SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JUNE 26, 2022
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Teen philanthropist honored with big award BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
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Bob McMillan and fellow residents the Auberge at Scottsdale Assisted Living and Memory Care Community Kindergarteners in Scottsdale were delighted earlier this month when kids from Stephanie Schuller’s class at Scottsdale Child Care & Learning Center next door came to visit. Among the
visitors were, from left, Kristopf Kolozar, Brooklyn Rivera, Matthew Dichiara, Cooper Chea, Charllote Tuttle and Olivia Bondy. Auberge once a month invites preschoolers and kindergarteners form the school to visit residents, usually with a theme. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)
shley Nevison, 15, is not your average teenager. She is the CEO of the nonprofit “Sargeants Army” which has donated over 24,000 hygiene bags that include eight items; shampoo and body wash, soap, deodorant, a comb, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a shaving razor and socks, and her nonprofit has raised over $54,000. Because of those efforts, Ashley was nominated by one of her friends as one of 18 students from around the state to win one of the Junior Achievement of Arizona’s 18 under 18 awards. However, the honor became something bigger when Ashley was chosen out of the pool of 18 students to represent Arizona at the American Spirit Awards gala and award presentation in New Orleans, where she received the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award. She was the third-youngest recipient at the event. The award is presented annually to one student from each state and the District of Columbia who demonstrates the American spirit in his or her community and recognizes that the values of leadership, teamwork, tolerance, creativity and perseverance can and should be learned and lived by all Americans regardless of age. “The one emotion that I was feeling was just honestly really grateful. In talking to all the other people that were there, it was incredible to see how, how many kids are making such a huge difference in their community,” Ashley said. “It was humbling to see that even though I’m really young, all of these kids are doing such amazing things and we are changing our communities for the better.”
15-year-old philanthropist Ashley Nevison, who started her nonprofit organization Sargeants Army in 2018, was recently honored with the Milly Michal Student Leadership Award. (Special to the Progress)
Ashley began changing her community in 2018 just after the passing of her beloved cat Sargeant. Despite her grief, Ashley decided to begin sewing cat toys and blankets and donating them to the Arizona Humane Society. After about two years of stitching pet paraphernalia, Ashley — who also competes in beauty pageants — got an idea for a new way to give back to her community. “When the pandemic started, I was asked by one of my sister queens from the pageants I do to make facemasks for healthcare workers and I thought it was a good way to help the people who help us and
see NEVISON page 17
