2011-2012: Sarah Huang

Sarah was a founding member of The Hollow Trunk, a non-profit that has raised funds for Haiti, Fairfax Children’s Hospital, and the Alzheimer’s Association. She is currently working on forming a multi-ethnic “think tank” to generate support for causes aimed at multi-ethnic cooperation.

2013-2014: Elizabeth Maria Hiatt, Senior

Elizabeth Hiatt, according to her mother, has been consistently solicitous of the wellbeing of other people. Two years ago, Elizabeth came upon the Charity: Water website and was confronted with the reality of millions of people living without clean water. This deprivation, she learned, led to terrible, sometimes disfiguring, diseases, and even death for many people. Elizabeth decided to do something about it; to make a difference. She explains, "Water is so basic: when there is no water, people have to travel so far, sometimes for many hours, to get water and bring it home. Having access to clean water gives people more independence."

Elizabeth made a fundraising presentation to a total of nearly 1000 people at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Newport News, Virginia. She constructed a story board and shared a Charity: Water video. As a result of her persuasive energy, knowledge, and commitment, the congregants contributed $6,550.70 for a well in a struggling community in India.

Charity: Water acknowledged her efforts by saying, "We are so grateful for passionate donors like you. You'll be happy to know that (your donation) will bring clean water to an average of 327 people! Congratulations on your achievement."

In the summer of 2013, Elizabeth persuaded the management of Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia, to host a fundraiser for Charity: Water. The local rock band, Dreamscape Project, contributed a performance for club patrons, and Elizabeth made flyers and posted notes on Facebook advertising the performance. She spoke and showed a video and, in response, patrons contributed $500.

Elizabeth says that art "helps me discover myself." She shares her passions with children by assisting in a daycare center fifteen hours a week. After college, Elizabeth's would like to serve in the Peace Corps and pursue her interests in art therapy and caring for the environment.

2014-2015: Carolina Sosa, Senior

Carolina Sosa’s mother grew up in Colombia, witnessing first-hand the violence that punctuates life there. Here in the U.S. she raised her daughter to understand the lesson she had learned: poverty leads to hopelessness and drug use, drug use leads to violence, and the way out of this string of events is to get an education. Carolina took to heart her mother’s counsel, and she is an outstanding student, as well as being a role model in her academic community by taking on many leadership roles. She has now expanded beyond her own accomplishments by embracing others and giving them hope for their future as well.

As a Youth Service America National Child Awareness Month Virginia Youth Ambassador, she received a grant to benefit low-income and first generation-American girls and boys in two local elementary schools. Carolina’s program, Scholar Society, mentors these children and encourages them to value their educational opportunities and to see themselves as college bound. Her efforts expose the children in her program to activities they might not otherwise have, such as arranging for athletes from her high school to come to the elementary school so that the children can participate in sports they had never experienced before. Whatever the activity, the focus is always on showing the children the many opportunities that are available to them in life, encouraging academic improvement, and fostering the hope for a bright future.

Carolina’s high school counselor, Laura Cudahy, points out the expansive nature of Carolina’s work. “Her efforts to support low-income, minority students like herself will help promote peace by bringing diverse, educated students to college campuses and the workforce. In addition, these activities promote peace by empowering minority students to take an active role in the community.”

Carolina is also a board member on the Fairfax County Student Human Rights Commission, and is currently working on a video project to promote cultural awareness in Fairfax County schools.

2015-2016: Logan Mannikko, Senior

Logan Mannikko’s contribution to peace focuses on creating an environment of mutual respect. Logan is openly transgender, and he sees a need for societal changes and the ability of everyone to understand and accept others for who they are.

Starting in his junior year, Logan has made his own personal journey public. He also formed an organization on campus, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, so that all students who are questioning their sexuality can find a safe environment to ask questions of themselves and others.

Logan believes he has enabled the overall population at Westfield to find a level of comfort in an area that is new to his peers and society in general. He is always willing

Regional Library. As President of the French Honor Society, Jieru wanted to give elementary school students the opportunity to explore foreign languages and cultures. She teamed up with the Spanish, Latin, and German honor societies to host a series of monthly events, each featuring a different country.

After winning the annual Fair Housing contest with her essay, ‘Welcome to My Neighborhood’, Jieru was invited to become a member of the Fairfax County Student Human Rights Commission, and she now serves as a committee chair. Jieru was also chosen as a 2015 Bank of America Student Leader and awarded an internship with the YMCA.

Through all of these programs, Jieru found that her passion lies in a combination of her interests in business and community service. She says, “I hope to spend my life creating opportunities for people to express themselves through their work, and appreciate not only their own uniqueness, but also the diversity we have in this world. This is vital for acceptance and peace.”

2017-2018: Muslim Student Association

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) strives to provide support for Muslim students and to break down negative stereotypes and build understanding by providing education and by visibly engaging in school activities and service projects. Inside and outside the classroom, MSA students have welcomed opportunities to respond to questions from their teachers and classmates about Islam. Among their many activities, the group prepared goodie bags for each of Westfield’s bus drivers as a thank-you gift, raised funds for mental health education and global clean water projects, and distributed roses with positive messages to people at Reston Town Center.

2018-2019: Maxihikio (Makee) Neves, Junior

Makee Neves is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Oklahoma and a descendant of members of the Winnebago, Meskwaki, Narragansett, Pomo, Ponca, and Chickasaw tribes. He came to Westfield High School last year from Colorado, where he was surrounded by other Native American students. He chose to turn the challenging situation of suddenly being in a minority into a learning opportunity for all involved. He began by educating himself about how to be a strong advocate for himself and other Native American people.

Makee organized the Indigenous Student Union (ISU) as a club for all students interested in sharing their heritage or learning more about Native American history, issues, food, and culture. To honor Native American Heritage Month, he presented profiles of Native Americans on Westfield Live, the school’s daily news broadcast. The members of ISU participated in Westfield Culture Night by creating a display about Native American culture, including information and food.

Makee joined a national network of indigenous student groups to access additional resources and information. His plans for this year and next include a Q&A Student/Community evening about Native American and indigenous people, a coat drive for native youth in need, a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian, and participation in the school’s annual International Nights.

Career Center Specialist Laura Cudahy says, “Makee is a friendly, positive, and open student with a rich background in Native American cultures and history. His efforts promote peace by encouraging appreciation of a group that has long been misunderstood and often mistreated.”

2019-2020: Bulldog Buddies

Bulldog Buddies seeks to promote inclusion and acceptance for students with disabilities. The club’s mission is to break down barriers between general education students and special education students and to foster communication and friendship between the two groups. Club officers and leaders include James Johnson, Carly Liesegang, Rachel Liesegang, Charlotte Tiss, and Maddie Woodward.

General and special education students are paired and meet once a month, together with the special education teachers who advise them. Through conversation, crafts, and activities, the students hope to build trust and become comfortable with one another. According to Charlotte, the program has become “a bridge between the two school communities,” and creates an opportunity for both “to be part of the same community.”

Relationships established through the club extend beyond its monthly meetings. Student buddies greet each other in the halls and sometimes attend athletic events together. Several general education students say the program has influenced their career choices. Charlotte, for example, wants to become a nurse who focuses on people with disabilities. James plans to become a special education teacher. He started a Special Olympics program at the school and now helps out in a special education class every day.

For the special education students, Bulldog Buddies is often their only schoolwide activity. “I can’t wait to see you on Monday,” James’s buddy says when they pass each other in the hall.

Bulldog Buddies meetings are designed to create a safe space for the participants, giving them confidence to raise issues of concern they might not otherwise feel comfortable discussing. Issues identified can then be addressed, leading to a more unified, harmonious community.