Adam Amick ('07)

The Virginia Board of Education appointed Adam to a three year term to the State Special Education Advisory Committee, as a representative for persons with disabilities. 

Adam Brakman ('11)

Adam helped other CNU students make blankets for underprivileged children in Newport News; he paid for his first semester at Christopher Newport University (in part with a $400 check from a scholarship program run by his church). He took his learner’s permit test and passed! Adam has also been busy kayaking with his dad (five miles each way to the James River bridge from his neighborhood).

Aaron Buncher ('09)

Aaron helped with swimming lessons and other activities at a camp for children with Autism. It was so much fun, especially knowing I made a difference. He did a presentation on Tourette Syndrome in front of an audience of 30-35 students, parents, and school administrators at Mountain View High School in Stafford County, VA. The audience asked really great questions and we all became more knowledgeable about Tourette Syndrome. He participated in a day of training activities to become a peer counselor at his high school, Mills Godwin. It was really fun. I’m looking forward to getting more involved as a peer helper this year.

Tabitha Copeland (’12)

Tabitha had fun taking senior pictures…especially her! The camera loves her! She was also voted secretary of FCCLA, an organization of her Life Planning class. Tabitha has a date to the prom!

Liam Cornwall ('09)

Liam wrote a letter to local Safeway Store manager and visited the store to talk with employees about MD through Aisles of Smiles MDA. Liam is now a licensed driver! He received training through Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center. While there, he was filmed entering and exiting an adaptive vehicle. This past September, Liam performed the role of junior host for the Jerry Lewis MD Telethon at Galludet University. He has demonstrated (and had numerous inquiries). about an adaptive device, he and a friend created, that allows him to have easy access to the backpack on his power chair.

Annie Downing (’12)

Annie sent her new principal an email about national Disability History Awareness Month and said she’d like to have fun facts about disability on the morning announcements during October. Annie worked with Jack Brandt and Marianne Moore to plan a meeting for a new project. She also spoke at the September meeting of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) about her experiences in YLF.

Caroline Elgin ('09)

Caroline was the only person with a disability to compete in the VA State Fair’s 4H Dog Show. Video of her competing with loyal companion, Sajen, can be seen on You Tube. She volunteered to help young children with disabilities in the Mary’s Family Respite Program. She represented Canine Companion for Independence at the Future Quest event at George Mason University-answering questions about service dogs. She actively participates in 4H, FFA, and FCCLA clubs. Following up on her testimony about the inaccessibility of her hometown (at the mock YLF hearing this past summer), she and her Mom have filed an ADA complaint with the DOJ against the County of  Fauquier and the town of Warrenton. Excellent!!

Caroline entered into a "How Dogs Change Lives" contest at dogschangelives.org and asked YLF staff to pass the word on to YLF alumni and others.

 Caroline graduated from High School in June 2011, and started classes this summer at The Art Institute of Northern Virginia, where she is majoring in Graphic Design. She received a grant from the LEAP program to purchase a new MacBook Pro to take with her, as well as tuition grants from The Art Institute Merit Award and The Plains Community League. Just recently, in August, she was very honored to be one of 3 applicants from over 180 to be selected for a tuition award from the Howard Aslinger Foundation. This foundation was started two years ago to help students with physical disabilities attend college (www.howardaslingerfoundation.org). Mr. Aslinger, who had polio, said "it’s not a handicap, it is an inconvenience", and was very active in his community, as is Caroline.

Grace Feazelle ('09)

Before graduating from Princess Anne High School this past June 17th, Grace mentored peers who needed extra help, showed new students around the school and helped with fundraising. As a result of her work, she got to know a lot of teachers better. She also began volunteering at a home for people with disabilities and has been working there for the past three months.

She has begun to take independent living classes at her local CIL in Virginia Beach. While taking classes there, she is looking for opportunities to volunteer in the office and lead classes. She is working with a DRS counselor to get into a program at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. Grace also has plans to get her GED.

Grace established a Facebook account to stay in touch with YLF friends and staff. She wrote a Thank You letter to the board of VBPD which was read at their September board meeting. She shared what she learned at YLF with staff from Phone A Home and St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children. They would like her to return and share with others. Prior to becoming a YLF Delegate, Grace created a communication system for a friend, who had no dependable way to communicate, based on choices and using her eyes to indicate selection. Grace worked with a classmate to help her student ID number during a vocational lesson.

Justin Gantz ('06)

Justin completed an apprenticeship program and is now a certified mechanic.

Justin bought a condo in June 2011 and is successfully living on his own and doing great.

Justin George ('11)

Justin coordinated the National Night Out-Block Party in his Chesterfield neighborhood.  He sent an early invitation to his Board of Supervisors and they accepted his request. 

Justin helped set up and run an Olympic event at his school, The Faison School for Autism, in early July.

I attended a planning meeting as a youth leader for the upcoming I’m Determined Youth Summit. I was voted in as a member for another amateur radio group, A.R.C.A (Amateur Radio Communications Auxiliary) where I will volunteer.

Blake Kelmar ('09)

Blake was accepted to Marshall University (his 1st and only choice). He earned a 3.1 GPA and 18 on the ACT test. He is so happy that he was accepted at Marshall. Wish him luck!

William Kirchhoff ('11)

Went snorkeling in Costa Rica on the 20th of August

Will recently ran a 5k at Pony Pasture in 19:36 and in early July, he ran a 7.4k in Brandermill in 32:13.

Doniella Kissinger ('11)

I was talking to my Transition Coordinator at my school on September 21, 2011 about YLF and I'm Determined and I told him I graduated from YLF this past summer and that I am a leader in I'm Determined. He asked me if I would go to the 9th and 10th Grade English Special education Classes and talk to them about YLF and I'm Determined in the near future. Of course I said yes and I have already started making a Powerpoint for my presentation.

On September 21, 2011 I signed up to be a Lunch Buddy with an autistic gentleman. I get to have lunch with him every Green Day which is every other day.

Emily LeSueur (’12)

Emily received an Echo smart pen to help her take notes in class. It was one of the goals on her PLP. She also passed her Algebra SOL (the first math SOL she has passed since 5th grade). Emily took control of her IEP meeting and also met with the new school nurse, bringing up her medical and school needs—another goal on her Personal Leadership Plan! She has also volunteered to help out with the sound system at her church.

Joey McGeary ('09)

Joey enjoys volunteering every Sunday to work with the children’s ministry of his church, Capitol Church in Arlington. He also enjoyed volunteering as a camp counselor to elementary children this past summer.

Joey enjoyed helping out at the TJ Community Center and asking people to fill out a survey. He went door to door handing out campaign literature for House of Delegate candidate, Eric Brescia. He actively participated in the Semi-Annual Market Fair (Claude Moore Memorial Farm), Friends of the Library Book sale (Arlington Central Library), and CherryDale Baptist Church’s Fall Fun Festival. He helped teach and supervise pre-schoolers on Sundays at Capitol Life Church. And during November elections, he thanked voters, handed out “I Voted” stickers and assisted election officials.

Joey continues to demonstrate his leadership by volunteering in community activities such as food preparation for Market Fair Colonial Program, by connecting with the Chamber of Commerce through a leadership program, by assistant teaching Sunday School to his church's pre-schoolers, and by getting involved in the election process at his local precinct.

Dan McMahon (’12)

Dan obtained a Kindle to help him enjoy reading, and he also took a placement test at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College so he could take College Composition as a senior in high school. Some of his highest scores were on reading and writing (typically his weakest testing areas), and his focus has led to acceptance at Longwood University! Dan was excited at YLF that he had been accepted into UVA-Wise but now Longwood is his top choice followed by Christopher Newport University. Dan took steps to accomplish a goal on his PLP when he talked with the commissioner of the Ashland Youth Association (a local recreational basketball league) and signed up to coach. He also spoke at the VBPD Board meeting in September 2012.

Christian Metzler ('11)

Made his HS soccer team. Way to go Christian!

I was selected as Captain of the Varsity Soccer team at my high school. My teammates voted me into this position after two weeks of practice.

Steve Phillips ('07)

Steve has been busy completing community service hours—64 at the Youth Leadership Forum—and he’s been recognized in a book published by Mike Patrick entitled “I Still Believe in Tomorrow.” Steve also wrote and presented a term paper on Gaining Sociological Acceptance for People with Disabilities and began looking for a new personal aid. Steve wrote a recruitment ad for NOVA Power Soccer for the NOVA Community College Newsletter. He attended a transfer information session at George Mason University for the Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) program.

Kennedy Rose (’12)

Kennedy went to Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center and had a driving evaluation done by a company in Pennsylvania. She was able to drive a van controlled completely by a joist stick. She was recommended for drivers training, plans to go for three weeks of training in PA, get her license and an equipped van soon. Kennedy also decided to do early admission for college and has submitted all of her applications!

Violet Strawderman ('11)

I volunteered at the Children's Hospital for the King's Daughters in the NICU, July 25-August 4. On September 14, I gave a speech to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities about my wonderful time at YLF. I have been invited by Carol Lewin to give another speech for a group she is associated with. I also collected two business cards and did some networking. For the first time, my school is participating in Disability History and Awareness month…I’m getting it started!

Caroline Tobe ('11)

Is going to be a Student Ambassador at her school. She will give announcements and work at the School Open House and other things to help recruit students for her high school. Learn, Empower, Achieve, Demonstrate…LEAD

Michael Williams ('11)

Volunteered at freshmen orientation at school by handing out textbook to over 150 freshmen and on registration day by giving textbooks to over 500 students

Got a 98 on my AP Government summer assignment and a 95 on my AP Literature summer assignment. Awesome Michael! 

Michael earned his driver's license!  He also achieved his PLP goal of acquiring a Smartpen to use at school.

I dressed up in a dragon costume with a seat belt on to promote traffic safety on 9/24/11.