Sandi Shipley Photography

First, I want to say thank you to those of you who took the time to send in nominations! It was so encouraging to read about these young adults who, despite their circumstances, are accomplishing great things. I was so touched reading the stories and hearing about these teens. It was way too difficult to pick just one winner, so I picked two! Read a bit more about each of them below. I will be contacting both families shortly. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!

The first winner is  Alexys Amuso.  Alexys was nominated by her Grandmother, Andrea Amuso, and is a Senior at  Ironwood High School.  Alexys’ mother was killed in an accident when she was just 9 years old. For various reasons her father was unable to care for her and her brother.  They were both adopted by her Grandmother, Andrea.

Her Grandmother wrote these words to describe Alexys:  “Never once has Alexys used this loss as an excuse for anything in her life. When she’s really missing her Mom, she sits down and writes poetry to express her feelings. She wrote her first poem months after her Mom died. It was published in a book of Poems and in a Poetry contest at her school. Lexi, as her friends call her maintains a 3.7 non weighted GPA at  taking Honors classes, and is Captain of her Soccer Team. She has been accepted into all three of the State’s Public Universities and is awaiting word from some out of state Universities. She wants to be a Neonatal Nurse and is very focused on that goal. Everyone who meets her falls in love with her. Her Guidance Counselor at Ironwood High School says she’s the most mature, focused student she has.”

The second teen to receive a Portrait Session is Sarah Poland, a Senior at Sunnyslope High School. The amazing thing about Sarah is that she was nominated not once but twice, by two separate people! Here is a little bit from what both people had to say about Sarah…

Sarah Doyle, Sarah’s Small group leader wrote me these words about Sarah: “She is a born leader and is able to influence those around her.  She can be straight-forward but also tends to guard herself until she knows she can really trust you.  She is kind and deeply loyal to her family and friends.  She has a sweet passion for developmentally delayed children and hopes to be a special education teacher or work with them in another way.  Sarah is currently the editor of her high school newspaper and plays on the varsity soccer team.  In the spring she will be on the track team where she will compete in triple jump and long jump.  She was a cheerleader for the first time this year during football season.  She is learning to play the piano in school and maintains a B average in her classes.  She is on our high school leadership team, and remains committed to my small group.  She goes to many of the Senior High events, went on the Mexico mission trip with our church the last two years, helped with VBS, and did Kid’s Club with Neighborhood Ministries this summer.  She works and plays hard in everything she is a part of, so much so that she loses her voice often from sheer exhaustion.”

And Sue DeForrest, a close friend, had this to say: “(Sarah) is a Senior at Sunnyslope High School and has dealt with so much in her young life.  Finances have always been tight for Scott and his family and over the years Sarah has dealt with their situation quietly.  In spite of all her struggles, Sarah has persevered. She has been on the swim team, soccer team, track team and this year she was a cheerleader. She has wrestled with and hung in there with God and is regular at ODF.  And best of all she will graduate in a few months with plans and hope for her future!”

Congratulations Alexys and Sarah!  I was blessed by hearing your stories and the wonderful things your loved ones had to say about you both. I am looking forward to meeting you and will contact you to schedule your free Portrait Sessions!