JANUARY 2025 30 A fruitful future With great honor I reflect on this year’s 10th anniversary of The Leadership Consortium (TLC) Arizona Delegation to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in Washington, D.C. I had the privilege of co-hosting this event with Councilwoman Kesha Hodge-Washington. In 2024, TLC reached new heights by launching the Leadership Consortium Student Leadership Institute. Through this program, we provided comprehensive support for 18 students, one alumnus, and their chaperones to attend the Congressional Black Caucus. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Founder Michael Kelly for his dedication to organizing a successful delegation. His commitment to our communities is truly inspirational. I am grateful to Governor Katie Hobbs for her unwavering support, and I thank all the leaders and partners who made this year’s delegation a success. As a co-chair, I led discussions on critical issues such as workforce development, supplier diversity, and access to capital. These issues will continue to drive our efforts toward a more equitable and fruitful future. My dedication to advocating for the underserved, addressing inequalities, and building bridges across communities remains persistent. It was an honor to stand alongside such a distinguished and diverse group of leaders who share this common goal. A special thank you to Tempe Mayor Corey Woods for his incredible contributions over the years, including his leadership of the Arizona delegation and his vital role as an advisor to TLC. His leadership has been instrumental, and together, we are making a difference. National Trail Trek The 29th annual National Trail Trek, which celebrates South Mountain’s National Trail, takes place on January 18. This historic trail stretches from Pima Canyon to the ridgeline at San Juan Lookout, which lies on the western edge of the park. The 15.5-mile hike will expose attendees to hundreds of Sonoran Desert flora and provide the chance to witness the abundant wildlife native to South Mountain. Registration is now open. I am grateful for your ongoing support and contributions to our community. Wishing you a new year filled with joy, peace, and meaningful connections. I look forward to the successes that 2025 will bring! Thank you, Kevin  Councilman District 6 602-262-7491 District6@phoenix.gov KEVIN ROBINSON

31 JANUARY 2025 By Rachael Bouley Xavier Prep is wrapping up 2024 with pride, thanks to two achievements: a Blue Ribbon designation from the U.S. Department of Education and an impressive donation of almost 700,000 cans for St. Vincent de Paul’s food drive. Since 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized K-12 schools’ overall academic excellence and progress toward closing achievement gaps. A Blue Ribbon signifies welcoming learning environments with exemplary teachers, and Xavier is proud to be on the list. “We are deeply honored to receive this award once again,” President Sister Joan Fitzgerald said. “This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, students and families, all of whom play a vital role in maintaining Xavier’s tradition of academic excellence and service to others.” Xavier was one of 356 schools nationwide awarded this distinction in 2024, making it Arizona’s only school to be awarded Blue Ribbon status four times. A school can apply to the program once every five years. To make Blue Ribbon status possible, Xavier faculty credit the school’s rigorous Honors and Advanced Placement courses, STEM initiatives, humanities, visual and performing arts, and faith-based, service- oriented learning. Interim Principal Brittany Ecker attended the awards ceremony and educational conference in Washington, D.C. “The conference’s focus on creating outstanding school cultures was both inspiring and affirming, reminding me of the transformative power of education when rooted in a shared mission,” Ecker said. “We strive daily to embody the excellence celebrated at this event.” Blue Ribbon schools nurture academic success, and one important aspect is developing leadership and service values to help students make a difference in the world. One of Xavier’s biggest examples of service is the St. Vincent de Paul food donation drive, a school tradition going back four decades. The National Honor Society leads the project, encouraging peers to play their part in alleviating hunger and supporting local families. Over four weeks, they spread the word and collect donations, with each Wednesday during the drive known as “Can Your Skirt Day,” where students could wear sweats or jeans if they brought in donations. There’s also a friendly competition between the classes and their homerooms to out- give each other. This year, the sophomores prevailed and received a “free” day off school. In November, 693,683 cans were donated, the highest amount ever collected in school history. The Gators also raised more than $70,000 in monetary donations to support St. Vincent de Paul’s network of community food pantries. “Participating in this tradition is an opportunity I am forever grateful for,” NHS President Maryam Al Qaderi said. “Seeing the impact and the passion of each student, faculty, staff member and the entire community coming together to help give back and support St. Vincent de Paul is so inspiring. Every donation counts and makes a difference.” NHS board members also created new fundraising initiatives to increase engagement. They offered prizes for top donors in each grade, such as preferred graduation seating, premium parking, Gator Gear gift certificates, and lunch passes. “We have incredible student leadership, which is the backbone of our entire organization,” NHS moderator Jamie Itule said. “The officers come with strong, bright, fresh ideas that motivate the students and helped us surpass our goal.” They also launched the “protein push” to encourage donations of canned goods high in nutrients and protein. Anyone who donated four jars of peanut butter or eight cans of tuna entered a gift card drawing, adding an extra incentive to help families in need maintain a well-balanced diet. Xavier beats food donation drive record with 700K cans Students help Vets preserve legacies through storytelling By Lauren Geiser Imprints of Honor, a nonprofit known initially as Veterans Heritage Project, was founded in 2004. For two decades, the organization has been connecting students with Veterans to record and honor their stories. The nonprofit’s mission goes beyond simple storytelling. It builds lasting bonds between students and Veterans, offering unique insights into the lives of those who have served. Since its founding, Imprints of Honor has documented the stories of almost 3,000 Veterans in 20 published volumes. With over 3,100 student chapters and nearly 60,000 interactions between the two groups, the program has created a deep and meaningful archive of American history through personal narratives. The program’s origins trace back to history teacher Barbara Hatch, who founded Imprints of Honor after her students expressed an interest in learning more about World War II following the release of Saving Private Ryan . Hatch invited Veterans to speak to her class, sparking the idea of creating a structured way for them to engage with and document experiences. Sisters Natalie and Claire are among the many students impacted by this project. Participating as independent contributors, the duo each conducted detailed interviews with a Veteran to document their experiences and insights. “I was so mesmerized by Imprints of Honor because you’re able to represent what a Veteran did to serve our country,” Claire said. Throughout the semester, they learned about the motivations, challenges, and defining moments of Veterans’ lives, gaining a unique historical perspective through a personal connection. After the interviews, participating students write in- depth articles that are later published for the Library of Congress to preserve each story for future generations. The interview is kept within in the Veterans History Project, an oral history archive at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center. “It’s impossible to capture the bravery, sacrifice and immense emotion when someone is sharing their story about the scariest and momentous parts of their lives,” Claire said. “When you get it right, it’s a great feeling.” The Xavier graduate is in her first year at Santa Clara University, and her participation in Imprints of Honor has guided her toward becoming a lawyer. Natalie hopes to start a nonprofit for Veterans because of the impact Imprints of Honor has had on her. Through the administrative tasks before and after the interviews, Natalie and Claire learned how to become better writers while transcribing an essential piece of history. “Imprints of Honor advocates for Veterans and the importance of their legacy and stories,” Natalie said. “I want to advocate for people.” As Imprints of Honor enters another decade, the nonprofit will continue to ensure that stories of service are not forgotten. imprintsofhonor.org Sisters Natalie and Claire took part in the Veterans Heritage Project. PHOTO COURTESY OF XAVIER PREP NHS members (front row) Chloe Beery, Karina Saveri, Maryam Al Qaderi. (back row) Ellery Kerrigan, Jayla Sepulveda Silvain and Kaitlyn Markham. PHOTO COURTESY OF XAVIER PREP