Meet the Students Leading KSVT in the 2025-26 School Year

With school in full swing, a new group of high schoolers across the Commonwealth have stepped up to the plate to lead Kentucky Student Voice Team’s policy, storytelling and research teams this school year. Together, the teams advance our mission of co-creating more just and democratic Kentucky schools and communities.

‍

2025-26 Student Leaders

ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM

• Cross-Org Coordinator: Luisa Sanchez
• Membership Coordinator: Maanya Sunkara

JOURNALISM/STORYTELLING TEAM

• Journalism Co-Coordinators (New Edu Directors): Maggie Stone & Riess Starks 
• Senior Editors: Luisa Sanchez & Charlie Kinkaid
• Podcast Coordinators: Viet Pham & Addison Lowry
• Communications Coordinators: Kevin Tse & Lucinda Ayres

POLICY TEAM

• Policy Coordinators: Olivia Ta & Elena Nowaczyk
• Litigation Coordinators: Laicey Page & Maggie Donworth
• KCET Housing Campaign Coordinator: Milo Osbourne
• SANE Liaisons: Caroline Segebarth & Abby Ladwig

RESEARCH TEAM

• Research Coordinator: Chase Colvin

Starting from when KSVT formed in 2012, this annual transition of passing down power to new students and retaining the knowledge and wisdom of past student leaders on our board and as an advisory role has played a key role in organizational sustainability for KSVT. This intergenerational approach is unique to most organizations and ensures our work continues year after year as young people. We are thankful for the former KSVT members who continue to share their time and talents by serving on our board of directors and/or senior advisory.

Board of Directors

• Lucinda Ayres, grade 11, Meade County
• Chase Colvin, grade 12,  Jefferson County
• Maggie Donworth, grade 10, Fayette County
• Charlie Kinkade, grade 11, Boyle County
• Abigail Ladwig, grade 12, Daviess County
• Addison Lowry, grade 12, Jefferson County
• Elena Nowaczyk, grade 11, Jefferson County
• Milo Osbourne, high school gap year, Fayette County
• Lacey Paige, grade 12, Christian County
• Viet Pham, grade 12, Jefferson County
• Luisa Sanchez, grade 12,  Boyle County, (Board President)
• Maanya Sunkara, grade 12,  Jefferson County, (Board Secretary)
• Caroline Segebarth, grade 10, Fayette County
• Reiss Starks, grade 11, Jefferson County
• Maggie Stone, grade 11, Jefferson County
• Olivia Ta, grade 12,  Daviess County
• Kevin Tse, grade 12, Hardin County
• Joud Dahleh, Boone County, University of Louisville
• Isabella Edgill, Jefferson County, Ithaca College
• Abraham Garcia-Romero, Ohio County, Berea College
• Nicholas Hazelett, Johnson County, Morehead State University
• Peter Jefferson, Fayette County, Centre College
• Ivy Litton, Rowan County, Washington and Lee
• Anna Marasco-Quibrera, Fayette County, Transylvania University (2025-26 senior advisor nominee)
• Ellen Mueller, Scott County, University of Kentucky
• Ari Srivastava, Warren County, Pomona College
• Andrew Brennen, Fayette County, Columbia Law School, (Board Chair & Treasurer)
• Zoe Jenkins, Fayette County, University of Virginia, Civics Unplugged
• Beth Malcom, Jefferson County, Essential Innovations

Senior Advisors

• Eva Alcaraz-Monje, Western Kentucky University undergrad from Fayette County
• Sarah Belin, MPH/PA grad school candidate George Washington University, from Fayette County
• Michaela Bowman, Lex Philharmonic from Laurel County
• Andrew Brennen, Columbia Law School from Fayette County via University of North Carolina
• Cadence Brown, Yale undergrad from Marshall County
• Zachary Clifton, Yale College from Knox County
• Javonte Cranmo, University of Tampa undergrad from Kenton County
• Joud Dahleh, University of Louisville undergrad from Boone County
• Raima Dutt, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill from Jefferson County
• Simon Drake, Centre College undergrad from Boyle County
• Isabella Edghill, Ithaca College undergrad from Jefferson County
• Marie Emedi, Edelman Associates via University of Kentucky from Fayette County
• Sara Falluji, George Washington University undergrad from Fayette County
• Connor Flick, Brown undergrad from Boone County
• Abraham Garcia-Romero, Berea College undergrad from Ohio County
• Nicholas Hazelett, Morehead State University from Johnson County
• Peter Jefferson, Centre College from Fayette County
• Zoe Jenkins, University of Virginia undergrad from Fayette County
• Tapiwanashe Kunaka, Centre College undergrad from Fayette County
• Ivy Litton, Washington and Lee University undergrad from Bath County
• Jeliah Logan, Louisville, C2 Strategic Communications, from Jefferson County via University of Ky
• Anna Marasco-Quibera, Transylvania University, from Fayette County
• Ellen Mueller, University of Kentucky undergrad from Scott County
• Minhal Nazeer, Georgetown U. undergrad from Jefferson County
• Spandana Pavuluri, Vanderbilt University undergrad from Jefferson County
• Ridhi Penmecha, University of Pennsylvania from Franklin County
• Emanuelle Sippy, Princeton graduate from Fayette County
• Eliza Jane Schaeffer, Boston University Law School from Fayette County via Dartmouth College
• Arivumani Srivastava, Pomona College undergrad from Warren County
• Pragya Upreti, UNC undergrad from Fayette County
• Amanda Wahlstedt, Columbia University Grad School from Knox County via Wellesley College
• Hayden Watkins, Cornell University from Rowan County
• Michelle Zheng, Yale University undergrad from Hardin County

Join Us!

If you are a KY middle or high schooler or know one who is, we are accepting new members on our team! If you are interested, please reach out by mid-September. Send us a quick email at joinus@ksvt.org with a short message on who you are and why you’re interested in joining, and we will get you plugged in for this school year!