2019-20 Emerging Public Leaders
2019-20 Participants
Rund Abdelnabi, Greenville Tech, Piedmont, SC
Ashley Anderson, Academic Magnet High School, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Sophie Anderson, Greenville High School, Greenville, SC
Mackenzie Brady, Ashley Hall, Charleston, SC
Hunter Bridges, Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, Bamberg, SC
Douglas Culclasure, Wade Hampton Fine Arts, Greenville, SC
Faith Eberflus, River Bluff High School, Lexington, SC
Vee Edlund, Oakbrook Prep, Spartanburg, SC
Natalie Geiger, Next High School, Greenville, SC
Nayha Hussain, Riverside High School, Greer, SC
Ellis McLarty, Wade Hampton Fine Arts, Greenville, SC
Ariel Meriwether, Strom Thurmond High School, Johnston, SC
Jennifer Nguyen, Socastee High School, Myrtle Beach SC
Madison Pollock, Dutch Fork High School, Irmo, SC
Robert Runnion, JL Mann High School, Greenville, SC
Dustin Tant, York Prep Academy, Rock Hill, SC
Ellie Toler, Spartanburg Day School, Spartanburg, SC
Alecia Williams, Barnwell High School, Barnwell, SC
Winning Projects
First Place | Projects Receive $700
Rund Abdelnabi
Greenville Tech Charter High School, Piedmont
Abdelnabi’s “Pillowcase Project” provided children who are in foster care with personalized pillowcases and supplies that they can take with them as they move from place to place.
Natalie Geiger and Ellis McLarty
Next High School and Wade Hampton Fine Arts Center, Greenville
Geiger and McLarty’s project, “Bulldogs Achieving Creative Happiness,” provided free 30-minute weekly music lessons, taught by music students at the Fine Arts Center, to low-income students at League Elementary.
Second Place | Project receives $500
Ariel Meriwether
Strom Thurmond High School, Johnston
Meriwether’s project, “The Red Badge,” collected and distributed menstrual products to individuals experiencing financial hardship and homelessness.
Third Place | Projects receive $300
Nayha Hussain
Riverside High School, Greer
Hussain’s project, “Cooking for a Cause,” taught cooking classes to low-income adolescents in Greenville County. Her classes focused on preparing healthy, affordable, delicious meals.
Ellie Toler
Spartanburg Day School, Spartanburg
Toler’s project, “Positivity Pouches,” assembled care packages, which contained hygiene and menstrual products, for women at a Spartanburg food pantry.
Honorable Mention| Project receives $100
Madison Pollock
Dutch Fork High School, Irmo
Pollock’s project, “Girls Fighting Back,” organized a self-defense class for young women at her school. SASS Go volunteered their defense training services.