Our People

Living The Legacy Scholarship Recipients

The Living the Legacy Scholarship recognizes and supports students who demonstrate exemplary civic leadership qualities within their school and community. By honoring those who actively engage in civic duties, this scholarship fosters and empowers the next generation of responsible, proactive citizens and leaders. Through recognition, financial assistance, and training, we aspire to inspire sustained commitment to civic engagement and the cultivation of leadership skills among high school students, thereby contributing to the enhancement of society.

Olamide Adekoya

Olamide Adekoya

Awarded Year: 2025

Olamide Adekoya is an enthusiastic high school junior passionate about human rights advocacy and policy. She is currently a President of the Ewing High Student Council, and serves as the Board of Education Student Representative for her district. At school, she is also a peer tutor, member of the National Honor Society, and coordinates volunteer activities with the Key Club. She has previously served as an intern for Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, and she currently volunteers for Schoolhouse.world, an online tutoring program, as a tutor and a Dialogues President. After graduation, Olamide plans to attend a four-year university and major in global affairs.

Annie Chen

Annie Chen

Awarded Year: 2025

Annie Chen is a current high school senior at BASIS Chandler in Chandler, Arizona. In the fall, she will attend Rice University to study social policy analysis and bioengineering. As a voting rights advocate, she also serves as the Arizona State Lead for New Voters, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing high school voter registration. She strongly believes in the power of the ballot to create societal change, and she hopes to continue expanding ballot access to underrepresented minorities and challenging restrictive ballot measures. On the local level, Annie also interned for a state senator in the 2024 election cycle. Annie ultimately hopes to combine her interests in healthcare, STEM, and policy by researching healthcare policy and expanding medical treatment to more people. She will use this scholarship and other opportunities to continue fighting for democracy in her home state, Arizona, and across the world.

Iman Cook

Iman Cook

Awarded Year: 2025

Iman Cook is a dedicated high school senior passionate about mental health advocacy, youth empowerment, and political activism. Throughout his high school years, he has worked to raise awareness about mental health issues within the Black community and inspire his peers to engage in activism and social justice. Iman is particularly focused on empowering young people to take an active role in shaping policies that affect their lives. Iman’s commitment to public service deepened through his participation in programs like Freedom Summer 3.0 at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, where he explored the intersection of civil rights, social justice, and youth activism. He also participated in the Rising Changemakers program with Our Turn, Youthcracy at Clark Atlanta University, and the Lt. Governor Burt Jones Senate Page program. He plans to attend a four-year Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to major in political science, with the goal of advocating for marginalized communities and addressing issues like gentrification in cities like Atlanta. Through his work, Iman seeks to inspire youth to become politically engaged and ensure that their voices are heard in shaping the future. His passion for creating positive, lasting change drives his commitment to public service and community advocacy.

Rainey Reese

Rainey Reese

Awarded Year: 2025

Rainey Reese is a high school senior at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago, Illinois, with a passion for history and social justice. She plans to major in History in college and attend law school, aiming to become a cultural affairs director in the U.S. government to promote inclusivity and diversity through policy. Rainey co-founded ReIntegreat, a nonprofit supporting the reintegration of incarcerated individuals through literacy and letter-writing campaigns. In this role, she researched facilities, prepared presentations, and managed social media outreach, collecting 50 letters of support for incarcerated individuals. Through this work, Rainey learned that advocacy often requires patience and empathy, as she guided her peers to confront their biases and opened their eyes to the personal impacts of incarceration. In addition, Rainey serves as senior class president for the student council, where she fosters leadership and unity among her peers. Driven by a desire to create meaningful change, Rainey is committed to using her voice and education to support marginalized communities and shape a more inclusive future.

Sophie Rivell

Sophie Rivell

Awarded Year: 2025

Sophie Rivell, a passionate senior, is dedicated to using her voice for community impact. At her school, she founded the non-profit coffee shop Wake Up Warriors, has served four years as a student senate Class Officer, is a representative to the CCIU Student Forum, is the founding Vice President of Students In Civics, and performs in the choir, musicals, and the speaking contest. Additionally, she volunteers as an academic coach and founded the Girls Leadership Club at the Melton Center, and volunteers with HOBY. As for civic engagement, Sophie is a PA State Lead at New Voters, assisting PA high schools with voter registration drives, planning large-scale statewide events, and speaking at events hosted by The White House and UChicago IOP. She is a Girls Advisory Board Member at the Fund for Women and Girls and served on the Student Advisory Board for Senator Comitta, proposing legislation for free period products in PA schools. As a campaign intern, she leads phone banks for Kane for PA Senate and Houlahan for the U.S. House of Representatives. She held fellowships with Civics Unplugged, New Researchers, and the Institute for Youth In Policy, publishing research on Deepfake Policy and Menstrual Equity in Prisons. Sophie aims to study political science and economics in college, aspiring to be an elected legislator.

Donate

Sustain positive change

Act

Unleash the inner hero

Partner

Join our campus network