Celebrating Our 2021 YAC Graduating Seniors
Our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) involves local high school students as leaders and grantmakers across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our YAC students throughout this academic year and wish a hearty congratulations to our graduating seniors.
"Our graduating YAC members have been such an asset to our organization," said Gina Thornbury, Program and Grants Manager. "They, alongside fellow members, have worked hard to award grants that benefit our region through our Youth Endowment, including a total of $71,800 to 16 nonprofit partner organizations last fall."
Check out what some of our seniors have planned post-graduation below!
Name: Isabel Aulicino
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-grad plans: “I am attending Pomona College next year and potentially focusing on history, however, I have not fully committed to a major yet.”
Name: Janie Fitzpatrick
Years of YAC Service: 4
County: Grand Traverse
Post-grad plans: "I plan on going to either Grand Valley State University or MSU this fall for biology to become a forensic scientist one day."
Name: Angela Green
Years of YAC Service: 3
County: Grand Traverse
Post-grad plans: "I plan to study economics and history with a minor in french at Hope College, and I would ideally go to law school after my undergrad in order to become a real estate attorney. During my time at Hope College, I plan on playing the violin in the college orchestra in addition to my studies."
Name: Jaeger Grisworld
Years of YAC Service: 3
County: Antrim
Post-grad plans: “I am looking forward to attending Vanderbilt University where I will be going in undeclared.”
Name: Ben McIntyre
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-grad plans: "I am planning to attend Hope College for next year, and I am thinking of going into the STEM field."
Name: Alina Membrillo
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Kalkaska
Post-grad plans: “My plans after graduation are to attend Michigan Technological University and pursue a degree in biomedical laboratory science.”
Name: Gabriella (Gabby) Paryani
Years of YAC Service: 4
County: Kalkaska
Post-grad plans: "After graduating I'm planning on continuing my education at the local college, NMC. I want to study film as well as other arts, and keep working in the philanthropy field."
Name: Amelia Shotwell
Years of YAC Service: 2
County: Grand Traverse
Post-grad plans: "I plan on earning a BA and PhD in history, eventually teaching as a history professor at a college out East."
Name: Jackson Wade
Years of YAC Service: 3
County: Grand Traverse
Post-grad plans: "After this year I am attending NMC for one year to then transfer to an undecided 4 year university."
Name: Sara Waltz
Years of YAC Service: 4
County: Antrim
Post-grad plans: "After graduating from Elk Rapids High School, I plan on attending Lake Superior State University to study engineering."
Name: Erin Ward
Years of YAC Service: 3
County: Antrim
Post-grad plans: "I plan on attending NMC for the next year to finish my Associate's degree, and then will be transferring to MSU to pursue a degree in dietetics."
Our other YAC graduating seniors linclude: Margaret Kernan, Bobby Stehouwer, Kyra Stobert, and Jackson Yanz.
[Image description: Various headshots of our YAC graduating seniors.]