Presented by
SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025
Savanna Hall at Zoo Atlanta 6PM
21st Century Leaders’ annual fundraising gala celebrating youth leadership and impact.
WELCOME!
Welcome to an unforgettable evening of inspiration and impact! Thank you for joining our annual Be the Inspiration Gala, presented by Warner Bros. Discovery. Tonight, you have the power to inspire and invest in the future for more than 2,500 students through 21st Century Leaders. But just as importantly,
Throughout the evening, y impact of our programs. You through our remarkable a entrepreneurial alumni ven recognize21outstandinghigh Youth Leadership Awards possiblebytonight’sgeneroussponsors
Events like this are vital to o ensure that 96% of our stud training at no cost. Your su future - shaping our comp generation.
Now, let's Kate Hew Executive
OUR MISSION
21st Century Leaders® is Georgia’s premier non-profit organization that connects, transforms, and inspires high school students across Georgia to leverage and promote inclusion, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their schools, communities, and ultimately the workforce.
www.21stcenturyleaders.org
6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
DoorsOpen-Registration+NetworkingReception
Welcome+Dinner
KateHewitt,ExecutiveDirector,21stCenturyLeaders
OpeningRemarks
MariSifo,21CLBoardofDirectors,GalaCo-Chair,HostHotels&Resorts ChiNguyen,21CLBoardofDirectors,GalaCo-Chair,InsightGlobal
GeorgiaYouthLeadershipAwards,sponsoredbyHostHotels&Resorts
InclusionCategory,sponsoredbyLocumtenens.com
ResourcefulCategory,sponsoredbyAflac LiveAuction
Forward-ThinkingCategory,sponsoredbyCoxEnterprises Service-OrientedCategory,sponsoredbyGeorgiaPower
EmpowerourFuture:BetheInspiration
KeylaCabret-Lewis,21CLAlumna,VP,TalentDevelopment,Aflac
PresentingSponsor
WarnerBros.DiscoveryStudentLeadershipAward
KrandallJones,SVP,MediaPlatformOperations,WarnerBros.Discovery
ClosingRemarks
DeRettaRhodes,Ph.D.,21CLBoardofDirectors,Chair,AtlantaBraves
DINNER MENU
Celebrate the tastes of Georgia with a Southern-inspired menu catered by Proof of the Pudding
Horsd'oeuvres:Coca-ColaAll-BeefBBQMeatball+House-MadeCherryCokeBBQSauce; FriedGreenTomatoBite+SweetGrassDairyPimentoCheese(V);MiniTunaTaco+Carrot& RadishSlaw,WasabiSoyAioli
Salad:GAMountainBlueberrySalad+MixedGreens,FreshBlueberries,GoatCheese,Heirloom Tomatoes,BalsamicDrizzle(V,GF)
Entrée: Peach Tea-Brined Springer Mountain Chicken + Yonah Mountain White Wine Risotto, Herbed Heirloom Carrots (GF)
Vegetarian Entrée: Local Spring Vegetable Risotto (GF, Vegan)
Dessert: Chocolate Bread Pudding
21st Century Leaders' programs are not possible without the support of our volunteers! Thank you to our leadership teams, coaches, business professionals and alumni for their servant leadership!
2025 Gala Co-Chairs
Chi Nguyen CFO Insight Global
t Committee
Maranie Brown, Tania Garcia, Quiana Pinckney, Kat Taylor
Coaches to Georgia Youth Leadership Awardees
MaranieBrown,BlackRock (21CLBoard)
GregClay,CityofAtlanta,Mayor’s Office ofConstituentServices (21CLAlumni)*
WhitneyDealMarshall,Whitney
MarshallCoaching*
NaceoDenney,GeorgiaPower*
ChandraFarley,CityofAtlanta, Mayor’sOfficeofSustainability& Resilience*
DavidFelfoldi,SHERPAGlobal* MartyFleischmann,TheMasters Team*
TaniaGarcia,ChiefMarketing Officer(21CLBoard)
BrianGoebel,GoizuetaBusiness School (21CLBoard)
TaylorGreen,AmazonWebServices, (21CLAlumni)*
PoojanKarnik,WellstarKennestone RegionalMedicalCenter
AshleyLee,TheCoca-ColaCompany* DJLewis,TechnologyConsultingExec. LanitaLucas,Aflac*
Dr.BrandonMorgan,Iconic Orthodontics(21CLAlumni)*
TauniaNkromo-Stevenson,Warner Bros.Discovery*
MichaelQuigley,QVHMedia*
MarthaRevelo,DeKalbCounty
EdRoche,CoxEnterprises
AssiVanBastelaar,Spotfire
Georgia Youth Leadership Award Selection Committee
Coaches indicated above*, Curtis Bennett, MarketSource; Erik Bryant, Truist Wealth (21CL Board); Neha Chaparala, Mercer (21CL Alumni Board); Susannah Darrow, Purpose Possible; Dr. Shaneeta Johnson, Morehouse School of Medicine; Jeff Kupor, Invesco (21CL Board); Clarke LeGrande, Wellstar; Jason Wallace, Capital Group (21CL Board); Thurman Williams, Community Volunteer, The Coca-Cola Company (retired); Anqi Zou, Truist (21CL Board); and Hannah Lang, 21CL Youth Ambassador and 2024 GYLA Recipient.
Board of Directors
DeRettaColeRhodes,Ph.D.,BoardChair EVP,ChiefPeopleCapital|AtlantaBraves
ChrisReynolds,ViceChair, Secretary Owner/President|FiduciaryServicesUnlimited
MariaFloresBlackburn,CPA,Board
Treasurer,21CLAlumni
ProjectCostandControlsSupervisor|GeorgiaPower
MaranieBrown
VP,DataPlatforms&Solutions|BlackRock
ErikBryant
SVP,WealthAdvisor|TruistWealth
CarlaChandler
VP+MarketChiefFinancialOfficer|Geisinger
TaniaGarcia
ChiefMarketingOfficer
BrianGoebel
ManagingDirector,Business&SocietyInstitute| EmoryUniversity,GoizuetaBusinessSchool
OkemaJackson VicePresidentofMedia,Operations,Programming& Traffic|WABE
JPJames Chairman|HiveFinancialAssets
JeffKupor
Sr.ManagingDirector&GeneralCounsel|Invesco
C.AlinaMencias
SrAnalyst,GotoMarketStrategy|UPSHealthcare
JonNeff Founder|NeffAdvisory
ChiNguyenSwallow CFO|InsightGlobal
QuianaPinckney VP,DivisionCommunications|Comcast
MariSifo
EVP,ChiefHumanResourceOfficer|HostHotels& Resorts
KaterinaTaylor
DirectorofDiversity,Equity,Inclusion|Nelson Mullins
JasonWallace
SVP,BusinessDevelopmentManager|TheCapital Group
MichaelWhite
SeniorDirector,HumanResources|Cox Communications
RachelWilliams VPofTransmissionFieldOperations|Georgia Power
AnqiZou
SVP,Fair&ResponsibleBankingCompliance AnalyticsDirector|Truist
21st Century Leaders was founded in 1989 and has become the premier youth leadership development program for high school students in GA. We provide equitable access to high-level leadership training to thousands of high school students year-round through the partnership and support of corporations, funders, & volunteers.
We're connecting, transforming, and inspiring the next generation of diverse leaders and talent for companies and communities across Georgia and beyond.
GEORGIA YOUTH LEADERSHIP GEORGIA YOUTH LEADERSHIP
At our Be the Inspiration Gala we honor 21 students in 21st Century Leaders with our signature Georgia Youth Leadership Award and $11,000 in grants/scholarships. Each of these inspired youth are making a positive impact through their leadership in action, represent the diversity of our state-wide student body and demonstrate our five leadership values. While all of our 21 Georgia Youth Leadership Awardees are resilient, each of them have a defining quality that shines through in their impact and motivations.
Inclusion
presented by:
SREEPADHA DARAM
Innovation Academy, Class of 2026
Sreepadha Daram is a global advocate for STEM education and student voice. Sreepadha co-designed and implemented a Python programming course with a peer in Kenya, covering fundamental coding concepts, problem-solving, and real-world applications
This initiative equipped over 200 students globally with essential computational skills to navigate an increasingly tech-driven world. She developed and presented a $5 million STEM Summit Bill to the White House Department of Education, advocating for increased funding to expand STEM opportunities for students, especially underrepresented students, across the United States. Beyond STEM, she co-founded Foni (“voice” in Greek) in 2023, an international platform dedicated to amplifying student voices through journalism from a youth perspective, empowering 230 students across 25 countries to engage in critical conversations, share diverse viewpoints, and drive change through media and content creation. Foni has over 120 articles written by youth and for youth, providing a unique platform for youth from around the globe to share their experiences and express their perspectives. Sreepadha is an active leader in her school and community holding numerous positions including Youth Ambassador for 21st Century Leaders and Chief Science Officer for Science ATL Sreepadha is dedicated to bridging gaps in STEM education, empowering students, and advocating for systemic change to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed and lead.
Sreepadha’s GYLA Coach is Ed Roche, Cox Enterprises (Former 21CL Board)
HADIL ADAM
Clarkston High School, Class of 2026
Hadil Adam is an advocate, champion, and changemaker dedicated to educational equity and social impact. As a Sudanese immigrant, Hadil takes pride in being a voice for those who are often unheard In 2024, Hadil founded Global Youth Ambassadors (GYA) to support English Language Learners (ELL) through research and advocacy,
securing a $50,000 grant to expand her initiative. She led youth engagement efforts by launching a GYA club at her school, organizing a “Know Your Rights” community forum that educated over 100 students and family members about their rights and how to navigate the education system. GYA’s efforts also include surveying 60 students, hosting focus groups with 15 students, and conducting 10 student interviews in order to amplify diverse voices. Beyond GYA, Hadil is deeply committed to community service through her involvement with various organization and community initiatives, including volunteering at Clarkston Community Center and mentoring younger students, helping them build confidence and life skills Hadil is active in the 21CLub@Clarkston where her leadership skills have extended to the global stage–serving as a guest youth speaker during US Ambassador of the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s visit to Clarkston, where she shared powerful insights on the importance of youth involvement in global conversations, particularly for those from diverse backgrounds. Hadil’s GYLA Coach is Martha Revelo, DeKalb County
IBRAHEEM HASSAN
Lakeside High School, Class of 2026
Ibraheem Hassan is a club founder and bridge builder in his community In August 2023, Ibraheem founded the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at his school. MSA serves as a place for Muslim students at his school to connect and feel a sense of community while also allowing non-Muslims to learn more about Islam and the culture of Muslim countries. He was able to help grow the club by 200% over the last year and hold events for over 100 students to
experience and explore Islamic holidays with traditional ethnic food from countries all over the Muslim world. Ibraheem also led the restoration of a run-down youth space in his community that had been left to deteriorate after COVID. Seeing an opportunity to better his community and increase youth participation, Ibraheem decided to undertake the task of revitalizing the neglected space that now serves over 200 students as a gathering place. By selling old gym equipment, repairing existing equipment or buying missing parts to restore damaged supplies, Ibraheem led over 20 volunteers from multiple community groups - family, friends, youth from the Islamic community center, and his Boy Scout troop - to support the revitalization project He also co-founded his school’s Neuroscience Club, which helps students explore careers in neuroscience and meet with professionals in the industry, leveraging his connections at Doctor’s Hospital of Augusta. Ibraheem strives to include others and improve the world around him. He aspires to be a biomedical engineer and innovate new technologies to improve healthcare and be able to serve a greater population Ibraheem’s GYLA Coach is Michael Quigley, QVH Media
TESSA HAYES
Jefferson County High School, Class of 2026
Tessa Hayes is a founder and servant leader in her community impacting over 10% of her county’s population! As the founder and president of her school’s 21CLub and dedicated member of both Key Club and the theatre program, Tessa is committed to expanding opportunities for students at her Title 1 school, ensuring they have access to leadership development, education, and creative
expression. Through her leadership, she has helped raise over $1,000 to support the drama club’s shows - significantly impacting the school, she organized a Trunk-or-Treat event for over 400 elementary students, and she volunteers at a week-long arts camp for children with autism each year In addition, she recently provided hurricane relief by serving over 300 plates of food to people in her town after Hurricane Helene. She has also served over 100 senior citizens while volunteering at a local nursing home, and supports various local initiatives aimed at helping those in need. Her leadership and service have earned her the LEAD the Way award from East Georgia State College. She serves as a 21CL Youth Ambassador and currently serves as Assistant Stage Manager, allowing her to give back to her community while pursuing her passion for the fine arts. Tessa plans to study Political Science and pursue a career as an immigration attorney, where she hopes to advocate for underrepresented communities and fight for equal access to justice
Tessa’s GYLA Coach is Whitney Deal Marshall, Whitney Marshall Coaching
DANIELLA TAIWO
Lovejoy High School, Class of 2025
Daniella Taiwo has contributed nearly 500 hours organizing blood drives with the American Red Cross for 4 years, particularly for sickle cell anemia awareness and support Her efforts in donor engagement have helped her school rank among Georgia's top ten blood donors. Committed to community service, she launched a hydroponic plant initiative with over 15 volunteers working
biweekly in order to donate fresh produce to a local homeless shelter. A member of the National Honor Society, Daniella demonstrates her leadership and academic excellence, ranking in the top 1% of her class while taking 10 dual enrollment and 4 AP classes and balancing a part-time job. She is an active member of the Aspiring Doctors Club, Future Health Professionals (HOSA) as Vice President, and the African Student Association as Co-President As a participant in the Federal TRIO Programs, a set of federally-funded programs designed to support first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students, Daniella advocates for equitable educational opportunities. As President of the 21CLub@Lovejoy, she rebuilt the organization from scratch, increasing participation by 340%. As part of the 21CLub’s service to the community, Daniella established a partnership with Michelle Obama STEM Elementary Academy, where the club members have read to almost 150 children. Additionally, she serves as President of the Science Club and Garden Club, where she encourages sustainability and STEM exploration, and is an active member of the Film-makers and Writers Club, Key Club, and Youth for Africa. Daniella also serves as a Counselor Aide, supporting her peers ' academic and personal growth. Daniella plans to major in biology pre-med at the University of Georgia, with aspirations of becoming an anesthesiologist.
Daniella’s GYLA Coach is Taylor Green, Amazon Web Services (21CL Alumni)
CHRISTOPHER BOYD
Landmark Christian School, Class of 2025
presented by:
Christopher Boyd is a servant leader dedicated to community impact. He organized and delivered 50 Emergency Preparedness Kits to classrooms at Campbell Elementary School in response to the growing need for school safety measures. He secured over $500 in donations from Landmark Christian School families and a grant from Home Depot’s Team Depot, enlisting volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 282 to assemble and distribute these essential emergency supplies. This initiative strengthened partnerships between his school, local businesses, and the community, ensuring that classrooms are equipped to handle emergency situations. From 21st Century Leaders Youth Ambassador to Eagle Scout and National Black MBA Association’s Leaders of Tomorrow, Christopher holds numerous leadership roles outside of school, while also serving as his schools’ Spiritual Life Prefect, fostering a culture of encouragement, and managing the varsity basketball team with game day filming and logistics His journey reflects a commitment to faith-driven leadership, service, and perseverance. Christopher plans to pursue sports management or digital media, using his skills to foster teamwork and community engagement. Whether on campus, in the community, or in future endeavors, he plans to lead with integrity compassion and a heart for service.
Christopher’s GYLA Coach is Greg Clay, Cit
KENIA
GONZALEZ-CHAVEZ
Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez is a dedicated leader, advocate, and founder of the Nurture Needs project (formerly EmpowerMoms Unity). In 2024, Kenia launched the Nurture Needs Project, a service initiative aimed at providing period, hygiene, and baby products to those in need Kenia has helped 519 individuals and 211 children access basic necessities, reaching individuals from elementary school
Cedar Shoals High School, Class of 2028 to university students. She has been able to raise over $500 through grants and selling her own personal items, while engaging over 30 volunteers to continue supporting communities with these necessary basic care items. Kenia and her initiative have been to 6 resource fairs, connected with more than 50 organizations in her community, and also create Empowerment Cards to encourage mothers and families, in addition to providing supplies. As a first-generation student, Kenia is passionate about empowering and uplifting her community through her involvement in various organizations, including her volunteer work at U-Lead Athens, which supports equal access to higher education for immigrant families and students. After high school, Kenia aspires to major in political science with a minor in journalism or international relations and become an attorney specializing in criminal justice or immigration. She is determined to continue advocating for change and be a strong voice for her community and beyond
Kenia’s GYLA Coach is Ashley Lee, The Coca-Cola Company
LAURIN MCCOY
Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, Class of 2025
Laurin McCoy is the founder and president of Laur’n & Friends, an organization aimed at empowering youth to utilize music as a means of coping with mental and emotional wellness. Laur’n & Friends was created in response to the mental health impacts from the COVID Pandemic and the dwindling music program in her area,
Richmond County. In 2020, Laurin began annual elementary school tours to inspire students at an early age to learn an instrument, advocating for the transformative power of music and its ability to inspire self-expression even during isolation. Today, her organization is dedicated to making music more accessible, empowering others to embrace their creativity, and educating others about using music to balance their emotions. In addition to sharing her own musical talents to serve the community, Laurin provides stages for youth to perform, negotiating the use of spaces, set design, staffing, lighting and more She has grown her organization to over 100 members and has been able to promote music awareness, provide tutoring, masterclasses and more to students who otherwise might not have been exposed. Members of Laur’n and Friends regularly volunteer at numerous local community events, including the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk, for which Laurin served on the committee to bring a lighter, younger perspective to the walk, including her Music & Arts Station and DJ skills, and helped raise over $20,000. Laurin has been recognized locally and nationally for both her musical and academic achievements and is a co-author of Because of Covid, a collection of youth perspectives. She desires to continue to serve as an inspiration to her peers, her community and the world Laurin’s GYLA Coach is Taunia Nkromo-Stevenson, Warner Bros. Discovery
CA’LEIA NELSON
Milton High School, Class of 2025
Ca'Leia Jolie Elise Nelson is an entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and community leader. Her life’s motto is, “Everyone has a voice and every voice deserves to be heard.” During the pandemic she opened an online retail store called Ca’Leia’s Closet which generated about $26,000 in revenue. Using these proceeds from her retail business, she founded an organization called Mini Minds Matter
which brings awareness to teen and young adult mental health, the importance of listening to her generation, and giving teens a voice and tools to self-advocate Their mission is to support every teen such that they are empowered, encouraged, and enlightened to express their sense of ownership and authority over their own mental health and wellness by providing safe spaces for uncomfortable conversations, building bridges between community therapists, families, and schools, and developing young advocates. Ca’Leia is also the current President and Cofounder of the M3 Youth Move chapter in Georgia. M3 is a program that brings resources together to build community, encourage civic engagement, and advocate for more youth-forward and affirming systems and environments where all youth can thrive. She holds numerous leadership roles within the community and school, receiving local and national recognition including the Top Overall Teen – 2nd Place in the Nation for Jack and Jill of America. Ca’Leia plans to attend Samford University on a full tuition scholarship while participating in the Air Force ROTC Program with plans to enlist in the Air Force.
Ca’Leia’s GYLA Coach is DJ Lewis, Technology Consulting Executive
JACE WILLIAMS
Westlake High School, Class of 2026
Jace Willams is a social entrepreneur who believes that what you put out into the world is what you get back. She is owner and founder of her beverage business, Maji Ya Liamu, which serves fresh, natural lemonade. Jace began her business in 8th grade and sells her lemonade as a pop-up vendor at local events such as festivals,
sporting events, school events, and concerts. She has become a preferred vendor for events hosted by The Cities of South Fulton, East Point and Union City. At the City of South Fulton’s Juneteenth festival, she sold over 350 cups of lemonade. This business allows her to impact the lives of others, as she donates a portion of her profits to support clubs at her school and reinvests in the community that has supported her. For example, her donations to her Skills USA Chapter sponsored members to attend the state leadership conference Jace also plans to pass the business on to her younger brothers, ensuring that it continues to grow and make a difference even after she moves on to college. Jace is deeply committed to her school and community, holding numerous leadership positions in clubs, organizations, and athletics, including captain of the girls’ golf team. In addition to her business and academic commitments, she volunteers at
presented by:
MOATAPARI AGBERE
Chattahoochee County HS, Class of 2025
Moatapari Agbere created the “The Schools Project,” a mission to increase education accessibility to low-income students in Ghana, Africa Her virtual lectures, comprehensive guidebooks, and learning materials empower students to learn and succeed in spite of the poor education system in their countries. She has
spent over 1000 hours creating content for her virtual classroom, gaining over 5,000 viewers and supporting over 200 students with educational materials. As a result of tutoring students online and guiding them through their coursework, she has seen an 80% pass rate with students going on to secondary school. As the founder of Rural Youth in STEM, she bridges the gap between rural students and STEM careers by exposing them to leaders in the field and research opportunities, while also volunteering through Remove the Borders to tutor students with disabilities for free. On top of this, she is also the founder of Youth for Cancer Research, an online club of over 130 members that allows students to learn about scientific research related to cancer while also giving cancer survivors a platform to share their stories. The club meets twice a month and has given students opportunities to write research papers and present at online conventions. Moatapari’s accolades range from her school’s Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen to being a state competitor for various interscholastic competitions to being a candidate for the prestigious Presidential Scholars Program and is within the top 1% of students as a finalist for the United States Senate Youth Program - the first student to do so from her school. Moatapari is currently working on a Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Africa by synergising n cost and accessible treatment. She aspires to eliminate M Moatapari’s GYLA Coach is Lanita Lucas, Aflac
ASHLEY NELSON
Ashley Nelson is the founder of Hulk Hands Lacros initiative dedicated to creating innovative protective ge lacrosse goalies After observing that many lacrosse g sustained injuries like broken fingers - despite wearing designed for extra protection - Ashley set out to des solution. In early 2024, she spent months of research and
Chamblee Charter High School, Class of 2026 development to create a protective shield for gloves, 3D-printed from thermoplastics, that helps distribute the impact of high-speed shots and protect goalies' hands Since then, she has distributed dozens of these Hulk Hands shields to high schools across Georgia and is expanding her outreach to college programs. She is also working on a national distribution effort, making the shields available at no cost to goalies nationwide via her website, www.hulkhandslax.com. In addition to her work with Hulk Hands, Ashley is a lacrosse referee as part of the Georgia Women's Lacrosse Association, overseeing elementary and middle school games. Ashley is deeply committed to volunteerism for numerous organizations across Atlanta that focus on children facing adversity by helping with after-school activities. Her dedication to service has earned her National Community Service merit awards for the past two years Ashley aspires to be a biomedical engineer, with a goal of driving innovation and creating a positive impact on the lives of others.
Ashley’s GYLA Coach is Marty Fleischmann, The Masters Team (Former 21CL Board)
WENDELL ROGERS
Dunwoody High School, Class of 2025
Wendell Rogers is an entrepreneur, volunteer, and financial literacy advocate. Through his business project Paws & Wicks, his goal is to educate others about how many scents used in candles and diffusers can be harmful to pets. By creating and selling petsafe candles, he has raised over $1,250 and reached over 1,000 people through his business. Outside of his business, Wendell serves as a Financial Literacy Coach, creating weekly content that has reached over 20,000 teenagers who are trying to not only build a credit score through Step Banking but also develop valuable financial knowledge that will help them as they grow into adulthood. Wendell also co-founded the 21CLub at Dunwoody High School in May of 2023, where he serves over 20 active members as co-president leading service projects such as volunteering for the local nature center and cleaning up after major city events and leadership development opportunities like college tours and professional forums for his peers and club members. As Georgia DECA’s Vice President of Career Development, Wendell led his DECA group to empower over 20,000 teenagers by developing crucial competition preparation resources and offering effective strategies for chapter expansion that expanded their regional and state competitors by 75%. Whether it’s mentoring, engaging in his community service, or working on new initiatives, he takes pride in creating a culture of collaboration and excellence. Wendell plans to major in finance in college. Wendell’s GYLA Coach is Taunia Nkromo-Stevenson, Warner
MICHELLE WANG
Fulton Science Academy, Class of 2025
Michelle Wang is a STEM advocate for the underserved and underrepresented communities. In March 2024, she organized “Blossom,” a gender-focused hackathon in Atlanta for 20 girls and teenagers, in partnership with Girl Scouts of Atlanta and Hack Club, securing over $9,000 in funding. In November 2024, she expanded
her reach globally by organizing “Ascend,” a hackathon SpaceX, for 50 teenage girls, including 10 internation barriers and cover transportation costs, her team secured that participants of all backgrounds and coding experi Michelle dedicated over 180 hours to these two events, w g g and 30 volunteer mentors Michelle also plays varsity tennis which inspired her environmental initiative, “Serve the Earth,” through which she has recycled over 500 used tennis balls into toys for dog shelters. As a member of her school’s Science Olympiad team, she helped secure two state championships while earning a top-10 finish at nationals as well as earning numerous individual medals. Outside of academic pursuits, a highlight of Michelle's work is organizing events to promote STEM education among girls and nonbinary youth. Michelle also serves as a Youth Ambassador of 21st Century Leaders. Michelle plans to study Industrial Engineering at Northwestern University this fall.
Michelle’s GYLA Coach is Assi Van Bastelaar, Spotfire
PRANAV YELLAPRAGADA
Chattahoochee High School, Class of 2026
Pranav Yellapragada is a STEM innovator and civic engagement advocate His Soil for Souls initiative raised over $23,000 to fund environmental revitalization projects in local communities, including Johns Creek, Alpharetta, and Roswell. With hundreds of volunteers engaged, the organization has planted over 1,000
trees, shrubs, and flowers to improve urban green spaces and promote sustainability. Pranav spearheaded the integration of AI technology to optimize plant selection, resource allocation, and volunteer scheduling, making the entire process more efficient and impactful. Utilizing technology, he actively works on cutting-edge projects like his Live Crypto Liquidation Datastream Tool which provides real-time insights to empower cryptocurrency investors to navigate complex liquidation events and make informed decisions in volatile markets. He also developed an Auto Trend Line Indicator with an impressive 85% hit rate when applied to stock market trends. Pranav also promotes civic awareness and democratic participation, organizing voter registration drives to increase youth voter turnout and civic literacy through facilitated debates for GA House Districts 48 and 50 and hosted discussions on legislative issues. Pranav credits 21CL with fostering his growth as a problem-solver and leader. He remains committed to creating meaningful change in his community through leadership, environmental stewardship, and technology-driven solutions. Pranav’s GYLA Coach is Chandra Farley, City of Atlanta, Mayor's Office of Sustainability & Resilience
Service Oriented
ETHAN BARLAY
Rockdale Magnet School, Class of 2025
Ethan Barlay is a dedicated community and servant leader and future computer scientist. He has contributed hundreds of hours to a number of service initiatives, including food drives for the Rockdale Emergency Relief Fund, school cleanups, and volunteering at nursing homes. He refurbished and built a new mini library, stocked with books donated through a book drive,
for his school which impacted hundreds of students in Rockdale. As a Bullard Community Champion Awardee, he applied for and received a grant to provide Thanksgiving meals for 100 families in Rockdale County. This initiative involved a collaboration of over 25 volunteers and multiple community groups such as Rockdale Emergency Relief, National Council of Negro Women, NAACP, and local churches. He has also taken part in multiple STEM programs, internships, and independent projects, including creating a website for his school's yearly car show, which combines his technical expertise with his dedication to community involvement Ethan is an active leader in his school and community through numerous organizations including Jack and Jill of America, Rockdale Youth Leadership, and the inaugural class of Youth Leadership of Georgia. Ethan plans to pursue a degree in computer science at a four-year college where he hopes to develop a new language that will enable people from various backgrounds to program and enable the next generation to prosper in the digita Ethan’s GYLA Coach is David Felfoldi, SHERPA Global
SHEONA DIWAKAR
Campbell High School, Class of 2025
Sheona Diwakar is a global changemaker and advocate for menstrual health. In 2020 she founded Soaring Doves to address period poverty, which involves developing solutions for inadequate access to menstrual products and menstrual health education due to financial constraints and other situational factors. She collected 10,000 menstrual products for donation
through her first online fundraiser during the pandemic, earning the Seeds of Change Award from Raksha She has hosted over 4 supply drives in collaboration with schools, shelters, and international partners. In 2023 she led an international workshop in India, working with local leaders to navigate cultural stigmas for menstrual health solutions. In 2024, she expanded Soaring Doves' impact by organizing a 3K fundraising run with GA STOMP, reinforcing her commitment to corporate partnerships and grassroots advocacy locally, too. In addition, she advocates for period-friendly policies in schools and workplaces and has placed 20 menstrual product stations within her school’s bathrooms. Sheona’s leadership extends beyond her organization, including serving as president of her school’s Feminist Club, and making an impact through the Cobb Student Leadership Academy, Creative Destruction Lab, and Model UN. She has plans to study Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech in Fall 2025, where she aims to bridge the gap between efficiency and equity-applying logistics, data-driven optimization, and problem-solving to systemic challenges like period poverty.
Sheona’s GYLA Coach is Poojan Karnik, Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center presented by:
MICAH NEWTON
Pickens County High School, Class of 2026
Micah Newton has a deep passion for service and youth empowerment. Micah is an active leader in his school and community, dedicating over 300 hours to service initiatives. Micah is committed to addressing homelessness and resource accessibility in his community, an initiative that began after witnessing the hidden
struggles of homelessness while volunteering with 21st Century Leaders. Recognizing a critical gap in accessible information for those in need, he developed a QR code-linked website providing essential resources, including food, shelter, financial assistance, and healthcare services. To ensure widespread accessibility he distributed waterproof resource tags for backpacks and purses, along with printed copies in community spaces such as libraries, food pantries, and local drug courts in collaboration with a Superior Court judge. Understanding the importance of youth engagement in service, Micah founded For the Least of These, a teen-led organization dedicated to community impact. This initiative empowers young people to collaborate on meaningful projects, from supporting individuals experiencing homelessness to assembling emergency supply kits for senior citizens. After meeting with several investors and acquiring over $1,750 in donations and funding, he launched a winter preparedness initiative, creating cold-weather survival kits for the homeless, including scarves, gloves, hats, nonperishable food items, and toiletries He spearheaded a clothing drive to provide essential garments for those in need and collaborates with his 21CLub@Pickens County to serve warm meals to the homeless each week. Beyond his community service, Micah excels in academics and holds several leadership positions, including Vice President of the 21CLub@Pickens County, Pickens County 4-H chapter, and Junior Representative on his school's advisory council. Micah’s GYLA Coach is Naceo Denney, Georgia Power
YASMIN RIOS
Swainsboro
Yasmin Rios is a bilingual advocate committed to empowering the Hispanic community in her area. One of her key contributions has been guiding Hispanic students through the application process for scholarships, such as those offered by the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation, which provides financial assistance for braces to low-
High School, Class of 2026 income students. Yasmin, a recipient of this scholarship herself, is passionate about supporting students in this endeavor and views it as an opportunity to not only improve their smiles and confidence, but also to prepare for future academic success. She actively works to expose young Hispanic students to opportunities in scholarship and leadership development, ensuring they are informed about post-secondary education options Understanding the potential language barriers that exist for students and their families, Yasmin serves as a bridge, helping to address questions and concerns related to educational opportunities both at school and within the community. Yasmin is also deeply involved in both her school, local, and statewide community, contributing to numerous organizations and initiatives like The Lazarus Project, a food and supply pantry, donating supplies to her local animal shelter and nursing home, and serving through leadership roles on the 4-H State Board of Directors, the 21CLub@Swainsboro High School and 21CL’s Youth Ambassadors. Yasmin strives to positively impact the lives of those around her and leave a lasting, meaningful influence on her community Yasmin’s GYLA Coach is Dr. Brandon Morgan, Iconic Orthodontics (21CL Alumni)
SAUYER STEWART
Arabia Mountain High School, Class of 2025
Sauyer Stewart is a multimedia and servant leader serving nearly 2,000 volunteer hours As the founder and president of her school’s 21CLub, she has led the club in 15 community service projects, forums, and outreach initiatives, impacting nearly 2,000 students and community members and enabling her peers to log over 900 combined volunteer hours. In this role, she established an Executive
Leadership Team, established two community partnerships with Phoenix Senior Living and Impact Community Church. She also launched “The QuranTeen Club,” a take-action podcast impacting and engaging over 500 listeners and over 143 teen girls from all over the US, and founded The Marketeen Revolution, a teen marketing group dedicated to revolutionizing the marketing industry. Beyond her dedicated servant leadership with 21st Century Leaders and as a Youth Ambassador, she is also a dedicated Girl Scout which allowed her to launch an initiative called “Seeking Snow, Smashing Barriers.” Focused on breaking down barriers in skiing, increasing diversity, and fostering confidence among underrepresented youth in snow sports, she designed and organized a first-of-its-kind ski trip for 16 young women and 8 adult volunteers who had never experienced winter sports before. Sauyer blends her servant leadership with passion for technology, media, and equity, serving in numerous leadership roles in the school and community, including Miss TSA (Technology Student Association) and Cyber Champion for her school. Sauyer plans to attend college in the Fall and study Computer Systems Management or Cybersecurity. Sauyers’s GYLA Coach is Maranie Brown, BlackRock (21CL Board)
RONAK VYAS
Ronak Vyas is a servant leader impacting over 317,250 people across Georgia through his initiatives and leadership roles. Over high school career, he has dedicated over 1,000 hours to service and volunteering. As Student Council President, he established his school’s first school-wide recycling program. As Georgia FBLA State Parliamentarian and Alpharetta High School’s FBLA Co-
Alpharetta High School, Class of 2025 president, his service and leadership impacts over 25,000 members statewide. As State Treasurer and Advocacy Director for the Georgia High School Democrats, he secured $5,000 in funding to empower 500 volunteers in grassroots mobilization and collaborated with political leaders to design innovative youth engagement programs. Through an internship with Congressman Rich McCormick he reached over 200,000 peers with civic engagement opportunities and contributed to legislative efforts promoting youth civic engagement and health advocacy. As the sole student representative on the Fulton County Schools CTAE Advisory Board, Ronak offers invaluable insights into curriculum enhancement, benefiting 90,000 students across the district. His commitment to education is exemplified by his role as a high school delegate on the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Public Policy Committee, where he advocates for increased funding for aerospace education programs. Leveraging a decade of martial arts training, he mentors and instructs over 50 students weekly in Tae Kwon Do. Through 21st Century Leaders and as a Youth Ambassador, Ronak has embraced the transformative power of diverse voices and consensus-building, principles he applies across his endeavors Ronak plans to attend post-secondary education and continue serving the members of his school and community.
Ronak’s GYLA Coach is Tania Garcia, Senior Marketing Executive (21CL Board)
ALUMNI VENDOR ALUMNI VENDOR
SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT
LAUNCH POINTE PRODUCTIONS
LAUNCH POINTE PRODUCTIONS
Stage Management + Production
Brandi Harrison, Owner
21CL Alumni ‘97
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF A $1,000,000
FUTURE
We are dedicated to preserving our legacy and offering valuable programs for the next generation and beyond!
This fund has the power to support the following each year
Fullyfundaone-week Summer LeadershipInstitute
Enroll500morestudentsinto LeadershipConnect
Provide 20 seniors with college scholarships
ALUMNIKEYNOTESPEAKER
Keyla Cabret-Lewis VP, Talent Development, Aflac 21CL Alumni ‘97
“Programs like 21CL are key to the development of young people’s soft skills. The fact the organization still exists with the sole purpose to lift young people up and teach them more about leadership and themselves…that’s an effective leadership characteristic that I believe in.”
All proceeds from the live auction and raffle purchases will go directly to support our year-round student leadership development and career readiness programs for 2,500+ students annually.
Eachraffleticketearnsyouanentrytoanyof therafflebundlesofyourchoice!
Getyourraffleticketsattheraffletable!
$100 - 1 ticket
$200 - 3 tickets
$300 - 5 tickets
$500 - 10 tickets
Raffle closes following dinner + winners will be drawn on stage
WINE & SPIRITS WALL Keep your spirits high with a guaranteed bottle of wine or spirits, ranging in value from $20 to $100+.
Get your "paddle" ready for our exciting live auction items up for grabs!
Scan to view the live auction items! Did somebody say BEYONCÉ tickets?
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