Everett Mayor’s Youth Awards
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
By TRIBUNE STAFF
Ten Everett teenagers were honored with achievement awards given by Mayor Ray Stephanson at a City
Council meeting April 18.
This is the 18th year the city has selected youths to award for their accomplishments, service to their
communities, positive goals and, for some, their ability to overcome adversity.
"These award winners reflect the quality of young people involved in our community," Stephanson said in a
statement. "As you can see, we are in no way in short order of future leaders. In fact, I would say, these young
people and all that they do for Everett represent some of our most amazing and talented residents," he said.
Every year, a panel of judges accepts nominations for Everett School District students or students who attend
other schools or live in the city. This year’s winners represent five schools. They are:
•
Maria and Stacey Thompson, 17, juniors at Everett High School and Center for Career
Alternatives.
Twin sisters Stacey and Maria experienced neglect as children and in the last six years
have moved about 27 times. Despite their unsettled past, the two now volunteer with youth and have
plans for their futures. Both have a quick sense of humor, others say.
The sisters volunteer at the Everett Boys and Girls Club, where their legal guardian works. Maria plans to
attend the Sno-Isle Skills Center next year to work toward a certificate in Early Childhood Education.
Stacey is taking courses at the Center for Career Alternatives in preparation for Everett Community
College and wants to one day work with animals. She won the County Youth of the Year in January.
•
Lauren Bennett, 17, Henry M. Jackson High School senior
. Bennett worked hard to get her father into
alcohol abuse recovery and now attends meetings with him. On her own, she volunteers with a group
dedicated to showing others how to lead a sober life with God. She travels to Washington prisons talking
with young people about leading sober lives.
Bennett is the Senior Class President and National Honor Society President and a cheerleader. She takes
Advanced Placement government and psychology and college French courses. She is a member of
Leaders of the Pack, Drug Free Youth and Teens Against Tobacco Use.
An accomplished ballerina, she has danced since elementary school and now teaches beginning ballet.
In January 2005, Bennett was chosen to attend President Bush’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Always interested in government and history, she decided then she wants to major in political science and
international relations and one day work with the United Nations.
•
Jaspreet K. Gill, 18, Henry M. Jackson High School senior.
Gill speaks four languages — English,
Punjabi, Hindi and Spanish. She is described as intelligent, independent, a hard worker and a quiet leader.
In 2005, Gill studied in Costa Rica on a scholarship.
She is the president of the Multicultural Club and her school’s ASB Treasurer and a member of National
Honor Society. Jaspreet is part of Leaders of the Pack, Drug Free Youth and Substance Abuse Committee
and Key Club International, where she is the activities coordinator.
Gill plans to attend Whitman College in the fall, study international relations and political science then
go to law school. She hopes to work to better the lives of women, children and families around the
world.
•
Ian Dawe, 16, Everett High School junior
. Ian studies at the Ocean Research College Academy
(ORCA) through Everett Community College and will earn an associate’s degree by the time he
graduates high school.
Through ORCA, he worked with classmates to take a yearlong survey of the water quality of Possession
Sound.
Dawe also spends time volunteering with Everett Public Schools as an environmental camp counselor.
For his Eagle Scout project he plans to replace amphitheater logs at an elementary school and has
participated in food drives and Christmas tree recycling. He also serves on the Mayor’s Youth Council.
Dawe plans to pursue a career in medicine.
•
Charlie Dire, 18, Archbishop Murphy High School senior.
As an athlete, Charlie exudes energy and
never gives up.
A school counselor nominated Dire to recognize his unwavering support for fellow athletes and
dedication to his school. His teammates voted him the Most Inspirational Player this year.
Dire was adopted as a day-old baby. He is an Eagle Scout and helped organize a group of students last
summer to work with Catholic Community Services in assisting elderly and low-income families in
Snohomish County.
Next year Dire will attend Central Washington University to pursue a teaching career. He wants to teach
history and coach football and basketball.
•
Cole Anderson, 18, Everett High School senior.
Anderson has had to cope with the death of his father,
who died of a heart attack last summer. The two were very close.
Initially, his grades dropped, he had a hard time writing his senior paper and he lost interest in soccer and
wrestling. But he has since finished his paper, brought his grades up and starting playing sports again.
In his first wrestling tournament of the season, Anderson won the White River Classic, defeating a state
champion on his way to victory. He went on to win the district championships and place third in the state.
Anderson is described as a courageous leader with the ability to overcome obstacles.
•
Maggie Burton, 16, Everett High School junior.
At her school, Burton is ASB Secretary and was voted
to be ASB president next year.
Burton’s golf team named her their Most Inspirational and Most Valuable Player last year. She has
competed at state and is also the cross country team captain.
In her leadership class, Burton has been instrumental in leading and motivating her classmates in school
activities. She is involved in many clubs such as DECA, Spirit Club, Leadership, Interact and Torch
Honor Society.
Burton also prides herself on volunteering her time in the Assisteen program, teaching Sunday school and
being a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council. She maintains a 3.98 grade-point average in college prep
and honors courses.
•
Erika Hornyak, 18, Everett High School senior.
When Hornyak was 6, her mother died from a brain
aneurysm. Her father was left to raise two young daughters. Hornyak feels fortunate to have a new mom
in her life who has legally adopted her.
Hornyak has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA, coaching young children and
helping them grow.
She has also been a counselor at the Warm Beach Christian Camp for Youth, a summer camp counselor
at Everett High School and a member of the National Honor Society for two years. She plays varsity
basketball and has been a team captain for three years.
Hornyak will attend Western Washington University and major in elementary education.
•
Cody Schroeder, 17, Mariner High School junior.
With his grades at the top of his class, Schroeder
has set his sights on working for NASA or the military in the engineering department.
Even with the emotional strain at home from his mother’s illness, he maintains a 4.0 grade-point average.
Cody is described as a hardworking student who strives for perfection.
He has volunteered as a camp counselor at Camp Patterson, a place for children that may have special
needs, for the past two summers.
