“This isn’t about looking good on a college application or about financial rewards. This is about serving those in our community who need it most. Helping both youth and homeless animals is not something to do just once; it will happen again and again in the future.
-Team Leader, Leaders in Training, 2020-2021
2024-25 Gratitude Awards Recipients

Chaparral High School
- Project: “Elementary School Reading Kits“
- Category: Education
- Team Leaders: Dayana Mata, Margarita Aceves, Sofia Duarte-Miranda, Bobby Pincay, Emily Ramos-Romero, Maria Solis
- Team Members: Kerk Marco Cabong, Jonathan Carranza-Salinas, Unique Contreras, Deziree Costa, Ryan Gamez, Emily Garcia-Ponce, Allison Garcia-Mendez, Jayda Genier, Jonathan Hawes, Yamileth Hoyos-Mendoza, Carlos Lazalde, Genesis Martinez-Torres, Jose Miranda, Yahir Moreno, Yavin Rosa, Marina Santoyo, Dulce Solorio, Aaric Stauffer, Alejandro Villanueva, Jaden Wilson, Jamal Williams

Rancho High School
- Project: “Unhoused Survival Kits“
- Category: Health and Wellness
- Team Leader: Kenny Avendano Sosa
- Team Members: Joshua Macias, Yathel Reyes, Valeria Rodriguez, Leslie Perea, Leela Baltazar, Christian Elicea, Adrian Cerriteno, Lashea Mayes, Danielle Nelson, Keiry Garcia, Leslie Rojas, Isabelle Sherman, Alihya Allen, Eric Bernal, Jocelyn Wattkins, Elizabeth Rosas Bravo, Sara Lopez Hernandez, Jetsy Romero, Josel Flores, Natalie Leon, Delany Molina

Las Vegas High School
- Project: “Sweater Weather”
- Category- Human Kindness
- Team Leaders: Isabel Moreno and Joshua Paz
- Team Members: Jonathan Avina, Emmalee Grivala, Erick Gonzalez, Alexia Sandoval, Isaac Suarez, Jocelyn Villanueva, Jonathan Dircio, Armani Diaz, Mariangel Aguila, Jose Ponce, Brandon Paz, Angela Moreno, Nakiya Roserie, Jayden-Rey-Penaloza-Cordero, Sarah Ingram, Amissi Itchimboelo, Jimfer Aserderano, Anthony Rodriguez, Esteban Morales, Jesus Cordoba

Leaders in Training/ Equipo Academy
- Project: “Light the Way Initiative“
- Category: Public Safety, Equity, and Justice
- Team Leader: Eduardo Casillas
- Team Members: Ricardo Garcia, Jose Garcia, Emmanuel, Daniel Urias, Brandon Loaiza
Leaders in Training/ Equipo Academy
- Project: “Pages of Possibility“
- Category: Education
- Team Leader: Andrea Sanchez
- Team Members: Kimberly del Castillo, Odalis Ayala, Jessie Ramirez, Sarah Sherness
Leaders in Training/ Las Vegas High School
- Project: “Happy Pets Happy Life”
- Category: Animal Welfare
- Team Leader: Steven Pena
- Team Members: Sidney Hernandez, Elisabetha Nischer Hines, Valerie Ruiz, Lesly Ramirez, Allison Ortiz
Eldorado High School
- Project: “Human Kindness“
- Category: Human Kindness
- Team Leader: Natalie Montano
- Team Members: Angela Ramirez, Katy Trujillo, Allison Molina, Quincy Davis, Layluna de Soto, Jose Hernandez Alejaldre, Brandon Leal
2023-24 Gratitude Awards Recipients
Western High School
- Project: “Giving Hope for the Holidays“
- Category: Health and Wellness
- Team Leader: Ryan Donoghue
- Large Team Recipients: Saleena Stanbra, Quadir Blunt, Evan Campbell, Ivan Corrales Ruio, Eric Devia Garcia, Lexus Gonzalez, Alex Luna-Valdez, Layla Lyons , Angel Macias Garcia, Keben Madrid Rincon, Kiakahi Mahoe Gabris, Yadira Mariles Gonzalez, Naomi Martinez Rodriguez, Malachi Mc Dowell, Christian McDowell-Banuelos, Elias Medina-Morales, Bryant Mejia-Miranda, Joshua Menjivar, Caesar Rodriguez, Salvador Rodriguez-Alvarez, Katherine Salinas Alas
Las Vegas High School
- Project: “Animal Foundation Donation Drive“
- Category: Animal Welfare
- Team Leader: Narley Martinez Garcia
- Large Team Recipients:
Eldorado High School
- Project: “Community Service Project“
- Category: Education
- Team Leader: Am, y Hernandez
- Small Team Recipients: Andrea Alvarado, Gisel Martinez Menchaca, Serenity Collins, Esteban Guzman, Armani Guzman, Jared Batres
- Faculty Champion:
Eldorado High School
- Project: “Human Kindness Project“
- Category: Human Kindness
- Team Leader: Ricardo Ayala
- Small Team Recipients: Allysen Pena, Danna Gonzalez, Domanique Bagsby, Analy Coria, Claudia Terrazas, Gabriel Monroy
- Faculty Champion
Leaders in Training
- Project: “Child Poverty, An Issue That Must Be Addressed”
- Category: Health and Wellness
- Team Leader: Kristine Mae Bongolan
- Small Team Recipients: Isabella Santos, Brianna Dominguez, Adrian Amparan
- Faculty Champion:
2022-23 Gratitude Awards Recipients
Henry & Evelyn Bozarth Elementary School
- Project: “Bozarth to the Rescue“
- Category: Animal Welfare
- Large Team Recipients:
- Student Council, Grades 3 to 5: Emma Calle, Eleanor Carpenter, Leah Guttman, Cherie-Rose Halemano, Yamira Haynes, Allison Herrera, Sasha Hoopiianina, Lana Martinez, Bentlee Rodgers, Ava Spilsbury, Isabella Stumbo, Axl Suarez, Lilah Suarez, Kaden Taber, Ava Tacazon, Warner Thorne, Chloe Unguren
- Faculty Champion: Sara Hays
- Student Council Adviser: Shelly Darland
Eldorado High School/Communities in Schools Academy
- Project: “Quality Time with the Special Education Department“
- Category: Human Kindness
- Small Team Recipients:
- Team Leader: Alondra Villasenor
- Team Members: Deshawn Bagsby, Yara Bustillos, Richard Ruiz Castro, Ethan Escobar, Airiana McKinney, Gael Nunez, Antonio Vazquez.
- Faculty Champions: Nitza Brand and Isabel Gonzalez
Eldorado High School/Communities in Schools Academy
- Project: “Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives“
- Category: Health and Wellness
- Small Team Recipients:
- Team Leader: Brian Vazquez-Castaneda
- Team Members: Andrea Alvarado, Helen Carillo, Geovanni Contreras, Ahnajah Johnson, Cassandra Martinez, Fernando Munoz, Estephania Ortiz.
- Faculty Champions: Nitza Brand and Isabel Gonzalez
Eldorado High School/Communities in Schools Academy
- Project: “Education“
- Category: Education
- Small Team Recipients:
- Team Co-Leader: Gerardo Meza
- Team Co-Leader: Dannay Saenz
- Team Members: Axel Mondragon-Benitez, Edwin Santiaguin-Cruz, Edgar Perez Hidalgo, Braulio Piedras-Montoya, Jesus Morales, Jaeshawn West.
- Faculty Champions: Nitza Brand and Isabel Gonzalez
Leaders in Training
- Project: “Action Against Gun Violence“
- Category: Public Safety and Justice
- Small Team Recipients:
- Team Co-Leader: Emanuel Hernandez Gomez
- Team Co-Leader: Samantha Zugnia
- Faculty Champions: Miriam Gomez, Steve Romero
2021-22 Gratitude Awards Recipients
Western High School
- Project: “Winter Clothes Drive“
- Category: Human Kindness- Small Team
- Team Leader: Kassandra Hernandez
- Team Members: Evelyn Castillo, Axel Hernández-Sanchez, Alexander Ogaldez Rubio, Anh Huynh, Taylor Cherry, Elijah Perez, Gerardo Cortez Lopez, Marilyn Mcgee, Andrei Mallari
- Carmenita Gay, Faculty Champion
Ed W. Clark High School
- Project: “A Better Tomorrow“
- Category: Health and Wellness- Small Team
- Team Leader: Luz Meily Pereida
- Team Members: Emily Corona and Stacie Avalos
- Luanne Wagner, Faculty Champion
2019-20 Gratitude Awards Recipients
CP Squires Elementary School
- Project: “Baby’s Bounty”
- Category: Human Kindness- Large Team
- Team Co-Leaders: Ximena Perez, Mya Vargas
- Team Members: Eisley Barber, Clarhisse Mae Castillo, Monzerrat Chavez, Jhoana Cruz Corona, Perla Cruz Corona, Alyssa Escobar, Amanda Espana, Alyssa Esquer, Pricila Gallegos Franco, Yaquilin Brito Franco, Arturo Gonzalez, Miguel Gonzalez, Adilene Guillermo Huerta, Elizabeth Johnson, Annalysse Jones, Amberly Montelongo, Vaniety Moraga, Makayla Mota, Alondra Gomez Nava, Monzerrat Gomez Nava, Aaron Ortiz, Alieni Perez, Mauriah Preston, Briseyda Rodriguez, Valeria Romero, Jazmyne Camero Saenz, Elizabeth Martinez Sanchez, Natalaie Sanchez, Colin Suciu, Angelee Vaca, Kimberly Vaca, Janelle Valdovinos, Melaynie Zarceno
- Jeff Field, Darci Miller, Denise Vasconcellos, Faculty Champions
Ed W. Clark High School
- Project: “Clark Wellness Center”
- Category: Health and Wellness- Small Team
- Yoselin Esparza, Team Leader
- Katlyn Engberg, Member
- Alondra Lera, Member
- Luanne Wagner, Faculty Champion
Las Vegas Academy
- Project: “Bus Transportation Savers”
- Category: Education- Small Team
- Zachary Fried, Team Leader
- Samuel Morgan, Member
- Kameron Salek, Member
- Stacy Miller, Faculty Champion
Las Vegas Academy
- Project: “Home is Where the Art Is”
- Category: Human Kindness- Small Team
- Airius Fa’afiu, Team Leader
- Adriana Orchard, Member
- Juan Rubio, Member
- Kate Vannoy, Member
- Saein Yin, Member
- Stacy Miller, Faculty Champion
2018-19 Gratitude Awards Recipients
Las Vegas Academy
- Project: “Pawsible Friends”
- Category: Animal Welfare- Small Team
- Michaela Briggs, Team Leader
- Marek Fialkiewicz, Member
- Andrea Sigala, Member
- Kanai Hager, Member
- Gonzalo Martinez, Member
- Mikella Larese, Member
- Noah Agatstein, Member
- Stacy Miller, Faculty Champion
Las Vegas High School
- Project: “Helping the Homeless”
- Category: Human Kindness- Small Team
- Alvi Galindo and Britney Martinez, Co-Team Leaders
- Dulce Saenz Guzman, Member
- Katherin Mendoza, Member
- Larina Ibarra, Member
- Jonathan Flores, Member
- Lisa Peltz, Faculty Champion
Las Vegas Academy
- Project: “Musicals in Schoolsicals”
- Category: Education- Small Team
- Night Kjenstad, Team Leader
- Gerrard Larrieu, Member
- Lizeth Campos, Member
- Jacob Baltierra, Member
- Absalon Flores, Member
- Andrea Cates, Member
- Hector Flores, Member
- Stacy Miller, Faculty Champion
Las Vegas Academy
- Project: “Homeless Helpers”
- Category: Health and Welfare- Small Team
- Aaliyah Muhammad, Team Leader
- Miho Okano, Member
- Alexandra, Conner, Member
- Angelica Manio, Member
- Kendal Curtis, Member
- Stacy Miller, Faculty Champion
2017-18 Gratitude Awards Recipients
East Career Technical Academy- Leaders in Training
- Project: “Social Inequality”
- Category: Public Safety and Justice- Small Team
- Veronica Rico, Team Leader
- Ytxzae Enriquez, Member
- April Sambrano, Member
- Erica Mosca and Daniel Leyva, Faculty Champions
East Career Technical Academy- Leaders in Training
- Project: “Thanksgiving Food Drive”
- Category: Human Kindness- Individual
- Odalys Vega, Individual
- Erica Mosca and Daniel Leyva, Faculty Champions
LAS VEGAS ACADEMY 
- Project: “Una Nueva Vida”
- Category: Human Kindness- Small Team
-
- Monse Rodriguez, Team Leader
- Adam Chapel, Member
- Gabriel Estevez-IIanes, Member
- Alejandra Sandoval-Rubio, Member
- Isis Vargas, Member
- Regina Zavala, Member
- Stacy Miller, Faculty Champion
2016-17 Gratitude Awards Recipients
Las Vegas High School
- Project: “PAL Pantry Drive”
- Category: Human Kindness- Small Team
- Alondra Grajeda-Rodriguez, Co-Leader
- Joseph Gomez, Co-Leader
- Lisa Peltz, Faculty Champion
Cheyenne High School
- Project: “Peer Mentoring Program”
- Category: Education- Small Team
- Artesia Graham, Team Leader
- Esmeralda Cabera, Member
- Jiselle Mendoza, Member
- Dianara Zaragoza, Member
- Noah Zepeda, Member
- Maria Vega, Faculty Champion
“This experience opened all of our eyes to the need in the immigrant community. We all realized how difficult it is for immigrants to come into our country and become citizens. We gained more knowledge from it, and we’re now advocating for the immigrants in our community. Proceeds from our project helped immigrants take free classes so that they, too, can become citizens.”
-Team Leader, Las Vegas Academy, 2017-2018