2018 Outstanding Young Leaders

Kayla Simmons, now a senior in high school, has been in foster care in Delaware since 5th grade. Kayla attends a vocational high school where she accomplished becoming a medical assistant. She was inducted into the National Honor Society and serves on Student Council. Kayla likes to volunteer as much... Read more

Shayla Martis has been in foster care in Virginia since the age of twelve and will be aging out this year. She currently attends school full time at Wytheville Community College, where she plans to attain an associate’s degree in human services followed by a transfer to Radford University to... Read more

Shimaine Quimbley spent time in 12 different placements during the years that she was in the foster care system in the state of Georgia. She knew her biological family, but received no support from them. Throughout Shimaine’s transition she has worked as a Regional Coordinator and active member of the... Read more

Delaina Smith was placed in foster care in Mississippi at the age of fourteen, and is being adopted this year. She is the former lead attorney and team captain for her high school’s mock trial competition team. Delaina led her team to the 2018 Mississippi Mock Trial State Competition, where... Read more

Rebecca Thompson was placed in the foster care system in New Hampshire while a junior in high school. She was kicked out of her last foster home at age 18 and currently goes to Plymouth State University. Rebecca is studying Environmental Science with a minor in Sustainability and also pursuing... Read more

Makayla Waughop was placed in the Indiana foster care system in 2012. During Makayla’s time in foster care she went through five or six different homes before finding a permanent home. While in these home she discovered so many thing about how the real world works. Makayla was able to... Read more

Jasmine Myrick was in care on multiple occasions during her youth and adolescence and was placed in several different group homes. Jasmine is currently a student at Georgia State University and is pursuing a BFA degree in printmaking, an interest which began with her fashion studies. Her volunteer commitments have... Read more

Tiara Mosley spent 4 years in Iowa’s foster care system. Tiara experienced many placements including congregate care, residential treatment centers, and shelter placement. Tiara is currently a part of Iowa’s advocacy group, Achieving Maximum Potential.Tiara is a Mentor to younger youth in AMP and has been a leader since she... Read more

Brittany P. Mihalec-Adkins is a former foster youth (Indiana) and Lived Experience Expert. Brittany is completing her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University (expected: August 2022), where she has also completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychological Sciences and Law & Society,... Read more

Taylor Douglas has spent most of her life moving from home to home with her mother and young sister. She moved over twenty times by age eight before she was ultimately placed with a grandparent. Since living with her grandparents, Taylor enrolled in the Colorado Connections Academy and has experienced... Read more