The Phoenix Youth and Education Commission selected 16 district winners of the 2008 Outstanding Young Man/Young Woman (YMYW) of the Year program. Each district winner will receive $250 and will be recognized at a luncheon sponsored by Rotary International on April 4.

The program is sponsored by the city of Phoenix, know99 television, Phoenix Rotary, Phoenix Soroptimist, Arizona Public Service and Southwest Airlines. Photos of the winners are available upon request. Approximately 200 students from all eight city council districts applied for the award. Applicants submitted essays, transcripts, a letter of recommendation and were interviewed by a panel which included members of the Phoenix Youth and Education Commission. The winners were selected for outstanding community service and commitment to excellence in all areas of their life.

The District 1 Outstanding Young Woman of the Year is Katherine Weingartner, a senior at Sandra Day O’Connor High School. In addition to being student body president, Weingartner also serves on the Superintendent’s Supervisory Board for the Deer Valley Unified School District, which runs district-wide service learning projects. She also is president of her school’s Interact Club, which has had many successful projects, including raising money for UNICEF, Thomas J. Pappas School and for breast cancer research.

Jonathan Porter is the District 1 Outstanding Young Man of the Year. He is a senior at Sandra Day O’Connor High School. As an Eagle Scout for the Boy Scouts of America, Porter started his own food drive and raised more than 800 pounds of food for the Desert Mission Food Bank. He served as his school’s mascot, was a member of the Air Force Junior Reserves Training Corps and played sports.

The District 2 Outstanding Young Woman of the Year is Monica Espaillat-Lizardo, a true agent for positive change at Paradise Valley High School, where she is a senior. Espaillat-Lizardo is the president of her high school’s Diversity Club, Harmony in Paradise, and has organized a Hunger Awareness Banquet that benefited a local food bank. Among her many other accomplishments, Espaillat-Lizardo also serves as a peer mediator and as vice president of student government.

Jason Schartz, a senior at Paradise Valley High School, is the District 2 Outstanding Young Man of the Year. Schartz is on the varsity wrestling and football teams and is a tutor in the Advancement Via Individual Determination Program. Schartz also is an active volunteer through his church youth group.

The District 3 Outstanding Young Woman of the Year is Kelsey Rader, the senior class president of Greenway High School. Rader was selected last year as a Sister Cities Youth Ambassador to travel to Hermosillo, Mexico and returned with a commitment to international cooperation. Rader volunteers her time for the Sister Cities Program, National Honor Society and the Anti-Defamation League.

The District 3 Outstanding Young Man of the Year is James Harris, a junior at Thunderbird High School. Harris has organized a large food drive, traveled to Chengdu, China as a Sister Cities Ambassador, taught English as a Second Language in Lithuania and overcome many physical challenges.

The District 4 Outstanding Young Woman of the Year is Veronica Chavez, a senior at Metro Tech High School. Along with having numerous perfect attendance awards, Chavez is a member of the Helping Hands Community Service Club, National Honor Society and World Cultures Club. Chavez will be graduating from high school with a cosmetology license, which will allow her to put herself through college to be an architect.

Christian Solorio, a senior at Metro Tech High School, is the District 4 Outstanding Young Man of the Year. Solorio is a member of Academic Decathlon, Aguila Youth Leadership Institute, Interact Club, Future Business Leaders of America, among others. Solorio also volunteers for local political campaigns and the Phoenix Art Museum.

The District 5 Outstanding Young Woman of the Year is Adriana Delgado, a senior at Trevor G. Brown High School. Delgado started a club at her campus called, “La Familia,” which encourages her fellow students and their families to make a positive difference in the community. Delgado has also participated as the executive officer of her schools Army and Air Force Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps and volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club, in addition to helping her mother take care of their family.

The District 5 Outstanding Young Man of the Year is Kameron Kerns, a senior at Cortez High School. Kerns is a well-rounded student who has played for the school band, on the Jazz Ensemble, and played at least one sport every season. Kerns also is a committed member of his church and volunteers often through its activities.

The District 6 Young Woman of the Year is Nicole Jiam, a senior at Desert Vista High School. In addition to school and extracurricular activities, Jiam volunteers four hours per week at Desert Banner Hospital and the library during the summer. As president of her school’s orchestra, she organizes bi-monthly concerts for patients of the Hawthorne Alzheimer’s Rehabilitation Center. She plans to spend this summer in Kenya helping people with HIV and AIDS.

The District 6 Young Man of the Year is Kunal Mangal, a senior at Desert Vista High School. Mangal is a member of the Governor’s Youth Commission and the president of SAGE, a club at his school dedicated to informing students about college admissions process. Mangal also volunteers at a medical clinic downtown, helps set up the annual Relay for Life and leads a Hindu study group at his church.

The District 7 Young Woman of the Year is Mabel Munoz, a senior at Carl Hayden High School. She is a member of many clubs and programs at school, including the French Club, ACE Program, Carl Hayden Robotics Team and is president of the National Honor Society and the Math Club. Despite often being at school for 12 hours every day, she is ranked number one in her class and finds time to volunteer at Saint Mary’s Food Bank, street clean ups and at the Andre House.

The District 7 Young Man of the Year is Michael Dimler, a senior at North High School. Dimler is the activities vice president of North High student government. He also has helped build houses with Amor Ministries and helps with the Willo Neighborhood newsletter. Dimler also holds a part-time job and is a member of the North High tennis and golf teams.

The District 8 Young Woman of the Year is Deyzi Ixtabalan, a senior at South Mountain High School. Ixtabalan is working towards her private pilot’s license through her high school. Ixtabalan is also president of the French Club, which is her third language, and is secretary of the Academic Decathlon Club.

The District 8 Young Man of the Year is Jose Razo, a senior at GateWay Early College High School. Razo volunteers every Saturday with a state representative and helps organize his church’s weekly community youth service. He helps promote his high school and will be graduating in May with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. Razo is active in building his community and also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity.