Student Voice Alliance

Katelyn Beal a junior at the Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy (CTLA) and a student in the Paralegal Program through Johnston Community College. She serves as the Deputy Director of Engagement for Student Voice Alliance, is active on the CTLA Debate Team (running for Vice President), participates in the Random Acts of Kindness Club, and serves as an CTLA student ambassador. Katelyn also serves as YLA Justice and Public Safety Co-Chair and is a leadership team member for the Johnston County Youth Empowerment Program. She has served as a 2026 North Carolina House Page, 2026 North Carolina Senate Page, and a 2026 North Carolina Governor’s Page.

Beau Combopiano is the Director of Engagement for Student Voice Alliance and a senior in Wake County Public Schools. At school, she serves as Debate Captain, Junior Class President, and DECA President, focusing on youth engagement and empowerment. She also represents her peers on the Superintendent Committee, sits on the school’s Appeals and Approvals Board, and is a member of National Honor Society. Beyond school, Beau is a classical pianist, author, piano teacher, youth attorney in Teen Court, Co-Chair of the Business Committee in the Youth Legislative Assembly, Wharton Global Youth scholar, and 87th Governor of ALA Tar Heel Girl's State.

Nicholas Winfield-Fasan is a rising junior at the North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM). At his previous school, Walter M. Williams high school, he served in the student council and the National English Honor Society (NEHS), organizing several volunteer opportunities. He also has participated in the Model United Nations team at Elon University, the North Carolina Mock Trial (NCMT) program, and the National History Day (NHD) research competition, winning a military history award at the state competition. Finally, he has been a part of the environmental committee in the Youth Legislative Assembly, where he won best witness. Outside of school, he has a passion for cooking and baking, and has worked as a pastry cook at the restaurant Saint Jacques at The Burke Manor Inn.

Ian House is a passionate advocate for student voice and civic engagement in North Carolina and beyond. As Senior Director of Student Voice Alliance, he works to amplify student perspectives in education policy. Ian also formerly served as a student advisor on the North Carolina State Board of Education where he founded Student Voice Alliance. A freshman student and Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying public policy, he is deeply engaged in exploring North Carolina's government, politics, and history.

Quinn Kaufmann is a senior in Gaston County Schools and serves as the Digital Content Manager for Student Voice Alliance. At school, she is the co-president of Model Un club, a member of Student Council, and a student-athlete having received the coaches award for tennis in recognition of her leadership and dedication to the sport. Outside of school, Quinn has served North Carolina’s Youth Legislative Assembly as both a delegate and chair on the environmental committee and hopes to pursue a career in politics. She is passionate about students having a say in their education and hopes to inspire students to advocate for their academic needs.

Caleb Lee is a junior at the Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy (CTLA), where he is part of the Paralegal Pathway. He is an active student leader, serving as President of the Debate Club and a member of the Judiciary Committee for the current school year. Caleb previously served as YLA Business Co-Chair and currently serves as the Judiciary Co-Chair. Caleb also represents his community as a member of the Clayton Youth Council. He is a graduate of the 2026 Red Hat Shelton Leadership Challenge Week 3, further demonstrating his commitment to leadership, communication, and student advocacy.

Gracie Moore is a first-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Public Policy with plans to pursue a career in law. She is passionate about civic engagement, public service, and empowering student voices through advocacy and leadership. As Outreach Director for Student Voice Alliance, Gracie is committed to using her platform to foster meaningful student engagement and create positive change in education and communities across North Carolina.

Mia Nishiguchi is a passionate advocate for student voice, climate action, and public policy in Hawaiʻi and beyond. She previously served as the 2025-2026 student member of the Hawaiʻi State Board of Education, representing more than 165,000 public school students across the state. Mia also served as Chair of the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Youth Council, where she worked to advance sustainable and equitable transportation initiatives. A freshman at the University of Edinburgh studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, she is committed to expanding opportunities for young people to shape public policy and drive meaningful change.

Britain Sapp is a senior at Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee. She serves as the East Tennessee Middle and High School Representative for the Tennessee Association of Student Councils (TASC) and as her school’s Student Body President. Britain also holds leadership roles as FCA Media Leader, National Honor Society Class President, and Treasurer of both Interact and HOSA. She has represented student voice at the state and national levels through programs including SCOPE, NASBE’s NSMI, and ALA Girls State, and is actively involved in youth leadership through her school and local chamber of commerce.

Anna Sias is a Sophomore at Lake Lure Classical Academy, and a social media officer for the Student Voice Alliance. In her community, she is a strong advocate for gifted children and individualized education plans. She is a student ambassador for her school as well as a student-athlete. She has also served as student body president and class representative. Outside of school she enjoys local theater, piano, and the outdoors.

Sam Smith is a junior in Durham Public schools and a member of SVA’s social media team. She is a journalist and a writer, earning her awards such as the Scholastic Gold Key and a Superior score on a script at the NC State Thespian Festival. She will soon be apart of the team assembling her school’s literary magazine. Outside of writing, Sam enjoys changing her hair color, advocacy, and running her press on nail business.

Mailin Soyke is a junior in Guilford County Schools and serves as Director of the North Carolina Ambassador Program. She has a strong interest in legislative policy and public education, with a passion for improving schools through student input. Mailin is the Founder and President of her school’s Speech and Debate team, a representative on the Guilford County Service Learning Council, and has served as Student Council Treasurer and Constitution Committee Chair. She has also gained legislative experience as a North Carolina Senate Page.

Ann Mary Thomas in Wake County Public Schools, who serves as the Podcast manager for Student Voice Alliance. She is a passionate advocate for gifted education, dedicated to amplifying student voice and promoting equitable identification practices. She serves as a Student Advisor for Wake County Public Schools’ Advanced Learning Services Team and as a Senior Board Member of the National Gifted and Talented Student Advocacy Board (NGTSAB). Ann Mary will present at the 2026 North Carolina Association for Gifted and Talented (NCAGT) Conference and is the President of YAPA Kids, a global organization fostering academic curiosity among students in grades 1–8. Outside of her academic pursuits, she is a section leader in the NC Master Youth Chorale and a dance instructor.