News & Stories
Our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) brings together high school students from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties to lead and make a real impact as grantmakers.
We’re so proud of everything our YAC members accomplished this year—and we want to give a special congratulations to our amazing graduating seniors!
Together, they awarded a total of $105,000 to 31 nonprofits across the region last fall, helping support programs that make a difference for local youth.
Now, our YAC grads are heading off to exciting new chapters—take a look at what they’re up to next!
- Kira Adams
Name: Kira Adams
Years of YAC Service: 3 (includes 1 year on Leadership Team)
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend the University of Michigan
How YAC Impacted Me: Seeing the impact we can make on the community and people in need has been life changing.
- Lily Alvarado
Name: Lily Alvarado
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Michigan State for political science-prelaw
How YAC Impacted Me: It made me realize that I want to help others and my community in my career.
- Jonah Arbuckle
Name: Jonah Arbuckle
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Michigan Technological University to study chemical engineering
How YAC Impacted Me: YAC opened my eyes to what’s actually happening in the community around me. Made me realize how many parts of the community are underserved.
- Alexa Bageris
Name: Alexa Bageris
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Michigan State University to study Elementary Education
How YAC Impacted Me: I loved getting to further my knowledge on my community and learn about different organizations.
- Emerie Burda
Name: Emerie Burda
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Leelanau
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Arizona State University to major in criminology and criminal justice
How YAC Impacted Me: I was able to be part of my community and help learn about nonprofits. It allowed me to understand what people are trying to do and how they help better our community.
- Liam Donnell
Name: Liam Donnell
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend the University of Michigan to major in political science and double minor in statistics and finance
How YAC Impacted Me: Being a part of YAC allowed me to enhance my ability to communicate with a variety of personalities, grow my leadership skills, and to give back to my community. Each of these have built me into a better person and made me more prepared for my future.
- Isabella Essenberg
Name: Isabella Essenberg
Years of YAC Service: 3
County: Antrim
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Ferris State University to study Social Work
How YAC Impacted Me: Understanding that there is a financial need in our area and how awarding the applicants can impact and make a positive change for them.
- Isla Falconer
Name: Isla Falconer
Years of YAC Service: 2 (includes 1 year on Leadership Team)
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend New York University to pursue music!
How YAC Impacted Me: Being in YAC allowed me a look into my community that I had never had before. Being able to recognize all of the people out there that needed help and all the organizations that are working to support us was truly amazing.
- Nola Fedderman
Name: Nola Fedderman
Years of YAC Service: 1
County: Leelanau
Post-Grad Plans: Attend the University of Michigan with the goal of becoming an officer in the U.S Navy
How YAC Impacted Me: I loved working with a group of inspired students to make our county/region a better place!
- Kyley Fuller
Name: Kyley Fuller
Years of YAC Service: 3
County: Antrim
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Michigan State University to major in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice
How YAC Impacted Me: Being part of YAC was a meaningful experience. I helped decide where grant money went and got to see the real impact it had on the community. It felt great to know that the funding we provided made a difference, and it showed me how important youth voices are in creating change.
- Calista Hoeksema
Name: Calista Hoeksema
Years of YAC Service: 3 (includes 2 years on Leadership Team)
County: Antrim
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Saginaw Valley State University to pursue a degree in Secondary Education for English.
How YAC Impacted Me: YAC has helped me become more confident with public speaking, and it has given me opportunities for leadership and helping my community.
- Ella Knudsen
Name: Ella Knudsen
Years of YAC Service: 3 (includes 2 years on Leadership Team)
County: Leelanau
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Hope College to double major in Kinesiology and Psychology
How YAC Impacted Me: It has impacted me because I have seen the impact that giving back to the community has had and it has inspired me to give back in multiple ways. When we are able to give back to people in our community everyone benefits and YAC is an introduction to that in allowing students to be a part of the process of giving.
- Aubrey Manchester
Name: Aubrey Manchester
Years of YAC Service: 3 (includes 2 years on Leadership Team)
County: Kalkaska
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Saginaw Valley State University to study pre-physical therapy
How YAC Impacted Me: Being a part of YAC has taught me the importance of philanthropy in our community and being a student leader. I have truly learned so much being in an amazing organization.
- Kate May
Name: Kate May
Years of YAC Service: 1
County: Benzie
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Hope College to pole vault and study accounting
How YAC Impacted Me: I loved helping others and our community. It was so cool to be able to give to these wonderful organizations and help people in need.
- Sophie McLaren
Name: Sophie McLaren
Years of YAC Service: 1
County: Benzie
Post-Grad Plans: Attend the University of Michigan, pursuing a degree in social sciences
How YAC Impacted Me: It helped me understand the grant writing and evaluation process, as well as how nonprofits collaborate.
- Julia Michalowski
Name: Julia Michalowski
Years of YAC Service: 3 (including 2 years on Leadership Team)
County: Benzie
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Wayne State University and double major in Law and Political Science.
How YAC Impacted Me: It has given me a whole new perspective on philanthropy in my community.
- Natalie Moore
Name: Natalie Moore
Years of YAC Service: 3 (includes 1 year on Leadership Team)
County: Kalkaska
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Purdue University to dual major in Actuarial Science and Statistics
How YAC Impacted Me: YAC taught me the importance of always giving back to my community in order to support others and strengthen our county. YAC gave me a platform to be an advocate, an experience I will never forget.
- Honorae Shore
Name: Honorae Shore
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend MSU at the James Madison College to study Political Science and pre-law with a minor in public policy and international relations
How YAC Impacted Me: YAC gave me different perspectives on the community and also helped me develop my time management skills.
- Cameron Snyder
Name: Cameron Snyder
Years of YAC Service: 3 (includes 1 year on Leadership Team)
County: Antrim
Post-Grad Plans: Attend the University of Michigan to study Sports Management
How YAC Impacted Me: Not only was I helping my community, but it gave me the ability to get out of my comfort zone and meet so many awesome people.
- Jack Sperry
Name: Jack Sperry
Years of YAC Service: 2 (includes 1 year on Leadership Team)
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Michigan State University
How YAC Impacted Me: Being a part of YAC revealed the struggles of the community and how to help.
- Julia Sundstrom
Name: Julia Sundstrom
Years of YAC Service: 3
County: Antrim
Post-Grad Plans: After graduation I will go to basic training for the National Guard in the fall
How YAC Impacted Me: Being a part of YAC impacted me by showing me how important youth involvement in the community is.
- Brooklyn Swenson
Name: Brooklyn Swenson
Years of YAC Service: 1
County: Antrim
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Ferris State University to study dental hygiene
How YAC Impacted Me: Being part of a Youth Advisory Council empowered me to use my voice to influence positive change in my community. It has helped me grow as a confident leader while connecting with others who share my passion for making a difference.
- Mara Van Wagner
Name: Mara Van Wagner
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-Grad Plans: Attend Ferris State University to study Digital Arts and Design
How YAC Impacted Me: Being a part of YAC gave me opportunities to serve my community and be a part of something that makes a difference.
Our other recently graduated YAC seniors include: London Birgy, Ian Boss, Maren Byrne, Nolan Clouse, Thomas Edwards, Annabelle England, Samuel Fitzgerald, Juliette Hyde, Grace Koscielski, Elizabeth Lints, Cady Madion, Keenan Ryan, Ellie Stewart, Raegan Sutton, Bri VanSteenhouse