Because our work at Get Schooled directly supports young people, it's essential to have them involved in the strategizing, planning, and creation of it. We know that by centering the knowledge and experiences of our audience in our work, we’ll continue to give them the best information and tools they need to thrive in college, jobs, and life. That's why we formed our third annual national Youth Advisory Council (YAC)!

Some things the YAC will help Get Schooled with this year:

• Drafting and editing content for our website
• Developing fun and engaging quizzes, activities, and Kahoots
• Strategizing ways to strengthen our social media presence
• Informing website improvements
• Writing scripts and starring as talent for YouTube and social videos
• Finding high-quality scholarships

…and more!

Our YAC members come from a variety of lived experiences, educational and professional backgrounds, states, and more. We couldn't be more excited to have them to inform and shape our work for years to come. Get to know the 2022-2023 YAC below!

Alondra Solis

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Pronouns: She/Her

Year in school: First-year community-college student

What excites you about working on the YAC? As part of the undocumented community I believe education equity is vital which is why I advocate for myself and others through educational spaces in hopes of creating a more accessible space.

What's a superpower you'd like to have? If I could have a super power it would be the power to teleport anywhere in the world.

Aminah Karamoua

Hometown: New York, New York

Pronouns: She/Her

Year in school: First-year college student

What excites you about working on the YAC? I am excited to work on the YAC because for the past few years, I have relied on Get Schooled for scholarship opportunities, resume assistance, and help to find jobs and I wanted to be able to help make these resources available to students of all different backgrounds.

What's a superpower you'd like to have? If I could have any superpower, I would love to be able to travel through time!

Carlos Hernandez Santiago

Hometown: San Marcos, California

Pronouns: He/Him

Year in school: Senior in high school

What excites you about working on the YAC? I am excited to work in the YAC because of the opportunity to positively influence my underserved people by providing them the resources they need to succeed.

What's a superpower you'd like to have? If I could have a superpower, it would definitely be teleportation!

Hailey Veloz

Hometown: Palmdale, California

Pronouns: She/Her

Year in school: First-year college student

What excites you about working on the YAC? What I'm most excited about is being able to put my own ideas and knowledge on a platform like Get Schooled which I used all the time throughout high school, so it's super cool that now I'm involved in helping other students through college applications, jobs, scholarships, and more!

What's a superpower you'd like to have? If I could choose a super power it would be the power to know everything.

Karla Gonzalez

Hometown: San Diego, California

Pronouns: She/Her

Year in school: Second-year college student

What excites you about working on the YAC? I am so excited to work with the YAC because I wish to promote and aid the well-being of the youth who follow Get Schooled. I wish to create a safe space where the youth can find useful resources that facilitate their journey into college or their first jobs. All in all, I am someone who loves helping others and sharing knowledge to better their lives; becoming a part of this council is the perfect opportunity for me to do this.

What's a superpower you'd like to have? I would love to have the ability to read people's minds!

Nafisa Jeilani

Hometown: Syracuse, New York

Pronouns: She/Her

Year in school: First-year college student

What excites you about working on the YAC? I am excited to provide my own input on how to make Get Schooled an even better experience for underrepresented high school students, as well as gain new skills while working with the Get Schooled team!

What's a superpower you'd like to have? Teleportation! I would love to be able to travel to all my favorite places in the blink of an eye. It would make it cheaper to visit my family abroad & friends at college too!

Shivnath Shankar

Hometown: Southborough, Massachusetts

Pronouns: He/Him

Year in school: Senior in high school

What excites you about working on the YAC? I am excited to work on the YAC because together we can create ideas and solutions that will lead to a more equitable and fair world for the youth of America.

What's a superpower you'd like to have? I would like to have the ability to teleport so that I could go wherever I want at any time!

Varuni Chopra

Hometown: North Royalton, Ohio

Pronouns: She/Her

Year in school: Senior in high school

What excites you about working on the YAC? I joined the YAC to learn from the perspectives of others and make a difference by working with the Get Schooled team. I look forward to a great school year with the YAC!

What's a superpower you'd like to have? If I had a superpower, I would want it to be super speed.