Queer Youth Leadership Award – Awardees:
Adrian Nuñez
Student, Pájaro Valley High School
Adrian Nuñez wants queer students to feel safe—and kick-ass. Adrian is an active, enthusiastic member of the PVHS GSA. To help queer students feel safer in at their school, Adrian and his friend Liz Torres created a photo essay called the Wall of Support to spotlight the school staff who are allies to queer youth. That way, a student in need of support can know who is best to turn to. Adrian also advocates on a larger scale, he is committed to his community outside of school; working with Liz again, Adrian designed and presented a workshop called “How to Have a Kick-ass Coming Out Day” at the Youth Empowerment Summit, a youth-planned and youth-led San Francisco conference for queer and allied youth. Adrian is a member of Watsonville’s first rainbow church and attends Santa Cruz Pride and every STRANGE event he can.
Liz Torres
Student, Pájaro Valley High School
With a skateboard and a smile, Liz Torres advocates for queer youth. She is a leader at the PVHS GSA and a founding member of the STRANGE Project, she is indispensable to these organizations. Liz, both figuratively and literally goes the extra mile for causes she cares about; she travels independently via public transit and her skateboard to countywide Gay Straight Alliance events. Within her school, her thoughtfulness and grounded confidence create a safe, welcoming space for new GSA members. With her friend Adrian Nunez, Liz helped create the Wall of Support, which spotlighted allies to queer youth in her high school staff. She and Adrian also led a workshop at the Youth Empowerment Summit in San Francisco, called “How to Have a Kick-ass Coming Out Day.” Liz is creative, passionate, full of ideas for her high school GSA and is always there for students who need a friend.
Miguel O. Zarate
Student, Delta Charter High School
Miguel Zarate is a tireless leader, dedicated to uplifting queer and marginalized youth. Miguel has blossomed at Delta Charter High School, coming out at school and helping create the school’s first Queer Student Alliance. They is a motivated QSA leader, representing the QSA at events, leading fundraisers for the Santa Cruz AIDS Walk and for trips to the Youth Empowerment Summit in San Francisco. Miguel is honest about their struggles with sexuality, identity and family; his openness encourages other students to open up about their own lives. Besides working with the QSA, Miguel interns at organizations dedicated to social change—Youth Led Radio and Food What?—where they give a voice to marginalized youth and educating other youth about social justice and food. Miguel has grown immensely both as a student and a leader over the past year.
Nikki Olivas
Student, Scotts Valley High School
At SVHS, Nikki Olivas takes queer activism far beyond the Gay Straight Alliance. She reaches out to other clubs and student organizations to organize meetings on queer issues, and discusses queer issues in theatre groups. Her efforts educate many more students at SVHS and make the school a better place for all queer students. Additionally, she is president of her school’s GSA. As a leader within the GSA, she supports and uplifts all queer and trans students. Her activism extends beyond education and support; Nikki also created a petition to bring gender-neutral bathrooms for the emotional and physical safety of trans and gender nonconforming students. Through her intensive outreach efforts, Nikki obtained over 200 signatures for the petition. Nikki is a strong leader at her Episcopal church, inspiring other queer students who practice religious faiths.
Queer Youth Leadership Award – Nominees:
Assarah Bohbot
Student, Soquel High School
Asarrah Bohbot Butler has transformed the Gender and Sexual Diversity Club (formerly the Gay Straight Alliance) at Soquel High School. Under their two-year leadership, the Gender and Sexual Diversity Club has increased in membership and activity within the school. Asarrah organized the first annual school Rainbow Door event, spearheaded a fundraiser to raise money for trans people’s health care, coordinated tabling at school events and created a calendar of queer events at school. As a leader, Asarah is dedicated to supporting and empowering queer students, they is very capable as a planner, organizer, friend and mentor. Asarrah welcomes and honors all club members, which keeps students coming back to the Gender and Sexual Diversity Club, week after week. They is always there as a friend, educator and mentor, spending significant time and energy working one-on-one with students who need support.
Felicia Davidson
Student, Pájaro Valley High School
Felicia Davidson is a passionate and outspoken activist for mental health care within the school system. She is very aware of the vast need for mental health care, having helped suicidal queer students get mental health care. Felicia is no stranger to the intricacies of bureaucracies, as she regularly attends PVUSD board and Watsonville City Council meetings and is a member of the Youth City Council. She notices when students are struggling or need support, and is skilled at helping fellow students navigate the support services of PVHS. As well being a champion for queer youth and mental health care, she serves her community in many other ways; she founded a chapter of the community service club Interact at her school and volunteers extensively within the community. Through her volunteer work, she has racked up an impressive total of 1,500 community service hours.
Grason Winchel
Student, Scotts Valley High School
Grayson Winchel has grown into a promising young leader after becoming involved in the SVHS GSA his first year of high school. Grayson has worked hard to increase safety on campus and educate campus community members about gender and sexuality. He is the Vice President of the GSA and attended the Youth Empowerment Summit in San Francisco, where he learned more about queer issues and youth activism. He helped in the meeting between the school administration, GSA and Safe Schools Project to better serve all students on campus. Currently, Grayson’s activism centers on challenging his school administration and community to be more accepting. He is raising awareness of the need for gender-neutral restrooms for trans* and non-binary students, and advocates instituting a mandatory Acceptance Assembly. Grayson’s growth as a leader and activist is remarkable as he has accomplished all of this while dealing with challenging circumstances.
Jade Hosler
Student, Santa Cruz High School
In junior high school, Jade Hosler overcame homophobic bullying so extreme it forced her to transfer schools. When she entered Santa Cruz High School, she was determined to create community and protect other students from facing what she faced, so she revived the lapsed GSA. Jade petitioned peers, found an advisor, and handled the paperwork to make the club a reality. Her GSA has grown to five student officers and many dedicated members. As former co-president, Jade continues to provide empathy and support to other queer students. Those who know her talk about how her caring leadership has improved the lives of many queer students. Jade has seen firsthand how painful it is to be bullied, and she challenges those who would bully others. She values the safe space that the GSA provides, and continues to come up with ideas for how to improve the club.
Karen Jimenez
Student, Aptos High School
Karen Jimenez is a passionate, highly involved student at Aptos High School, helping lead programs for queer students and the general student body. As secretary of the Rainbow Alliance, Karen is extremely organized, even helping the new Club Advisor settle into the role. She is also involved in the Associated Student Body and the Rise Above Club. She presented at a pep rally and helped lead a program called 21 Days of Kindness, where students pledged to do a daily act of kindness for three weeks. She was so committed to 21 Days of Kindness she trekked all over campus, signing students up for the program. Those who know her comment on her optimism and positive attitude. She has struggled with personal issues, but she takes initiative as a student to stay on top of coursework. Karen shows up with a smile on her face to every project she undertakes.
Kendra Smith
Student, Pájaro Valley High School
For Kendra Smith, everyday life is a revolutionary act. As a trans* student, Kendra shows monumental bravery in being out and visible. Never hiding their identity, Kendra attends school in heels and skinny jeans. This bravery is even more impressive considering that Kendra is only fourteen years old, an age when many students are afraid to come out with their true gender or sexual identity. Although she is only a first year high school student, Kendra is already building community within Pájaro Valley High School. Kendra has formed strong trusting bonds with the principal, campus security, and counselors. She is also involved in student groups. Kendra is an active, passionate member of the PVHS Gay Straight Alliance and is constantly coming up with ideas for the club. Those who know Kendra, find her to be a beautiful and inspiring young person.
Nicole Getzschmann
Student, Aptos High School
Nicole Getzschmann is a proud queer leader in her community at Aptos High School. Out as queer since seventh grade, Nicole has reinvigorated her school’s Rainbow Alliance, eventually becoming president as a senior. Nicole came back from an event with BAYMAC, a political action group for queer and trans* people, brimming with new ideas for the Rainbow Alliance. She was instrumental in coordinating the Rainbow Alliance’s trip to attend the Youth Empowerment Summit in San Francisco. As a high school student, Nicole was recognized for her dedication and leadership with a nomination for Homecoming King. Although she did not win the place of Homecoming King, merely being nominated is a powerful statement about her impact within her school. Besides her work with Rainbow Alliance, Nicole is also an LBGT intern with the Aptos-Capitola Rotary Club, where she helps make her high school a safer place.
Nilu Mashian
Student, Pacific Collegiate School
When Nilu Mashian was only in eighth grade, she came out to the Pacific Collegiate School Rainbow Alliance. Her poise and confidence impressed her peers, and they immediately welcomed her into the fold. She quickly became known as the Rainbow Alliance’s most reliable volunteer. By ninth grade, Nilu became the president of Rainbow Alliance, a position she held for two years. She has helped organize many events for the queer community at her high school, such as Coming Out Day and Acceptance Week. Nilu encourages students of all ages to get involved in the Rainbow Alliance, when new students begin to get involved, Nilu is there to help create a warm, friendly environment for them and their allied friends. She is a wonderful role model who excels in academics, cello, and choir.
Reyna Preciado
Student, Delta Charter High School
Reyna Preciado is a firebrand within their school’s Queer-Straight Alliance, and has been since the club’s inception. Reyna is never afraid to call out injustice or give constructive criticism, even within their own community. Reyna is well informed about social justice, especially issues that affect queer youth. Within the QSA, Reyna rallies students to action and has helped craft the club’s mission statement to reflect a commitment to social justice. They is known as being results-driven, passionate — and they get results. Reyna has helped bring Delta Charter students to the Youth Empowerment Summit in San Francisco, pushed STRANGE to offer Queer Camp; is currently interning at Media Watch, where they work toward change and at Youth Led Radio through Delta Charter’s Real World Linked Learning Program. Over the years, Reyna’s work has transformed into a confident and poised activist.