Skylar Davis – Period Y’all (2025 Winner)
She/Her
Kentucky 2024

At Period Y’all, we fight period poverty in Kentucky’s Appalachian region and beyond. Founded by Skylar Davis in 2022. We focus on three things, Stock the Schools, delivering period products to schools, advocacy work, empowering communities to use their voice for legislation, and direct service.

Edgar Villasenor – Southside Kayaking Adventures (2025 Runner-Up)
He/Him
South TX Frontera 2024

My Capstone provided fun activities for the South, giving youth access to enriching outdoor experiences. Inspired by my New Leaders Council training, it offered a free opportunity to connect with nature through kayaking, exploring ecosystems, and building community while learning and staying active.

Belle Townsend – Backwoods Media Project: Utilizing Multi-Disciplinary Media to Fight the Isolative Effects of Misinformation Both in and About Rural Communities (2025 Fearless Four)
They/Them
Kentucky 2022

My Capstone project covered anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Kentucky on social media and TikTok, culminating in a Teen Vogue interview. Through viral videos and educational content, I shared personal insights and highlighted the importance of including the South in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Jazmine Johnson – Empowering Confidence Through Beauty: A Makeup Class for Young Black Women (2025 Fearless Four)
She/Her
Detroit 2024

For my capstone, I hosted a makeup class at University Prep Science and Math High School to address societal pressures on young Black women and promote self-love. I taught makeup techniques, products, and discount on services for their upcoming prom. The event led to a six-week mentorship program.

Andrew Moreira – The Future of Work: Redefining Work-Life Balance (2025 Great Eight)
He/Him
New Jersey 2022

Through my capstone project and 2022 Spark! Talk, I conducted a data-driven study on redefining work-life balance. I uncovered strategies that enhance employee well-being, boost productivity, and drive cost efficiencies—forming the blueprint behind AMoreira Consulting.

G Miller – Bridging Brooklyn’s Digital Divide (2025 Great Eight)
He/Him
New York City 2024

My Capstone project is a fundraiser and digital device donation drive to collect & refurbish smartphones, tablets, and laptops before distributing them to community centers in my neighborhood of Brooklyn—where the digital divide is higher than the national average.

Jessica Elliott – The C.A.T.C.H. Project (2025 Great Eight)
She/Her
Arkansas 2023

We provide cleaning, laundry, and shower products to children and families through school nurses to promote equitable access to household cleaning supplies, improve the health and wellness of Arkansas families and allow household funds to be reallocated towards food, housing, and utilities.

Missy Goss-Coln – Justflo Wellness (2025 Great Eight)
She/Her
Atlanta 2021

During NLC, I developed a business plan for a social enterprise aimed at making yoga more accessible and affirming.

At Justflo Wellness, we hold space for healing and liberation through culturally-relevant yoga—reducing stress and anxiety, regulating the nervous system, cultivating inner peace.

Cecilia Gonzalez Herrera – Little Free Diverse Libraries (2024 Winner)
She/Her
Orlando 2022

The LFDL aims to promote inclusivity and celebrate diverse stories within our communities. Through strategically placed miniature libraries, this project creates accessible hubs for sharing LGBTQ+ and BIPOC stories while fostering connection among community members. As response to DeSantis book bans.

Matthew Chernesky – nenos: forward-thinking social media (2024 Runner-up)
He/Him
Tampa Bay 2021

nenos is a nonprofit and revolutionary social media platform committed to genuine connections and empowering diverse voices. We aim to provide a safe, ad-free space where creators can engage authentically, collaborate meaningfully, and drive positive change in their communities. (www.nenos.one)

Kanesha Adams – Bearapy Bookshelf (2024 Final Four)
She/Her
Arkansas 2020

My capstone project was an alphabet coloring book encouraging girls of color to explore STEM careers. This capstone coloring book expanded into even more books, and I have now author 12 children’s books to help families teach social skills to their children.

Jacqueline Armendariz Unzueta – Justice with Jax Podcast (2024 Final Four)
She/Her
Denver 2022

The JWJ podcast is the story of defending my community & our Civil Rights as a U.S. District Court plaintiff represented by ACLU CO. This effort is about deepening my connection to community & building a public profile in pursuit of my capstone servant leadership aspirations.

Brandon Mack – Category Is: College Realness and Readiness
He/Him
Houston 2016

HISD currently has one counselor every 450 students. American high school students on average receive fewer than 40 minutes of personal college admissions guidance. These combined issues lead to our students being left behind and underserved. I’m developing a curriculum that offers college guidance.

Rebecca Thompson – Becoming TikTok Famous: Utilize TikTok to educate, pull back the curtain, and motivate action
She/Her
Broward 2023

I use TikTok to educate and motive a younger audience to engage in politics. I have content around attending political events and explaining why they are important. I highlight the different aspects of being a young person in politics and hope to encourage others to get involved and run for office.

Sunny Williams – Tiny Docs (2023 Winner)
He/Him
Chicago 2015

Tiny Docs is an interactive web app that creates cartoons to educate kids about health in a fun and easy to understand language. Additionally, there are games, quizzes and kid-friendly blogs to enhance learning.

We are on a mission to improve kids’ health and make a billion people.

Marcella Juarez – The Forever Farm (2023 Runner-Up)
She/Her
South TX Frontera 2022

This is an expansion of my original capstone, and I am now converting 2 shipping containers for the year-round production of local, healthy, and sustainable food for my community.

Missy Spears – COVunity Fridge (2023 Final Four)
She/Her
Kentucky 2021

The COVunity Fridge is a free fridge, freezer, pantry open 24/7 for community donations and shopping. We partner with a number of small businesses and individuals to keep it stocked and clean. It also has a microwave and hot/cold water dispenser to allow folks to eat meals on site.

The Late Ernest Levert Jr. – ChessMakers Cooperative (2024 Final Four)
He/Him
Columbus 2021

The ChessMakers Cooperative was created to help raise awareness about solidarity economics and cooperatives through the creation and distribution of custom-made chess sets, tables, and equipment. We are excited to move into the next phase of the project by hosting our first ChessMakers workshops!

Holly Noon – Doctorate with Focus in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
She/Her
Broward 2022

My capstone was to outline the process for pursuing my doctorate degree with a speciality or focus in the diversity, equity & inclusion space. Once I obtain the doctorate I would leverage my expertise in my own consulting business or pursue a leadership role at an organization with a DEI focus.

Em Gray – The N.I.C.E. Project, Narcan In Case Of Emergency – Texas’s First Free 24/7 Narcan Vending Machines
She/Her
Austin 2019

Launched in August 2022, the NICE Project works to reduce overdose deaths in central Texas by making imperceptible the barriers to overdose reversal medication via the vending machine delivery system. They currently have three locations in Austin and have dispensed over 5,000 doses of Narcan.

Ashley Hart – The Janice Hart Foundation
She/Her
Tampa Bay 2022

The Janice Hart Foundation focuses on providing a community to support caregivers and encouraging them to fill their vases. We will provide peer and therapeutic support groups, reprieve volunteers to assist caregivers, emergency bill assistance, and a community directory of business in our community