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News Release

Salem Honors Teens And Teacher For Contributions To Youth Environment (Photo) - 04/08/26

  • Awards honor teen and adult leaders working to make the Mid-Willamette Valley a better place for young people
  • Focus includes avoiding fentanyl

Salem, Ore. – On March 7, the ILEAD Youth Summit celebrated youth leadership, volunteerism and the contributions teens and adults make in the Mid-Willamette Valley. During the closing session of the Summit, three ILEAD IMPACT awards were announced, recognizing outstanding contributions in the youth leadership arena.

 

The ILEAD Youth Leadership and Wellness Summit is an annual event for high school-age youth living in the Mid-Willamette Valley. The Summit aims to encourage and empower teens to create positive change in their lives, schools and communities.

 

Award nominations came from the public. The Youth and Planning Committees voted from among the nominees to select the award recipients.

Honors included:

 

Youth Leader Impact Award: Lydia Rolston, Sprague High School Senior 

They received the award for service and leadership with the Salem Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Lydia is one of only two TAB members to serve the full seven years of the program and has contributed significantly to literacy promotion and community-building through Library Services.

 

Service highlights: Often leading group projects, Lydia has worked on promotional videos for the library’s Summer reading program (literacy promotion) and has led the charge on building a child-friendly 8-room haunted house in the fall.

 

Examples like this demonstrate:

  • the importance of third spaces for our community
  • how young people can contribute in a meaningful way through third spaces
  • the impact teen leaders can have on making existing programs and services better

Youth Program Impact Award: the 72nd Annual Snoball Dance Event Youth Committee

Each year, a youth committee is formed to help Class Act Events present this safe and drug-free evening dance in Salem. Their hard work not only preserves a community tradition but also raises funds for the out-of-school college access program, Willamette Academy, located on Willamette University’s campus.

 

What makes the 2025 Snoball Youth Committee a particularly special group is their newly formed partnership with the City of Salem’s Opioid Prevention effort. Together, they launched “Stay Chill. Ditch the Street Pill ~ Dance at the Sno!” campaign.

 

The 25-person committee led efforts to educate their peers and the general public about the dangers of fentanyl pills and other street drugs—a pressing issue affecting local youth right now. This new campaign will continue for the next several years and is an example of intentional peer-to-peer advocacy and substance use prevention adopted by teens.

 

Adult Leader Impact Award: Charles Sanderson, a 26-year educator at Woodburn High School

Mr. Sanderson received recognition for his enduring investment in and advocacy for youth and especially the next generation of leaders.

 

From working with unhoused youth in Eugene, to leading youth conservation crews across the Northwest, to serving young people affected by violence, there’s no question why he received the 2020 Oregon Teacher of the Year award for the Willamette region. He is an inspiration for others in never giving up on young people and helping them develop skills as they move forward in life.

 

About ILEAD

ILEAD is coordinated by the City of Salem’s Safe and Healthy Communities Outreach – Opioid Prevention. It is produced each year by dedicated Youth and Planning Committees. Special thanks to our sponsors: Marion County Health and Human Services, Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties, CC:Media, and the City of Salem.

 

For more information, contact Laurie Shaw Casarez at Lshawcasarez@cityofsalem.net.

 

# # #

Attached Media Files: Lydia Rolston, Snoball Committee,

Salem Honors Teens And Teacher For Contributions To Youth Environment (Photo) - 04/08/26

  • Awards honor teen and adult leaders working to make the Mid-Willamette Valley a better place for young people
  • Focus includes avoiding fentanyl

Salem, Ore. – On March 7, the ILEAD Youth Summit celebrated youth leadership, volunteerism and the contributions teens and adults make in the Mid-Willamette Valley. During the closing session of the Summit, three ILEAD IMPACT awards were announced, recognizing outstanding contributions in the youth leadership arena.

 

The ILEAD Youth Leadership and Wellness Summit is an annual event for high school-age youth living in the Mid-Willamette Valley. The Summit aims to encourage and empower teens to create positive change in their lives, schools and communities.

 

Award nominations came from the public. The Youth and Planning Committees voted from among the nominees to select the award recipients.

Honors included:

 

Youth Leader Impact Award: Lydia Rolston, Sprague High School Senior 

They received the award for service and leadership with the Salem Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Lydia is one of only two TAB members to serve the full seven years of the program and has contributed significantly to literacy promotion and community-building through Library Services.

 

Service highlights: Often leading group projects, Lydia has worked on promotional videos for the library’s Summer reading program (literacy promotion) and has led the charge on building a child-friendly 8-room haunted house in the fall.

 

Examples like this demonstrate:

  • the importance of third spaces for our community
  • how young people can contribute in a meaningful way through third spaces
  • the impact teen leaders can have on making existing programs and services better

Youth Program Impact Award: the 72nd Annual Snoball Dance Event Youth Committee

Each year, a youth committee is formed to help Class Act Events present this safe and drug-free evening dance in Salem. Their hard work not only preserves a community tradition but also raises funds for the out-of-school college access program, Willamette Academy, located on Willamette University’s campus.

 

What makes the 2025 Snoball Youth Committee a particularly special group is their newly formed partnership with the City of Salem’s Opioid Prevention effort. Together, they launched “Stay Chill. Ditch the Street Pill ~ Dance at the Sno!” campaign.

 

The 25-person committee led efforts to educate their peers and the general public about the dangers of fentanyl pills and other street drugs—a pressing issue affecting local youth right now. This new campaign will continue for the next several years and is an example of intentional peer-to-peer advocacy and substance use prevention adopted by teens.

 

Adult Leader Impact Award: Charles Sanderson, a 26-year educator at Woodburn High School

Mr. Sanderson received recognition for his enduring investment in and advocacy for youth and especially the next generation of leaders.

 

From working with unhoused youth in Eugene, to leading youth conservation crews across the Northwest, to serving young people affected by violence, there’s no question why he received the 2020 Oregon Teacher of the Year award for the Willamette region. He is an inspiration for others in never giving up on young people and helping them develop skills as they move forward in life.

 

About ILEAD

ILEAD is coordinated by the City of Salem’s Safe and Healthy Communities Outreach – Opioid Prevention. It is produced each year by dedicated Youth and Planning Committees. Special thanks to our sponsors: Marion County Health and Human Services, Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties, CC:Media, and the City of Salem.

 

For more information, contact Laurie Shaw Casarez at Lshawcasarez@cityofsalem.net.

 

# # #

Attached Media Files: Lydia Rolston, Snoball Committee,