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21st Century Leaders Announces 2025-2026 Youth Ambassadors

21st Century Leaders Announces Youth Ambassadors for 2025-2026

September 29, 2025 (Atlanta, GA)  – Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Youth Ambassadors! 36 diverse 21st Century Leaders’ students from 16 counties across Georgia have been selected through a competitive application process to represent the interests and voices of the 2,000+ Georgia high school students of 21st Century Leaders (21CL) who participate in our programs each year. The Youth Ambassador program provides motivated students with hands-on leadership and impact within a team. 

“Youth  role within our organization and truly putting all that they have learned so far into action,” said 21CL executive director, Kate Hewitt. “We can’t wait to see the impact they create and growth and connection they make together.”

The Youth Ambassadors met together for their first meeting of the 2025-2026 term on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Georgia Power’s headquarters in Atlanta. 21CL Alumni Board member Cristy Jones, PhD, and former 21CL Youth Advisory Board 2013-2014, set their expectations and generated ideas for service and outreach, inspiring them for the year ahead.

21CL’s Youth Ambassadors are responsible for representing the values and mission of 21st Century Leaders in their schools, communities, and at 21CL events. During their term of service, they will work together to recruit and engage more (and new) 21st Century Leaders and partners across Georgia through outreach, service projects and meaningful opportunities.

The Youth Ambassadors serve as 21CL advocates to empower and inspire other high school students to lead. They represent the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of exemplary leaders as a collective body. The Youth Ambassadors will inform and participate in special projects and contribute to live program events, under the guidance of 21CL’s Alumni Board of Directors and staff.

Our 2025-2026 Youth Ambassadors are:

  • Raina Banerjee, Wheeler High School (Cobb), Class of 2028
  • Sia Bedi, Denmark High School (Forsyth), Class of 2026
  • Mimi Cai, Lanier High School (Gwinnett), Class of 2026
  • Eunchan Choo, Columbus High School (Muscogee), Class of 2026
  • Blake Davis, The Galloway School (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Nife Deju, Homeschool (Gwinnett), Class of 2026
  • Tishe Deju, Homeschool (Gwinnett), Class of 2026
  • Evan Drinks, Westlake High School (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Manik Durani, River Ridge High School (Cherokee), Class of 2027
  • Garrison Grimes, Landmark Christian School (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Kareem Hassan, Lakeside High School-Evans (Columbia), Class of 2026
  • Ibraheem Hassan, Lakeside High School-Evans (Columbia), Class of 2026
  • Tessa Hayes, Jefferson County High School (Jefferson), Class of 2026
  • Josie Herren, Berrien High School (Berrien), Class of 2026
  • Sarah Ikaiddi, Arabia Mountain High School (Dekalb), Class of 2026
  • Aanya Jagavkar, Northview High School (Fulton), Class of 2027
  • Kaelyn Jin-Britt, Innovation Academy (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Kezia Kotey, Dekalb Early College Academy (Dekalb), Class of 2026
  • Alex Lee, Lagrange High School (Troup), Class of 2028
  • Funcheng Li, Darlington School (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Mami Masoka, Howard High School (Bibb), Class of 2027
  • Niya Meadows, Woodland High School (Henry), Class of 2026
  • Justan Mosley, Allatoona High School (Cobb), Class of 2026
  • Vidhi Raiyani, Putnam County High School (Putnam), Class of 2026
  • Alivia Rasler, Greater Atlanta Christian School (Gwinnett), Class of 2026
  • Litzy Sanchez-Cerecero, Morrow High School (Clayton), Class of 2027
  • Symone Sapp, Woodward Academy (Cobb), Class of 2026
  • Aadi Shah, Innovation Academy (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Anjika Shah, Lanier High School (Gwinnett), Class of 2027
  • Sneha Singh, Houston High School (Houston), Class of 2026
  • Brooke Smith, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Victoria Szczesny, Johns Creek High School (Fulton), Class of 2027
  • Zara Tairu, Fulton Science Academy (Forsyth), Class of 2027
  • Jace Williams, Westlake High School (Fulton), Class of 2026
  • Pranav Yellapragada, Chattahoochee High School (Fulton), Class of 2026

 The Youth Ambassador (YA) Executive Committee plays a key leadership role in supporting the success of the Youth Ambassador Program. Congratulations to our newly elected 2025-2026 Youth Ambassador Executive Committee! 

Chair, Brooke Smith 

Co-Chair(s)– Anjika Shah and Kezia Kotey 

Secretary, Fucheng Li 

 

21CL Youth Ambassador Mission: The Youth Ambassadors’ mission is to serve as student ambassadors for 21st Century Leaders by upholding the organization’s mission and vision through servant-leadership while creating meaningful opportunities for Georgia’s next generation of youth leaders. The Youth Ambassadors strive to bring awareness to 21CL through a united voice, community service and outreach while enhancing our leadership and interpersonal skills. Our goal is to establish a strong foundation that cultivates future generations of leaders who can further expand our accomplishments.

Learn more about 21st Century Leaders at https://www.21stcenturyleaders.org/

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Nicole Smith
Director of Programs & Communications, 21st Century Leaders
nicole@21stcenturyleaders.org | 404.373.7441