Kenneth Crouch

When Kenneth Crouch was a presenter at the Youth Summit for the Missouri Parents Act organization and a volunteer at his former elementary school on Discovering Disabilities Day, he wasn’t doing it for applause or pay. He was there as an advocate and ambassador for people with autism. 

 “I tell them about working with my teachers, the things that I learned, and ways they can help others who learn differently,” he says. “I want to show people that all of us are capable of living the life we want to live.” 

Kenneth has a diagnosis of autism, which he acknowledges can make some goals more challenging for him than others. But once he sets his mind on accomplishing something, it’s going to happen. When he wanted to start an after-school game club for his classmates, he did. During the pandemic, however, the club was forced to stop holding in-person meetings. Because he deeply missed the socializing and fun that were part of these meetings, he developed an entirely virtual club structure to keep the gaming alive. At a time when students so desperately needed time with their peers, he came through for them. He serves as a co-leader of the club.

Now in his senior year at Parkway Central High School, Kenneth is known for his kindness and desire to help others. In 2019 and 2020, he won the Spirit of Central Award, a recognition for students who have demonstrated good citizenship, participation in class, kindness, integrity, responsibility, and care. This year he is a LINK leader who has helped freshmen students get acclimated to high school. 

Singing is one of many ways Kenneth brings joy to himself and others. He truly loves singing in the school choir and collaborating with others. He has set a goal of moving up into the Central Concert Choir, the school’s top choir. Through his own advocacy and determination, he has become a great addition to the group and proudly performs in several concerts for large audiences throughout the year.

“Ken works so hard to be his best self. He is a young man with dreams and goals, goals he’s going to achieve,” says Mike Feit, Ken’s special education teacher. “When he looks at people, he does not see a color, a religion, gender, age, or ability level. Ken sees a person that deserves kindness and respect. He is the type of person we should all strive to be.”

Last summer, Kenneth worked at the Center for Head Injuries in Maryland Heights. He is looking forward to attending a college program for students with disabilities and experiencing college life. 

Jayla Williams

Known for her calm demeanor and curious mind, Jayla Williams has prepared herself to pursue greater opportunities, both academically and personally. She plans to pursue a career in medicine.

“She is careful, listens well, and asks relevant questions,” said Phoebe Morgan, her instructor at North Tech. “She’s someone poised for great success in life.” 

At North Tech, Jayla is also involved in the Culinary Arts program, where she is a standout among her fellow chefs. The Culinary Arts program is taught in a modern, fully equipped, restaurant-style kitchen as required by the American Culinary Federation for certification. Students plan, prepare, and cater meals alongside professional chefs in both the classroom, compete at various competitions throughout the year, and participate in exclusive mentorship and shadowing programs with some of our region’s most recognized culinary leaders. Jayla has exceeded the program’s requirements.

In the community, Jayla finds ways to excel as a volunteer. For the past two years, she has helped sponsor students competing in the Special Olympics. She enjoys seeing the energy that the participants have and becomes their biggest cheerleader for the day. She has also been a volunteer office manager at the HEAL Center for the Arts in St. Louis.

Jayla is committed to keeping her work ethic and goal focus when she begins college this fall. Although she is not certain which school she will attend yet, she has applied to several with excellent medical programs, including Howard University. With a solid 4.0 GPA, Jayla Williams hopes to become a pediatrician and fulfill her goal of joining the medical field. 

“My goals include going to college to further my education, providing children with the best medical treatment they need to live a healthy life, and becoming the best person I can be,” she says. “With this scholarship, I will be able to achieve these goals and much more in the time to come.

Anna Breihan

Thanks to her diligent work ethic and an attitude that embraces learning, Anna Breihan has created a bright future for herself in the field of dental science. 

“Professionalism is one of Anna’s brightest qualities,” says Kristin Vergano, a dental science instructor at SSD’s South Technical High School. “She shows respect, honesty, and has a strong determination to succeed. She is very responsible, outgoing, kind, and works hard for what she wants.”

Breihan is an honor roll student and will graduate magna cum laude from Oakville High School in May 2022. She is also enrolled in South Tech’s Dental Sciences Program, serving as one of the program’s student ambassadors for new students. She is already employed in a local orthodontic practice as an assistant.

In addition to her classes at South Tech, Breihan attends Oakville High School in the Mehlville School District. She has played on the school’s soccer team and has used the experience to improve her physical skills as well as her communication skills with teammates. She intends to attend Southeast Missouri State University, with a major in biological sciences and a minor in theology. She hopes to become an orthodontist and work with children in her practice.

In the community, Breihan volunteers in a variety of ways. She assists in her church by caring for children in the nursery while their parents attend services. A local animal shelter also benefits from her time each winter when she makes and donates blankets for animals waiting to be adopted. And, because she has a steadfast desire to make children smile, she makes cards for pediatric patients at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Isabelle Lencz

A scholar-athlete at Valley Park High School, Isabelle Lencz has always exceeded expectations in school and endeavors that support her community.

“Izzie is the most driven and confident person I have ever known,” says Alana Gaspard Powers, an SSD teacher who has helped Lencz learn skills to manage her dyslexia. “She learned early on to advocate for herself and for her needs, and because of her incredible self-reliance, she has been able to successfully navigate her high school classes and earn a GPA of 3.7.”

Lencz takes pride in everything she does. Her resume includes membership in the school’s Chick-fil-a Leadership Club and the National Honor Society. She has received the Scholastic Academic Achievement Award, participates in the A+ Scholarship program, and was voted to be VPHS’s varsity volleyball captain. She also plays clarinet in the school band and was a co-captain of the color guard, writing choreography and teaching it to younger classmates. At her church, she has helped lead vacation bible school and participated in creative performances.

She’s been at the forefront of many school activities that involve improving her community, including helping to organize blood drives, raking leaves for elderly neighbors, and distributing care packages to homeless people. In sports, she has shown leadership on the field as a player and as the ultimate team member by taking on support roles when she was sidelined by an injury during her junior year.

One of her favorite volunteer jobs is to help with art classes at the district’s elementary school. She enjoys drawing, painting, and woodworking. Although she is still deciding on a college or university, she hopes to someday become an animator/videographer for Disney Studios, Inc.

Mikayla Roche

“Healthcare requires a very mature and reliable individual to be able to work with people who are ill,” says her instructor Louvenia Woods. “Mikayla is exceptional in this instance. She is a great student and has been an asset to the program. She really has a real passion for the nursing profession.”

Mikayla Roche is certain about her decision to become a nurse. With a 4.0 GPA in the Health Science Program at SSD’s South Technical High School, she has done a lot to prepare herself for the academic rigor of the University of Kentucky – Lexington, where she plans to attend college next fall. In addition to her schoolwork and extracurricular activities, she has been completing clinical hours at Delmar Gardens South, a long-term care facility. In April 2022, she will take her certified nurse assistant (CNA) certification exam.

Her extracurriculars include Lindbergh High School’s concert and marching bands (the latter has required her to rise at 5:30 a.m. each school day for practice). For two years, she also tutored middle-school students about how to play jazz music so they would develop the same appreciation for it she has. Though Mikayla’s high school career has been busy, she has embraced the challenge and used it to develop qualities that will take her far in life.

“It has taught me to become more disciplined and taught me that things take commitment and dedication if you want to achieve them.”

In the community, Mikayla has volunteered in food pantries and helps others in need. She also has participated in school fundraisers for her school and children’s cancer research.

Mikayla will be the salutatorian of her class this year.

Takia McMorris

Setting high expectations for herself and an innate drive to excel has proved a winning combination for Takia McMorris, a senior at Parkway Central and South Technical high schools. She hopes to become a civil engineer who can help support children living in foster care through philanthropy.

“I love giving back to my community since so much has been given to me as a child growing up in foster care,” she says. “I want to help others as much as I can.”

As a student with ADHD, learning did not always come easy for Takia. But she has developed strategies to improve her focus. She is a scholar in the Bridge Program of the University of Missouri - St. Louis, attending the Saturday academy twice a month for the last four years to gain college preparedness skills. She has already earned college credit for her advanced French class and is currently enrolled in dual credit college algebra and composition courses.

“Takia impresses me with her maturity, patience, and altruism,” says Amy Brecher, Takia’s English teacher. “Often focused on helping children, she has tutored younger students in Algebra 1 and assists with the children’s choir in her church. She served as president of the Antioch Youth Mission for three years and helped organize winter warming events for a downtown shelter. She also organized card campaigns for Cardinal Glennon and St. Louis Children’s hospitals.”

Athletics have been on her list of extracurriculars– she has played basketball, volleyball, field hockey, and basketball, and plans to join the track and field team this spring.

Takia’s a fan of the arts and says music brings her peace. She has been involved in the school choir, played violin, taken dance classes, and tried out for Muny Kids! Although she received an audition call-back, she ultimately decided she wanted to fill her summer hours with swimming, going to Six Flags, and attending camp at the Jewish Community Center. 

In her last semester of high school, Takia is taking construction courses at South Tech. This fall, she plans to enroll in the UMSL/Washington University’s Joint Engineering program, where she will be matched with a mentor who can assist her as she works toward a degree in a male-dominated field.