Two seniors at Yelm High School, Rianna Slevin and Kiana Neir, were acknowledged for their hard work at YHS, their community service and scholastic achievements on Dec. 2 when they were named the City of Yelm’s Youth of the Year, an annual award.
Slevin, who carries a 3.9 GPA, is the founder and president of YHS’s American Sign Language Club. She serves as student liaison for the Washington Career and Technical Sports Medicine Association and as president of the YHS Sports Medicine Club, and additionally as the National Honors Society vice president. She plans to attend the University of Washington or the University of California Los Angeles to get a degree in STEM or pre-med, then ultimately become an orthopedic surgeon.
Slevin, proud of her work within her different groups and clubs, said she’s “really big on community.”
“I think that one of the most important things we can do as people is foster a positive community,” Slevin said. “I try to do that by being involved in as many things as I can to try to create as much of a positive impact on others as possible.”
She added she’s taken different leadership positions in various places or organizations to reach more people and create more positive spaces.
“I think the fact that I’m so involved with my community is probably what led to me winning this award alongside Ki,” Slevin said. “It’s ultimately an award coming from the City, and because I’ve given so much of myself to trying to make this city a positive space could be why I received this accomplishment.”
The YHS senior said she was aware she was a finalist before the presentation.
“I had a semi-idea that I could win it, but I didn’t know until they got up on the stage and announced it. I’m really happy to have received this award. It feels nice to have that love come back from the community. I’ve put in a lot of work, and to me, this is the community thanking me back. I really appreciate it,” Slevin said. “It’s really nice to be recognized for all the effort I put into it. I feel like it’s a culmination of all this work I’ve put in over the last four years of my life and in this community.”
Neir has put in over 170 community service hours during her four years at YHS. She’s volunteered her time with High Impact Dance and Careers in Education, which she described as a wonderful opportunity.
“I’ve been in a [teacher assistant] position at my dance studio. You don’t get a lot of perks financially, so most of it is volunteer work,” Neir said. “I spend a lot of my time volunteering running booths at the dance studio at events, or making sure the kids get on stage at the right time, or making sure they have their hair and makeup done with the correct costuming. I spent a lot of volunteer hours through High Impact Dance.
“It feels great to be involved,” Neir continued. “I love the involvement. I love that specifically with my opportunities for community service, that my involvement isn’t so disconnected and broadened that I’m not with the people. I feel like I’m with these specific communities, and I have these specified ways of community service and it’s enjoyable for me. I get to see them grow which is great as well.”
The YHS letter athlete in track and field, who holds records in pole vault and triple jump, aspires to have a career in education. She said she’s looking into several colleges to ultimately become a math or physical education teacher.
“It feels nice that the community is coming back towards me to show recognition,” Neir said. “The people who win these awards put themselves in the position to win these awards. There are a significant amount of people within the community that put in just as much work as us.”
Illeana Wall and Quentin Robinson received the honors in 2022.
