Resolution Honoring the 2025 Student Heroes

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS the State Board of Education’s Student Heroes Award, established in 2015, recognizes Texas public school students who perform selfless acts of kindness and volunteer service, thereby benefiting their fellow students and communities; and

WHEREAS members of the State Board of Education reviewed nominations and selected 15 outstanding students from across the state to receive the 2025 Student Heroes Award; and

WHEREAS Sebastian Garcia, a senior at Franklin High School in El Paso Independent School District (ISD), has worked diligently to bring awareness to the importance of community service and compassion in the medical field through his work with Pathways in Technology Early College (P-TECH); and

WHEREAS Jerry Chien, a junior at Taft High School in Taft ISD, has volunteered over 300 hours as a junior firefighter with the Taft Volunteer Fire Department, demonstrating a spirit of selflessness, hard work and pride; and

WHEREAS Emma Saenz, a junior at John Jay Science and Engineering Academy in Northside ISD, plays a vital role in Northside Rocks, an event that exposes over 800 students to professional musicians. Beyond music, founding a service club leading projects such as donation drives, community health fairs and school garden initiatives; and

WHEREAS Mackenzie Sneed, a 4th grader at Kipp Legacy Preparatory, takes pride in being a leader by creating a path that inspires and motivates others. From reading books to Little Kippster's, "speak up" to bullies, to creating a healthier planet for the community, she is working hard to make the world a better place; and

WHEREAS Samuelle Pierce Jr., a senior at NYOS Charter School, founded the Midday Mixer Project, an initiative that fosters social inclusion and helps students build meaningful connections. An active member of Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), works alongside his peers to maintain the “Dignity Locker,” ensuring that students in need have access to essential hygiene products and clothing with dignity and respect; and

WHEREAS Vivian Liu, a sophomore at James E. Taylor High School in Katy ISD, is a passionate changemaker and co-founder of Origami for Good, a global nonprofit dedicated to spreading joy and supporting mental wellness through the art of origami. Her nonprofit organization has expanded to 170+ chapters across 14+ countries, inspiring thousands of volunteers to distribute over 820,000 origami pieces to hospitals, nursing homes and military centers. Her TEDx talk led to official recognition from the City of Houston; and

WHEREAS Addison Landry, a 7th grader at Bridge City Middle School in Bridge City ISD, is a passionate volunteer, contributing her time to Vacation Bible School, Children's Church, Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen, and fundraising events for cancer research. Her dedication to leadership and service makes her a true role model for her peers; and

WHEREAS Scarlett Burket, a senior at Splendora High School in Splendora ISD, dedicated over 200 hours of service by photographing school events, sports and senior portraits for her classmates — completely free of charge. She travels with sports teams to capture moments and prints photos for keepsakes, ensuring her peers can have lasting memories, regardless of financial ability; and

WHEREAS Kairi Bruck, a junior at Hudson High School in Hudson ISD, founded ADHDed Values to amplify the voice of twice-exceptional students and provides support and inspiration to neurodivergent students. She documents her work through social media and national conferences, reaching an audience of over 10,000 people; and

WHEREAS Kelsey Brinkley, a junior at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock ISD and founder of the nonprofit initiative "My Positive Body” — a project she launched to support teens and pre-teens experiencing body image issues, is a beacon of positivity for others; and

WHEREAS Daniel Thomas, a junior at Colleyville Heritage High School in Grapevine Colleyville ISD, has been recognized as a young changemaker, launching LitterScout at the age of 12, an impactful initiative that has removed over 42,000 pounds of trash from waterways, parks, and public areas; and

WHEREAS Dailey Poland, a senior at McKinney North High School in McKinney ISD, has shown unwavering dedication to serving students of all abilities through his work with HALOS, an all-abilities softball league, mentoring and partnering with athletes who face physical and developmental challenges; and

WHEREAS Aron Handsome, a freshman at DeSoto Early College High School in DeSoto ISD, has served as a camp mentor at Camp Sweeny, guiding and inspiring children with diabetes through encouragement, empathy and leadership. Volunteering with community food drives to help provide essential resources to families in need; and

WHEREAS Liyah Cha, a junior at Argyle High School in Argyle ISD, founded DearJuvie, a nonprofit created to bridge the gap between resources and the people who need them most. DearJuvie became a court-approved community service site, helping teens move forward and change the course of their lives for the better; and

WHEREAS Bradley Lancaster, a senior at West Plains High School in Canyon ISD, embodies the word volunteer and represents the heart of the Texas panhandle. Serving as the National Teen Kindness board member for the Be A Friend Project, and serves people experiencing homelessness through Faith City Mission, as well as the special needs population through Night to Shine; and

WHEREAS these remarkable students have modeled compassion in their schools and communities; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education extends its heartfelt thanks to each of these kindhearted students and commends them for their selfless volunteerism, good character, and integrity; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this resolution be presented to each of them and that a copy be included in the permanent records of the State Board of Education.

WITNESS our signatures this 27th day of June, two thousand and twenty-five, in Austin, Texas.

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Aaron Kinsey, Chair

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Will Hickman, Secretary