEM
Student: Kaylie McGuckin, a junior at Chiawana High School in the Pasco School District
Project Description: STEM is FEM (Fun, Engaging, Motivating) creates activities that support increasing student access and excitement about STEM-related concepts and careers. Recently the group hosted a summer camp for local children and provided an opportunity for them to participate in hands-on STEM activities. Kaylie is passionate about providing opportunities for our youth to engage in positive interactions with STEM-related concepts and careers. Recognizing there is an opportunity gap for women in STEM careers specifically, Kaylie feels it is important for students to have positive experiences with STEM concepts in an environment where it is safe to fail. Her work on promoting STEM has been presented to Intelitek at a recent corporate meeting, as well as at their booth at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference.
Project Website: stemisfem.weebly.com
Special Education Advocacy
Student: Jeremiah Audet, a sophomore at Rogers High School in Spokane Public Schools
Project Description: Jeremiah Audet currently advocates as a student with a disability for himself and other students to receive a more equitable education. He works passionately in his school to educate his teachers and students around him. He advocates at the district level for better inclusion and shares his story to make a difference. He boldly shares his story at the state level in hopes of passing legislation that makes it easier to access education when you are a person with a disability.
Project Website: N/A
ME Space in Schools – Mental Emotional Room or Mind Escape
Student: Julia Gonzalez, a senior at Inglemoor High School in the Northshore School District
Project Description: Julia has become an advocate for her fellow students and has taken steps to create resources for her peers. After researching the brain science of anxiety and mindfulness techniques, she sought a grant for calming supplies. Julia worked with counseling and admin teams to design the ME room, which students struggling with anxiety or overwhelming emotions can access during the school day. The Northshore Middle School ME room has about 25-30 students a week visit. The ME Space helps students take a mental break and not have to go home. Julia has continued her advocacy work districtwide by joining the district safety and security committee and presenting to local PTSAs.
Project Website: N/A
Love what we do? Support our work
Want to find out the latest in education news in Washington? Subscribe to our newsletter
Want to learn more about League of Education Voters? Find out here