The YMCA Youth Character Awards are an opportunity to recognize teens in our community.
Based on nominations received from the various YMCA branches and the community at large, students are selected by the Y’s Association Board of Directors based on who embodies the Y’s core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility, demonstrates exceptional leadership, and stands as examples to those around them.
Each winner will receive a $2500 scholarship award.
Learn about the 2021 Youth Character Award Winners and join us in congratulating them!
Josiah Finley
Age 16, Atherton High School
Nominator - Madalyn Marables
Josiah Finley is a natural giver.
He gives his time, compassion, and love to all of those around him. At home Josiah supports his mother and helps care for his younger sister Sarah. At Atherton high school, he serves on the Site-Based Decision Making Council as a student representative and on the Black Student Union as Vice President. He also supports JCPS’ Youth Services Center Men of Quality and the Aspire Higher programs. At his young age, he has co-written two books to encourage change in the world, one during the pandemic.
If you ask any teacher, administrator, or peer that knows him, all would agree he is a kind, caring, and compassionate person.
Coral Ghrist
Age 16, Oldham Co. HS
Nominator - Nikkey Blackman
Coral Ghrist embodies what the Y stands for- caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
In summer of 2020, Coral decided to start a program for young girls interested in science. She called it the Science Minded Girls, and developed the program for elementary-aged girls in Oldham County in a single year. She ran virtual meetings, dropped off supplies at their homes, and taught these young girls not just about science, but also about historically underrepresented female scientists.
In all of her efforts, Coral seeks to inspire more girls to pursue their interests in the STEM field. She has kept this program 100% virtual to make sure it is accessible to all. After her success in Oldham County, she is expanding her program to serve girls in the Bowling Green area as well.
In addition to all of this, Coral is in a specialized neuroscience program, she is a published author, and an active mentor to her peers in our YMCA programs.
Graicey Greenwell
Age 14, Bullitt East High School
Nominator - Gabrella Greenwell
Graicey has an intrinsic motivation for extending a helping hand. Through volunteer work, drug prevention training, and donations Graicey shows how much she cares for her community.
Once the pandemic hit locally in 2020, Graicey sprung into action, using her sewing skills to make face masks and sending care packages to healthcare workers. During the school year when Bullitt County delivered meals via buses, Graicey put together thank you notes and packages of chocolate to the bus drivers and other staff dedicated to the outreach. Graicey has found many ways to lend a hand these past few years while continuing her high school education with a rigorous course schedule in Advanced Placement classes.
Rachel Hamilton
Age 17, Assumption High School
Nominator - Leslie Hamilton
Rachel Hamilton is a true youth role model. From being a teen counselor at 4H camp, volunteering at her church and high school, serving food at the Franciscan Soup Kitchen, working at the YMCA Calypso Cove, she leads by example.
At her high school Rachel is a leader in Student Government, Future Business Leaders of Americas, and on committees for Can-struction and Compassion Connection. As a Mary Bryon Scholar, she creates informational packets, educational presentations that she presents at school assemblies to raise awareness about domestic violence and its prevention. Her honesty and integrity guide her as a leader among her peers and earn her respect from her teachers and coaches.
Andrew Kelmanson
Age 17, DuPont Manual High School
Nominator - Christy Causey
Andrew Kelmanson is a model of leadership who strives to uplift those around him.
Andrew is determined and unapologetic in speaking up for those who in need. In a Y-Club meeting, he advised Senator McGarvey to shorten Kentucky’s suicide hotline number in order to improve the accessibility of mental health support to those at risk. He has continued his involvement with the Y, and, in November of 2020, Andrew was elected by over 300 other students in the state of Kentucky to be one of KYA’s Youth Governors. He also serves on the YMCA Board of Directors.
To add to his already impressive resume, Andrew also started a nonprofit, LanguageLine, when he was in eighth grade. LanguageLine has virtually connected over 200 German and Russian-speaking senior citizens and students together from over 7 countries. The organization has been used as required curriculum at universities such as Yale University and Vanderbilt University.
Emily Lancaster
Age 17, Louisville Male High School
Nominator - Shareen Dunn
Emily Lancaster is constantly making an effort to better the world she lives in. Her community service projects range from leading worship at church to organizing a school-wide meal packaging project for impoverished communities.
During her freshman year, Emily helped build a community garden at the Americana Community Center to combat food insecurity. Emily’s drive to help others has extended to her school Male, where she helped grow student participation in the club “Serving at Male”, which encourages students to help teachers with small tasks like grading papers and sanitizing desks. She also serves on the student board for Random Acts of Kindness Louisville where she helps to organize "Burrito Riders," a monthly event where students make breakfast burritos to give to the homeless population in Louisville.
Luke McArthur
Age 17, Trinity High School
Nominator - Glenn Powell
Luke McArthur is an accomplished student and community leader. While maintaining at 4.0 GPA, Luke has worked hard to help those around him. He volunteers with the Jeffersontown Ministries food drive, "Scouting for Food".
Luke’s Eagle Scout project was dedicated to Louisville's Home of the Innocents. Knowing that many of the children arrive with very little, Luke arranged "Packed with a Purpose," - duffel bags stuffed with personal toiletry items, earbuds, batteries, flashlights, toothbrushes, and journals. He raised over $13,000 for the project. This was the largest donation Louisville's Home of the Innocents has ever received.
Solyana Mesfin
Age 17, Eastern High School
Nominator - Javoughn Brown-Lewis
Solyana Mesfin’s work within Louisville has been monumental in pushing the envelope for equitable change for all. As the sole student representative for the Kentucky Board of Education, Solyana led a team of youth to create three policy resolutions for the Mayor of Louisville.
She played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the National Youth Violence Prevention Week. While working on that project, she organized youth-led discussions with legislative members such as Rep. Attica Scott. Solyana is also a One Love Louisville Ambassador. As an Ambassador, she advocated against violence and took part in conducting community development through supporting local organizations and community cleanups. She continues to work towards safe and healthy neighborhoods as she is gearing up for another season with the Mayor's Youth Implementation Team.
Marissa Mudd
Age 16, Highlands Latin School
Nominator - Margaret Windhorst
Marissa has always been dedicated to lifting up others. Her work, which started as tutoring and encouraging her peers in the classroom, has developed into a life-long mission to support and serve her community. Whether on the softball field, the basketball court, the cross-country course, or in the stands keeping stats, Marissa can be found cheering and supporting her teammates.
Marissa volunteers at Hope Place, a trauma-informed community development center servicing refugees through cross cultural training. She tutored students in all subjects and volunteered in their summer camp along with The Highlands Latin school math tutoring program. Marissa also serves with the Norton Children’s Hospital as a Teen Ambassador. During 2020, Marissa’s care and compassion for others inspired her to create handmade cards and stationery which she sold to raise money for the children’s hospital. Her efforts, along with those of the team, enabled the Teen Board to exceed their fundraising goal of $15,000 despite the pandemic.
Peyton Troutt
Age 16, Butler Traditional High School
Nominator - Jonathan Joseph
Peyton Troutt is outstandingly respectful, determined, kind-hearted, and open-minded. As the current Kentucky Youth Assembly and Kentucky United Nations Assembly president at Butler, Peyton has been a model leader focused on prioritizing what is good for the group as a whole.
Peyton recently helped coordinate his school’s “9/11 We Remember Project”; 2,977 flags were placed in front of Butler to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Though he has not decided exactly what avenue he wants to pursue after he graduates high school – Peyton knows he wants to devote his life to service whether as a firefighter, youth pastor, missionary, or an elected official. Through the many trials he has faced this year, including very personal tragedies, Peyton has continued to grow as a leader and a young man.
Macy Waddle
Age 17, Dupont Manual HHS
Nominator - Phyllis Crain
Macy Waddle steps up and helps others anyway she can, even while working a part time job, serving as student President at Dupont Manual, and supporting her Field Hockey teammates.
Seeing a need in the community to bridge the educational gap during the covid pandemic, Macy and her friends formed Unify Louisville. They wanted to ensure that every student had access to resources for success by delivering supplies and providing free tutoring to students in need.
She is an avid volunteer with The Backside Learning Center. She has guided a 1st grade student with non-English speaking parents through the virtual learning process. Macy was able to develop a new way to interpret English in order to help her students better understand the assignments.
The YMCA of Greater Louisville is an essential, charitable organization dedicated to strengthening our community through programs that nurture the potential of children, promote individual health and well-being, and provide support for our neighbors. Your participation with the YMCA will bring meaningful change to our entire community, starting with YOU.