K is for Kids announced seven student leaders who will be fueling its mission this school year. The teens represent four local Collier County Public Schools.
The students serve on K is for Kids’ top student leadership Council, DOSA-Directorate of Student Agenda and as Presidents of Operation:Outreach (O2) on their high school campuses.
O2 was a “ladder for leaders” program founded in 2013 at Gulf Coast High School by K is for Kids’ top student leaders as a way to help other teens have more leadership opportunities outside of the classroom. And, as the young executives neared graduation, they would give a helping hand to the students who wanted to take the lead the next year. The club’s motto is “Climb higher. Help others.”
Read more about DOSA and O2 by clicking here: https://kisforkids.org/about/o2-operation-outreach-officers/ and https://kisforkids.org/about/dosa/
K is for Kids’ youth leaders for 2016-17 were honored to meet with Mayor Bill Barnett. The students represent four high schools from Collier County Public School District L-R: Founder Karen D. Clawson, Sara Saintil, Lely High School; Olivia Squirewelll, Barron Collier High School; Bree Gelin, Lely High School; Mayor Bill; Jose Chang, Gulf Coast High School; Amy Teran, Lorenzo Walker Technical College & High School; Daylin Baez, Florida Southwestern College; Aracely Aguilera, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School; and Rachelle Cavero, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School.
Dubbed “an extreme leadership experience” by college student advisory council member and former student leader 2013-15, Nedgie Paul, it’s a challenging, but rewarding role!
OLIVIA SQUIREWELL, Barron Collier High
A 12th grade student, Olivia is K is for Kids’ senior student and spokesperson for 2016-17. Olivia has modeled in K is for Kids’ top teen charity fun’raiser, the “From the Heart” Teen Fashion Show in 2015 and 2016, and volunteered at the “Kids Celebrate Reading” Book Fair.
Olivia will have her first live radio interview during WGCU Public Media’s Campaign Drive on Sept. 15th at 5:00 p.m. Be sure to tune in to hear her speak!
Olivia Squirewell models Brooks Brothers fashions and accessories at the 4th Annual K is for Kids “From the Heart” Teen Fashion Show at Barron Collier High School in Naples.
BREE GELIN and SARA SAINTIL, Lely High School
These two senior students at Lely High broke records as sophomores when they co-founded and served as Co-Presidents of Operation:Outreach(O2) at the school in 2013-14. (Both became full members of K is for Kids’ highest student leadership council – DOSA (Directorate of Student Agenda) the following year in 2014.)
Last year, Bree and Sara broke more records with a book drive at Lely, collecting the most books ever donated by a single school! The high performing students co-chaired K is for Kids’ book fair in 2015 and also helped emcee the 2016 Teen Fashion Show, too.
Bree Gelin speaks to guests attending the 8th annual Kids Celebrate Reading Book Fair at Barnes & Noble in Naples.
Sara Saintil, left, with Daylin Baez, co-chairs of K is for Kids’ Book Fair at the Waterside Shops in Sept. 2015.
JOSE CHANG, Gulf Coast High
Jose, a sophomore student, is setting records for K is for Kids, as he serves this year in a full internship and as one of the co-chairs for K is for Kids’ annual Teen Fashion Show.
Jose Chang sports casual wear from Men’s Wearhouse at the 4th Annual K is for Kids From the Heart Teen Fashion Show, Feb. 2015
AMY TERAN, ARACELY AGUILERA, RACHELLE CAVERO, Lorenzo Walker Technical High
K is for Kids founder and volunteer executive director Karen D. Clawson, decided the foundation needed to make an exception to the two-student representatives from each high school when three eager young women held up their hand to help take the lead this school year.
Amy Teran at registration table for the 5th annual K is for Kids Teen Fashion Show 2016.
Aracely Aguilera took third place in K is for Kids’ 3rd Annual YES Comp. 2016 (Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Competition) with her business proposal for Fire Survivor mobile app.
RACHELLE CAVERO, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School
Photos coming soon for Rachelle Cavero.
DAYLIN BAEZ, Florida Southwestern State College
A freshman this year at FSW, Daylin Baez continues to represent K is for Kids as a student spokesperson and member of the foundation’s College Student Advisory Council. She served in a full internship starting in her junior year at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School, and became a member of DOSA in 2015-16. Daylin was also finalists in K is for Kids’ YES Comp 2015 and 2016.
Daylin Baez placed fourth at K is for Kids YES Comp 2016 and third in 2015.