Brad Levesque
Youth Leadership Award
On May 25, 1996, Brad Levesque passed away after battling cancer for several years. Brad spent many of his teen years in foster care, all while fighting cancer. In his determination to not let cancer be his focus, Brad committed many of his years in care to help improve the lives of other teens in foster care.
Each year The Brad Levesque Youth Leadership Award will be given to a worthy youth or two in care who meet the criteria that Brad helped to develop…“Someone like me”, as Brad so aptly put it!
The recipient must be a youth in care between the ages of 15 and 21 who:
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Demonstrate active volunteer capacity (i.e. community service, teen conference planning, etc.)
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Are interested in pursuing education beyond high school
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Maybe medically/physically challenged
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May have resided in group/residential programs
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May have participated in outdoor adventure programs
2019 Brad Levesque Youth Leadership Awardees
2026
Cheyenne Little
CHEYENNE LITTLE
Cheyenne has been a YLAT member for all four years of high school, attending both monthly meetings and elevated opportunities such as the Policy Summit, Strategic Sharing trainings, the yearly Teen Conference, and a regional conference for the New England Youth Coalition. Cheyenne excels academically, and is a member of the Civil Rights team, and the JMG Leadership Council, serving as the Council President this year. This year, Cheyenne has been volunteering and working with the United Way of Southern Maine as a Student Ambassador through their community impact grant. Cheyenne is a talented artist and graphic designer, attending pre-college summer arts programming, and is heading to Husson University with plans to study graphic design. Cheyenne earned high awards in Social Studies and Art, and for their senior capstone wrote and presented a bill to the legislative Health and Human Services Committee on expanding training programs for social workers for working with children diagnosed with PTSD and pervasive developmental delays. Cheyenne is a steadfast advocate for the causes dear to them and continues to move the needle on important conversations, all while being a regular and valued member of the YLAT community.
2026
Kingston Lawrence
KINGSTON LAWRENCE
Kingston has demonstrated a remarkable transformation over the past year, finding his voice and taking it to new heights that are improving both his own life, and those of others in the foster care system. Kingston has joined YLAT meetings for years and has gone from being kind and humorous but shy to well-spoken, thoughtful, and an absolute leader in the spaces he enters. Kingston has embraced change with excitement and confidence, holding two jobs, saving money for a car, and completing licensure hours. While setting higher and higher academic goals and meeting them, Kingston has continued to attend YLAT meetings monthly, becoming a welcoming face for new youth, and contributing meaningfully and thoughtfully. He participated in Opportunity Passport, joined the Policy Summit at the State House and led the conversation sporting a suitcoat and highly professional presence. Kingston shows a willingness to leave the comfortable for the uncomfortable, and shows unwavering commitment to himself, the people important to him, and the YLAT community. He embodies a sense of confidence, peace, and continually raising the bar with his personal and community aspirations.
Past Brad Levesque Award Recipients:
2025: Robert Cameron & Alivia Olsen · 2024: Cave Moubarak & Mackenzie Fecteau · 2023: Rewn Herald & Christina Creedon · 2022: Alyson Mason & Josh Small · 2021: Julianna Morningstar & Genesis Edwards · 2020: Natalie Watson-Todd & Michael Brickle · 2019: Tiffani Melia & Morgan Beals · 2018: Anna Chabot & Sophia Dunton · 2017: Jason Mulvey & Gianna Gaudet · 2016: Jacob Hills & Alexander Buzzell · 2015: Tia Knowlton-Basford & Isabelle Goodrich · 2014: Chrystal Inman & Kyle Snyder · 2013: Tyneshia Wright & Stephanie Gerard · 2012: Mariah Trimble-Smith & Casey Smith · 2011: Joshua Calcia · 2010: Sylvia Little & Shannon Jacobson · 2009: Victoria “Torry” Bernard · 2008: Vanessa Bridge & Paula Burrows · 2007: Chanthy Like · 2006: Kala Clark & Ashley Keiran · 2005: Johanna Rhodes & Brystle Noble · 2004: William Lane & Roxanne Carpentier · 2003: Edward Schnopp · 2002: Crystal Castro · 2001: Maria Gordon & John Rutterford · 2000: Jennie Hinckley · 1999: Christina Irvine · 1998: Jay Dymond · 1997: Corey McLaughlin · 1996: Leticia Jacques · 1995: Wayne Johnson · 1994: Brad Levesque