The WASHINGTON STATEment

September 2026

As the leaves start to turn, the WSLB is inspired by the season of change that lies ahead. This fall, we’re excited to share summer program highlights and the incredible strides our youth leaders are making to shape a bright future for Washington State!

Noah Aquino, a high school graduate from North Beach High School in Ocean Shores, WA, joined the WSLB through the Compassion Scholars program in 2024. Compassion Scholars invites a small group of high schoolers each year to travel internationally together, learning about community-based leadership and service. WSLB matches trusted adult mentors with the Scholars to support each one as they design and implement a community-impact project. Noah is passionate about sports access for all and during high school, also helped bring Pacific Heritage Month Celebrations to his community. As a Compassion Scholar, Noah partnered with mentor, Francisco Tamayo, to launch an initiative to fundraise and improve access to sports equipment for students with financial barriers. Two-years later, Noah is now in his second year at the United States Military Academy at West Point studying cyber operations.

What: Annual Writing Weekend— a weekend helping WSLB high school seniors navigate college applications, essays, FAFSA/WAFSA, scholarships, and planning with guidance from professionals, mentors, and alumni.

When: Friday-Sunday, October 2 - 4, 2026

Where: Virtual Event (Zoom)

We are seeking volunteers! Volunteers will work directly with the seniors to provide support with:

• College application essays and personal statements

• The college application process

• Financial aid and scholarship opportunities

• Individual questions and guidance

Click here to SIGN UP and make an impact.

When: Thursday, October 8th, at 6:00 p.m. (PST)

Where: Virtual Ceremony via Zoom: https://zoom.us/s/97713740991

We are so excited to commemorate the Annual Washington Leadership Award Recipients:

• Washingtonian of the Year Award: Keenen Allen Ladd

• Washington Organization of the Year Award: Women of Wisdom

• Emerging Leader Award: Raquel Nelson

• Legacy of Service Award: Dean Brazle

• Equity for All Award: Dr. Ashley DeMoville

This year, the Washington Leadership Awards Ceremony will take place virtually, allowing us to celebrate our outstanding leaders and their achievements from all over the state — all over the state. We look forward to honoring those who have made an impact in their communities!

To learn more about this year’s awardees, read the full press release.

Our Impact

We are excited to share some key performance measures that highlight WSLB’s commitment to serving young leaders across Washington State:

• 100% of WSLB-participating high school seniors earned their diploma or GED;

• WSLB programs have served participants across 45 legislative districts and 29 counties in Washington;

• 37% of our participants were from rural areas of Washington

We are proud to highlight that since 2022, WSLB participants and alumni have been awarded over $1.4 million in grants and scholarships have been awarded to program alumni for their post-secondary pathways since 2022.

To learn more about the WSLB’s statewide impact, visit our Impact webpage.

Welcoming New Board Directors

We are excited to welcome several new board directors to the Leadership Board, including: Amber Ortiz-Diaz, Julia Gorton, and Superintendent Michelle Whitney. Each director brings a unique perspective and skill set:

• Amber Ortiz-Diaz, Moxee, WA | Program Manager, Washington State Office of Equity: With a strong background in youth engagement, Amber is dedicated to philanthropy and nonprofit work, actively serving on youth boards to promote equity in Washington State. A proud Yakima resident, she aims to empower the next generation, inspired by her mentors.

• Julia Gorton, Olympia, WA | Principal, PNW Advocacy: An experienced government affairs professional, Julia recently launched her own firm and is excited to contribute to WSLB’s mission. A dedicated foster parent, she brings a thoughtful approach to policy and partnerships.

• Superintendent Michelle Whitney, Pasco, WA | Superintendent, Pasco School District: With over 30 years in public education, including 11 as superintendent, Superintendent Whitney has deep roots in Pasco, where her family has a legacy of civic service. Named 2026 Washington Superintendent of the Year, her commitment to public education drives her passion for supporting students and creating a nurturing environment.

While we celebrate the arrival of new directors, we appreciate the remarkable contributions of our departing board directors: Olivia Sarriugarte (2022-2026, Executive Committee Member) and Seferiana Day (2024-2026, Legislative Affairs Committee Member). We are incredibly thankful for their support and service over the years!

Learn more about our Board of Directors here: Board Directors — The Washington State Leadership Board.

The 2025 Washington World Fellows cohort returned from their international exchange experience in Spain! During their time abroad, participants lived with host families in Logroño, selected by World Fellows España, while taking Spanish language and culture classes and experiencing life and autonomy in a new community.

Each Friday, the cohort traveled to a different historical or cultural destination throughout Spain, including:

• Atapuerca – A UNESCO World Heritage Site where the oldest human remains found in Europe were discovered.

• Burgos – A historic city known for its beautiful Gothic cathedral and rich cultural history.

• San Millán de Yuso – Another UNESCO World Heritage Site where some of the earliest known written Spanish texts were found.

• San Sebastián – a coastal city known for its French-inspired architecture, pintxo culture, and as one of the main filming locations for Game of Thrones.

• Nalda – The location of our Compassion Scholars program and a thriving example of local community and Spanish culture.

We asked participants to reflect on their experience, and this is what they had to share:

“I learned that leadership isn’t something you’re born with, it’s a process and a skill, and most people don’t think of themselves when asked about a leader because they don’t want to accept that they are a leader to themselves. I learned that leaders are able to overcome difficult things and face them, while in Spain I realized that I need to be able to overcome these difficult things.”

“I learned that leadership is viewed in different ways by others but at the end of the day it’s all built by the same foundations. I learned that being a leader doesn’t always mean telling someone or people what to do, but also just sometimes doing what you know you’re supposed to do and leading by example.”

“I feel now that I can challenge myself with things I’d once deemed impossible to achieve. I also feel way more interested about other culture and definitely want to travel to other places to learn how I did in Spain too.”

Washington World Fellows is open to Washington State residents who are currently high school sophomores — applications are scheduled to open later this year.

Our 2026 Compassion Scholars are deep into their year-long service projects, and they’re making great progress!

After returning from their service-learning trip in Spain, participants are putting what they learned to use through projects that address community needs and opportunities. Stay tuned for project updates and the impacts they are making.

Applications for the 2027 Compassion Scholars cohort are now open. If you are interested in applying, please visit www.washingtonleaders.org/apply-to-compassion-scholars for more information.

Boundless Washington

Boundless Washington is funded by revenue from the Seattle Kraken and Seattle Storm Specialty License Plates. The program is undergoing transitions while WSLB revamps our strategy to get these funds into areas in need of funding for outdoor leadership development. For any questions, email info@wslb.wa.gov.

Thank you for your support as we strive to empower our next generation of leaders! Together, we can inspire young leaders to shape their world.

Engage:

Volunteer - We would love to have you volunteer to support our leadership programs, board initiatives, and outreach work.

Connect: