Middle and high school students honored for leadership, volunteerism, and success despite difficult odds
The annual Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners' Youth Excellence and Achievement (YEA!) Awards recognize young peoples' positive contributions in three categories: Leadership, Volunteer or Community Service, and Success Despite Difficult Odds. Selected by the Hillsborough County Commission on the Status of Women, these students are shining examples of young people dedicating themselves to improving their community and shape its future.
The Board of County Commissioners honored the winners during its Oct. 23 meeting. During the presentation, these six students were recognized for their initiative, innovation, and commitment to Hillsborough County:
Leadership
Grayson Zurlage from Randall Middle School
While in the eighth grade at Randall Middle School, Zurlage was involved with two Operation: Veteran Connect charity campaigns. His first campaign, "Warm for the Winter," provided warm clothing for veterans living in a temporary housing facility called New Beginnings. During his tenure, Grayson created an Amazon list and circulated it among his contacts, leading to the donation of more than 90 sweatshirts, hats, and socks. His second campaign, "Warm My Walls," was aimed at providing framed pictures for veterans' walls to create a more homelike environment. Additionally, Grayson excelled in the Principal's Honor Roll and High Honor Roll for all three years of middle school, and he biannually organizes collections for Ronald McDonald House.
Shreyashi Bodaka from Strawberry Crest High School
A 16-year-old junior at Strawberry Crest High School, Bodaka founded a nonprofit, The Healing Harmony, where she designs and conducts personalized music and movement-based sessions that aid in healing for the sick and help achieve a wide range of musical and non-musical goals. As part of her organization's mission to make music education accessible to everyone, Bodaka donated over 17 instruments, raised more than $6,000 dollars, and conducted over 24 music/movement-based sessions. In addition, she has earned numerous academic and musical achievements, including becoming an AP Scholar with Distinction and a Lifetime Fellow of the American Junior Academy of Sciences. She earned a $10,000 scholarship and a stipend-paid internship at Purdue University's Summer Science Program in Genomics.
Volunteer or Community Service
Adam Saunders from Mulrennan Middle School
An eight-grader at Mulrennan Middle School in Valrico, Saunders spent numerous weekends cleaning up after hurricanes in affected areas. He has made more than 20 blankets for the charity, My Very Own Blanket, which works to provide new blankets for children in foster homes. Saunders has mowed lawns for people in the community who are disabled, single parents, elderly, or otherwise in need. He accepted the 50 Yard Challenge through the Raising Men and Women Lawn Care organization. In school, Saunders is a member of the Mulrennan Middle National Junior Honor Society, and he also spent a year as president of his church youth organization.
Lauren Kimball from Plant High School
A senior at Plant High School in Tampa, Kimball established a nonprofit called Cares for Kids, where she combined her passion for computer science with community service. Since its founding in 2021, Cares for Kids has collected almost 10,000 items for kids across Florida. Lauren also has written a children's book titled, "BuddyBot's Guide to Online Safety," which is directed toward elementary school-aged children. At Plant High, Lauren has maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a rigorous courseload that includes Advanced Placement courses and classes at Hillsborough Community College.
Success Despite Difficult Odds
Judah Regans from Mulrennan Middle School
Regans, who attends Mulrennan Middle School, was adopted from Africa as an infant and lives with a rare disorder that has left him nonverbal. Despite his medical challenges, he is well known for his athletic prowess, ability to adapt to and overcome challenges, and his academic progress that have far surpassed expectations. An accomplished flag football player, Regans is a valued and beloved team member for his incredible speed and unwavering support for his teammates. He is the first to check on and encourage injured teammates, calm down heated players, and to pump up those sitting on the bench. Even though Judah does not speak, his face is always bright, positive, and encouraging. Furthermore, on school spirit days, he dresses up and greets all his friends with high-fives to spread optimism.
Jordyn Gourley from Newsome High School
A senior at Newsome High School, 17-year-old Gourley was diagnosed with stage four rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive type of soft tissues cancer, when she was 3 years old. Gourley is legally blind in her left eye and deaf in her left ear. Despite many medical setbacks as a child, Gourley is a member of the National Honor Society, made High Honor Roll, takes AP high school courses, tutors pediatric oncology patients through the 1Voice Foundation, and has earned a cumulative GPA of 4.7. She also volunteers in the agriculture program for the Florida State Fair, assists with animal care and events at the R&R Ranch, and serves as a national spokesperson for Compass to Care Childhood Cancer Foundation. She has also raised tens of thousands of dollars for multiple organizations that benefit the fight against pediatric cancer.
The Board also presented a proclamation declaring Sept. 15, 2024, to Oct. 15, 2024, as Hispanic Heritage Month.
Interested in all the details about the latest BOCC meeting?
Subscribe to Commission Connection for more Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners news.