Nominate a

#DifferenceMaker

We’re looking for outstanding students, teachers, administrators, and community members!

Our Previous Difference-Maker Winners

Teacher Difference Maker: Cyndi Cubillas  
School: Southern Arizona Community Academy

Cyndi is an amazing Difference Maker because she started a group on her campus called “YLM” or Your Life Matters. It began last year when students wanted to make a change in their school. This teacher has helped students to change, and help other schools to show the real problems students and adults are facing. Everyone in the school is so proud of her and the sacrifices she makes so they can have this outlet. Her students share that they have never had a teacher who cares more about helping her students. She works tirelessly to make sure they are all okay, and taken care of, especially when it comes to their mental health. She’s there anytime students need her, whether it’s at 2 am or 10 pm or 3,000 miles away, and she loves them endlessly and unconditionally. She listens when they speak, and helps them reach out when they can’t. She raises them up when they have fallen and cheers them on when they soar. Cyndi started YLM to help people who can’t use their voices to reach out and find their light. Ms. Cyndi truly deserves this award and she is making a difference on her campus everyday. 

Student Difference Maker: Jeremiah Aguinaga
School: Sierra Linda High School

Jeremiah is a true Difference Maker because of his caring nature and call to action to helping his campus be the best it can be. Jeremiah has really leaned into being the president of the Peer Counseling/Mediation club at Sierra Linda High School. He is always there for students to speak to, and is a friendly face for those that may feel lost on campus. Jeremiah has used his outstanding leadership skills to create and implement different plans to help the campus excel, from peer mentorship to positivity initiatives that are carried out through different facets on campus. Jeremiah is an example of what happens when students use the Speak up, Stand Up, Save a Life message throughout their campuses to impact change and make life better. We are so proud of you, Jeremiah, and all of your efforts. You are not only saving lives, you are helping students to believe in themselves and take action as difference makers.

School Resource Officer
Name: Wendy Klarkowski
School: Surprise Police SRO

We are proud to honor Officer Wendy Klarkowski with the Difference Maker Award for SRO's. Officer Klarkowski became the Shadow Ridge High School SRO in 2012. Since that time she has been impacting the lives of the youth in the City of Surprise and around the entire Valley. In 2018, Officer Klarkowski partnered with her fellow SRO’s to create a juvenile diversion program in the City of Surprise. This program is intended to keep low level juvenile offenders out of the criminal justice system, but still hold them accountable for their offenses. In 2018, following the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Conference, Officer Klarkowski partnered with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to educate youth and parents around the Valley about the dangers associated with Vaping. Officer Klarkowski attended “resource nights” throughout the Valley, putting her vape display out for all attendees to see and educate them regarding the inherent risks and dangers of using Vapes. Since then, Officer Klarkowski has attended national and state conferences to educate her Law Enforcement partners about the dangers and trends associated with youth Vaping.  We are deeply grateful to you, Officer Klarkowski, for all you are doing to Speak Up, Stand Up and Save Lives.      

Social Worker: Nicole Delgado
School: Mesa High School

The Difference Maker Award for a School Social Worker goes to Nicole Delgado. Nicole is everything you would want in a school social worker. She is caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, and connected to the students, staff, and families at Mesa High. Each day is a different challenge, with Nicole always focused on what is best for her students.  She is credited with saving lives of students by being a great listener and showing students they can believe in themselves. Nicole works with groups and individuals on campus to help give students the resources and tools they need to be successful. Nicole believes in the power of the saying, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." She is carrying that message through the campus of Mesa High as she and others, Speak Up, Stand Up and Save lives together." Congratulations, Nicole. We are so proud of you.