I thought it would be great if we could take a moment to acknowledge the amazing high school juniors who carved time out of their schedule to make this Gala happen. Let’s meet them all:
Meet Anabella
Kalamazoo Christian HS Junior
Future Plans: I plan to go into the medical field.
Passion: My passion is to always try and make the best of every situation and to make others happy.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in this gala to help me gain more confidence in myself. This gala process has made me feel very beautiful, when we took the pictures I felt gorgeous in my makeup and hair and I never wanted to take it off.
Meet Ashley
Mattawan HS Junior
Future Plans: I aspire to have a career in the medical field, as it relates to my desire to help others. I love to experience new places and I look forward to traveling more in the future.
Passion: I am passionate about my family, friends, sports and school.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am excited to participate in the gala! I enjoyed the photo session and I am amazed by Valerie and Sarah’s creativity. I am very happy to be able to participate in an event that raises money for a good cause.
Meet Audrey
Portage Central HS Junior
Future Plans: At this point in my life, I am undecided where I will attend college, but look forward to continuing my academic journey along with swimming career.
Passion: The world has offered so many opportunities for me to be part in, from traveling abroad to creating my favorite pieces of artwork to reading and spending time with friends/ family.
Why are you participating in the gala: The Gala to me, is the perfect platform to give back to the community where I was raised and that has been so good to me. This entire experience has helped me grow personally, introducing me to new connections and friends. I can not thank Valerie and Sarah for everything that they have done and continue to create. From Sarah making me feel like a princess and Valerie capturing that image, I am very humbled to be part of this team.
Meet Emma
Kalamazoo Christian HS Junior
Future Plans: Currently my plan for the future is to go to college somewhere down south and either go into physically therapy or nursing.
Passion: My passion is encouraging other people to be their best selves and always pushing them to be positive.
Why are you participating in the gala: I think the gala is really cool because it is using the beauty of humans to come together and donate for the greater good. It isn’t so much about the pictures as much as helping the organization and I think it is awesome to bring poeple together by pictures to support a cause.
Meet Grace
Kalamazoo Christian HS Junior
Future Plans: Going to college somewhere in state and going into business or nursing.
Passion: My passion is playing golf and soccer. I also love going to Gun Lake in the summer and hanging out with all my friends at the cottage.
Why are you participating in the gala: This gala process has made me feel pretty especially during the photo shoot when my hair and makeup were done.
Meet Jayme
Kalamazoo Christian HS Junior
Future Plans: I am undecided for the future.
Passion: My passion is softball.
Why are you participating in the gala: I wanted to participate in the gala to try something new and meet new people. The gala process made me feel beautiful and uniquely my own.
Meet Kailyn
Mattawan HS Junior
Future Plans: My plans for the future include being a nurse practitioner for kids with cancer.
Passion: My passion is to help kids with cancer and help end childhood cancer.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in the gala because it’s an amazing experience that I don’t want to miss. The gala process has made me more self confident and special.
Meet Katelyn
Mattawan HS Junior
Future Plans: My plan for the future is to become an athletic trainer and explore the field of medicine.
Passion: fire fighting
Why are you participating in the gala: I wanted to participate in the gala because I’ve realized that something so simple as a picture can help something so much bigger. I feel that the process of the gala has been exciting because we aren’t able to see the pictures until the big reveal which gives it a great anticipation.
Meet Kayli
Mattawan HS Junior
Future Plans: I want to be an ultrasound technologist to tell parents the gender of their babies.
Passion: I am passionate about cheerleading.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in this gala because my grandpa has had cancer so it is very important to help find a cure. This gala process has helped me understand the importance in always spreading love and positivity.
Meet Kylee
Kalamazoo Christian HS Junior
Future Plans: I am planning on becoming an engineer.
Passion: I am passionate about my dog.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in this gala because Kailyn is my cousin and I like how we are giving money to the organization. This process has made me feel good, I think that this way is a cool and creative way to raise money.
Meet Kyra
Mattawan HS Junior
Future Plans: My plans for the future are to graduate and go to college for criminal justice and play lacrosse.
Passion: My passion includes traveling the world, being with my family and friends and playing lacrosse.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in this gala because I have seen the images from years past and I have always been amazed by them. Plus, the theme this year of flowers can go so many different ways and I’m so very excited to see how Valerie and Sarah put this together. This process has been nerve-wracking to sum it up. I was in the very first group to get my pictures done, so I’m awaiting the reveal since I left the photo shoot. But as the day gets closer my nerves start to diminish and my excitement takes over!
Meet Lauren
Kalamazoo Central HS Junior
Future Plans: My plan for the future is to be amazing. I don’t know what I want to do in the future yet … graduate from college.
Passion: My education
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in this gala because I want to give back to my community. This gala has made me feel more confident about myself.
Meet Logan
Mattawan HS Junior
Future Plans: I plan to graduate and go to college to study diet and nutrition.
Passion: My passion is taking care of animals and the planet.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in this gala because I feel that helping donate to such a great ccause while having so much fun does it is a no-brainer. This gala process has made me feel more excited than anything.
Meet Savanna
Lowell HS Junior
Future Plans:
Passion:
Why are you participating in the gala:
Meet Skylar
Lakeview HS Junior
Future Plans: After high school I plan to go to major in animal biology with a minor in Spanish. I want to become a marine biologist/zoologist as I have a love for animals.
Passion: I have an extreme passion for the outdoors, whether it will be on the water, surfing, at summer camp, working with children, or on a beach.
Why are you participating in the gala: I participate in this gala as we are reaching families who have been affected by cancer and hopefully making life a little easier for them. This gala process has made me feel more beauitful than words could ever describe. It has made me feel confident, and a force to be reckoned with. It has showed me that as females we are both delicate but also bold; similar to a bee.
Meet Sydney
Kalamazoo Christian HS Junior
Future Plans: My plan is to go to college and major in nursing and play softball.
Passion: My passion is playing sports like basketball and softball and hanging out with my friends.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in this gala because I am meeting new people and also taking super cute pictures in the process! I am anxious to see my pictures! But also very excited to see how everyone’s have turned out in the end.
Meet Sydney
Mattawan HS Junior
Future Plans: I plan to go to college somewhere warm and get a degree in international business.
Passion: I am passionate about traveling and learning different cultures.
Why are you participating in the gala: I am participating in the gala because I get to be involved in beautiful art that raises proceeds for a great cause. The entire process of getting my makeup done and having my photo taken makes me feel very confident and beautiful. I feel that the beauty on the outside is projecting what is on the inside.
