Queer Youth Leadership Awards Nominees

Reyes Morales Warne is a student at San Lorenzo Valley High School who helped put on the Fall 2019 Queer and Trans Student Summit at Watsonville High. Reyes is described as someone well versed in leadership skills and eloquent and outspoken when it comes to the needs of their community. Reyes worked with the Summit coordinator to help organize the event, composed the theme “Queer Youth Take Over the World” and co-wrote a paragraph for the Safe Schools Project website on why the theme was important. Reyes also helped designate the time slots and locations for the workshops, and on the day of the Summit, volunteered to work as a greeter for the entire event. Reyes has made an everlasting and positive impact on the Santa Cruz County queer community.

Nominee, Queer Youth Leadership Award

Caleb Lennon is an activist and GSA president at Cypress Charter High School. Caleb’s activism for the LGBTQ community took off in middle school when he founded Shoreline Middle School’s GSA. In high school, Caleb has worked with Live Oak School District to guide policies that support diversity and inclusion at schools and has educated staff on best practices for supporting trans students. President of his school’s GSA, Caleb is also a mentor to younger trans youth and supports their transition to high school and their growth in their identities. To provide community for students in independent study and other non-traditional programs, Caleb is working to form an Alternative Education GSA. Caleb is always willing to educate and guide teachers in creating safe classrooms for LGBTQ+ students.

Tabitha Humble is an eighth grade student at New Brighton Middle School and president of her school’s QSA. Tabitha advocated for holding elections for club leadership positions and helped plan the campaign process, and she has taken on her leadership role with great enthusiasm. Tabitha has attended multiple YES Conferences and attends weekly planning meetings with her club’s advisor to plan QSA activities, such as the Gender Unicorn, queer music through the ages, and more. Tabitha also took on the task of rewriting the QSA mission statement. Tabitha is described as having a commanding presence and as someone who will not back down from challenges. In addition to her work with the school’s QSA, Tabitha is also committed to the performing arts and her academics.

Shannon Kelly
Director of Upper School, Mount Madonna School
Nominee, Ally to Queer Youth Award
Shannon Kelly is the high school director at Mount Madonna School and she revived the school’s GSA this year after a period of inactivity. Under Shannon’s direction, Mount Madonna GSA has become active and now has student leaders and engaging meetings. The club has sponsored events such as Ally Week, which included inspiring videos of LGBTQ individuls being played at the beginning of the day throughout the classrooms, and Rainbow Spirit Days, where Shannon served rainbow sherbert in the quad for those who dressed in rainbows. Shannon helped to bring  the Triangle Speakers to Mount Madonna and organized discussion groups with the presenters. Shannon has brought acceptance and enthusiasm to Mount Madonna School. Shannon was motivated to bring the Triangle Speakers to Mount Madonna School to further educate the student community and to continue to build an inclusive and safe school environment.