The Treasure Valley Family YMCA is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2019 YMCA Civic Engagement Scholarships: Anthony Garcia from Borah High School, Avalyn Hine from Centennial High School, Olivia De Angelis from Riverstone International School, and Robyn Griffitts-Harper from Mountain View High School.
“It is a great honor to grant these scholarships to four very worthy young people in our community,” said David Duro, Treasure Valley Family YMCA’s President and CEO. “This year we were able to award $22,600 from the scholarship fund. I am confident that this investment will provide amazing returns to society. The YMCA Civic Engagement Scholarship is a key component to the YMCA’s mission to develop successful youth, engage people in healthy living, and instill a commitment to social responsibility.”
Olivia De Angelis
Olivia has maintained an excellent scholastic record while actively pursuing lobbying and campaign efforts to address the Medicaid gap in Idaho. Model United Nations has provided Olivia with the opportunity to learn more about her interest in international affairs, particularly human rights issues. Music is her other passion, and she has been honored to perform in orchestras at the local to regional to national levels. Olivia will graduate from Riverstone International School and plans to attend Pomona College.
Anthony Garcia
Anthony brings energy to a multiplicity of endeavors addressing social inequities, from working to improve drug abuse prevention curriculum across civic groups including the Mayor of Boise’s Council on Children and Youth, the Boise Police Department, and the Boise School District, to participating in National Honor Society, Boys State, and volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Bank. He has been awarded the prestigious Gates Millenium Scholarship. Anthony will graduate from Borah High School and plans to attend Georgetown University.
Robyn Griffitts-Harper
Robyn is passionate about improving access to education and mitigating societal abuses against LGBTQIA+ youth and other marginalized populations and has vigorously campaigned and volunteered to effect political and social change for these issues. She has an enviable record of accomplishments through her Speech and Debate class and Girls State/Nation involvement. Robyn will graduate from Mountain View High School and plans to attend The College of Idaho.
Avalyn Hine
Avalyn is an exemplar of civic leadership that belies her age. She has leveraged her skills learned in her Speech and Debate class to become a potent campaigner for multiple political candidates and issues. She has served on the Meridian Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, at the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, and has actively participated and excelled in Girls State, the YMCA’s Youth in Government program, and Mock Trial. Avalyn will graduate from Centennial High School and plans to attend Gonzaga University.