Banquet Speech: Luke Cunning

Welcome! The communications committee decided to dust off the YMSL Fort Collins blog, and for our first post of the 2018-2019 year, we're sharing Rocky Mountain High School senior Luke Cunning's speech from the banquet in May:

I would like to start by saying that when my mom first signed me up for YMSL I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea how far it would take me or how much I would grow from it. After my first year I considered quitting because I kept telling myself “This is too much work” or “I don't have time to do this.” But despite this I decided to stay to make my mom proud. Needless to say I am grateful that I am still here standing in front of all of you today.

Since then I have realized that YMSL is more than just something I can do to make my mom proud, or even to have something to be proud about. It’s not about having something extra to put on a resume or college application. It’s not about spending time with friends, though I have enjoyed working with all of you these last three years. YMSL is about the people you help along the way and the connections you make with those people.

My fondest memory I have from YMSL is working on the ultimate gift project for the learning house. I was working on the stairs and the decks to the front and back of the house all day and not working on much else. By the end of the day I looked around and realized how much work had been done. In the span of only a few short hours of hard work we had managed to help the owners of the learning house with renovations that would last years to come. This also leaves an impact on all the kids who attend the learning house so they have a nicer place to learn and be kids. What I learned from this experience was that we can achieve great things when we work together.

YMSL has given me opportunities that I never would have thought possible without it. I would like to finish by thanking everyone here for working hard and making this year amazing. I would also like to thank all of the moms for supporting your sons and for always being someone to look up to.

Reflecting on our First Year at YMSL

By: Katy SayersYMSL Mom

Class of 2021

While I like to think that my son and I have always had a great relationship and connection, YMSL has served to strengthen that bond.  As we have learned about a variety of local charities and tried different types of service, I have realized some new qualities about Jackson.  Like any teen, Jackson loves to sleep in on a weekend. But not once has he complained about getting up early to help runners sign into a race, send veterans off on a honor flight, or shovel loads of rock for a landscaping project.  He's approached each opportunity as exactly that -- an opportunity for us to be together and give back to our community in some small, but meaningful way.  He's rallied many early mornings to volunteer, always with a positive attitude towards our time together in service to others.  I like that about him.  I've also come to appreciate how confident he is.  When there's a job to be done at one of the organizations we've served, he steps up and gets to work right away.  He looks around and figures out what needs to happen next.  It's cool to see that he can be proactive and helpful.  I've always been so proud of my son, but having the chance for the two of us to spend time together doing good in the world has been a great experience for both of us to be better together. 

My Favorite Volunteer Event . . . Night to Shine

By: Tyler Campbell

Class of 2019

On Friday, February 9, 2018, YMSL and many other Northern Colorado teams worked together to celebrate Night to Shine. Night to Shine is a prom night experience for people with special needs. Thanks to the Tim Tebow Foundation, 537 churches from all around the world hosted 90,000 guests. Here, in Northern Colorado, 450 guests experienced Night to Shine with the help of 1300 volunteers. This was my second year volunteering with my mom and our entire family joined us this year.

Night to Shine was full of laughter and joy. When guests arrive, they walk down the red carpet with paparazzi cheering and snapping photos. Inside, the guests take goofy pictures in the photo booth, sing their hearts out in the karaoke room, and dance the night away on the dance floor. With limousine rides, candlelight dining, and a live band, a full VIP treatment is given to each and every guest. The highlight of the night is when each Night to Shine guest gets crowned as king or queen of the prom.

I had the opportunity to volunteer in the photo booth alongside my mom and other YMSL members. We got to greet the guests, help pick out accessories to wear, and leave them with photos and memories to take home. The photo booth could have been the most popular activity with a line down the hall all night long!

The most rewarding part of volunteering at Night to Shine is seeing the smiles on the guests’ faces. It’s one night a year where they get to dance, sing, have fun, and ride limos. And according to Tim Tebow, “It's so much more than that, because maybe for the first time they realize that they’re worth it … they realize that they are special ... they realize that they are loved … there's nothing much more important than that.”

Things I have Learned about my Mom while Volunteering with YMSL 

Things I have learned about my mom while volunteering with YMSL is that she has an undying need to see me NOT sleep on my days off from school & work. She believes that I will grow in ways that I still don’t yet understand through being a part of this organization and that through serving others & going to meetings, I will expand myself in ways I won’t even know until I’m older. I am normally interested in helping others, but she feels that I also need to learn other skills like communicating on a monthly basis at leadership type meetings with people I don’t ever see outside of these times. She tells me that in the future I will thank her for this time we spend together but in reality I already appreciate how she tries to get me to be the best person I can be. It’s been fun working with her at places I wouldn’t normally even know exist.

     I learned that while my mom came from the same places that many of these people we help come from, she has overcome many obstacles that I will  never even experience in my lifetime. I learn over & over again how proud I am of her and how much she loves me. Thanks YMSL for helping me know my mom better and for giving me opportunities to serve in our community.

Kenny Robinson 

Meet our New Members (5 of 5)

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Quinn and Elaine Fankhauser

Elaine Fankhauser

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Hobbies/Interests: Art and collecting driftwood.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Creating art pieces with natural material found here in Colorado.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Going to Greece and Italy.

Quinn Fankhauser

School: Rocky Mountain High School class of 2021

Hobbies/Interests: Photography.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: Great eye for capturing unique photos.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to New York.

Camden and Kim Opfer

Kim Opfer

Hometown: Barrington, Illinois
Hobbies/Interests: Reading and travel.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: I lived overseas for 11 years in four different countries.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Travel to Africa.

Camden Opfer

School: Poudre High School (Lesher)

Hobbies/Interests: Running, band, and academic clubs.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I was born in South Korea.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Run a marathon.

Andrew and Tracey Feist

Tracey Feist

Hometown: Sioux City, Iowa
Hobbies/Interests: Scrapbooking and quilting.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: ?
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go on an Alaskan cruise.

Andrew Feist

School: Rocky Mountain High School (Webber)

Hobbies/Interests: Fishing and sports.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I want to join the military.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Visit Alaska.

Stacey and Owen Cornmesser

Stacey Cornmesser

Hometown: Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
Hobbies/Interests: Running, skiing, reading, and camping.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Even though I am a stay at home mom, I very much still think like a scientist!
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Ski down the East Wall at A-Basin.

Owen Cornmesser

School: Fossil Ridge High School (Kinard)

Hobbies/Interests: Sports and hiking.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I like camping.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Travel the world.

Sandy and Angelo Vassalli

Sandy Vassalli

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, traveling, and skiing.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Oh boy, I speak some Italian although it's very rusty.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Whale watch in Alaska.

Angelo Vassalli

School: Fossil Ridge High School

Hobbies/Interests: Rock climbing, Parkour, wrestling, skiing, and snowboarding.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I have double citizenship with Switzerland.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to Australia.

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Jan Leary

Hometown: Lakewood, Colorado
Hobbies/Interests: Sales manager for a genetics lab.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Wearing different hats from minute to minute.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Visit the city of Dubai.

Will Leary

School: Fossil Ridge High School (2020)

Hobbies/Interests: I like soccer and golf and I play both competitively.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I like to collect/enjoy shoes.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: I hope to play golf at a good college.

Meet our New Members (4 of 5)

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Matthew and Michelle Jackson

Michelle Jackson

Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Hobbies/Interests: Paper crafts and vintage clothing.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Crafting with vintage materials.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Travel to Europe!!!!!

Matthew Jackson

School: Rocky Mountain High School class of 2021 (Webber)

Hobbies/Interests: Basketball, cello, and German.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I was in Honors Orchestra.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Own a tank.

Noah and Kristin Sorensen

Kristen Sorensen

Hometown: Monmouth, Illinois
Hobbies/Interests: Crocheting, reading, and hiking.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: I can drive a tractor.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to the US Open (tennis).

Noah Sorensen

School: Rocky Mountain High School (2020)

Hobbies/Interests: Tennis, reading, and friends.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I've been parasailing.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to the French Open.

Logan and Michelle Edgerley

Michelle Edgerley

Hometown: I was born and lived outside Chicago for 11 years, but I consider Fort Collins my hometown.
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, hiking and spending time with family.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: I have a twin sister.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Hike a 14er.

Logan Edgerley

School: Rocky Mountain High School (Webber)

Hobbies/Interests: Soccer and basketball.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I am not good at video games.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Skydive.

Karen and Noah Spagnuolo

Karen Spagnuolo

Hometown: Kiel, Wisconsin
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, camping, snowshoeing, traveling, and reading.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: I can cross one eye at a time.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Spend the night in a medieval castle.

Noah Spagnuolo

School: Rocky Mountain High School (Webber) 

Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, hiking, running, coding, and playing games with friends. 

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I have been to four European countries.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Visit every continent.

Cooper and Tracey Winey

Tracey Winey 

Hometown: Craig, Colorado
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking 14ers, gardening, camping, and playing games.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Haven't eaten meat in 27 years.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Live in Africa.

Cooper Winey

School: Fort Collins High School (Preston) 

Hobbies/Interests: Basketball. 

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I like the Hornets.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to the ocean.

Alex and Tricia Diehl

Tricia Diehl

Hometown: Springfield, Virginia
Hobbies/Interests: Food/cooking, skiing, and art.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: I am addicted to ChapStick® and have an unexplained fear of wind chimes.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: I would like to be an extra on a movie set and travel with my family.

Alex Diehl

School: Liberty 

Hobbies/Interests: Lacrosse and motocross. 

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I like to mountain bike.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Be an exchange student in Australia.

Meet our New Members (3 of 5)

Meet our New Members (3 of 5)

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Denise Bolte and Logan Myers

Denise Bolte 

Hometown: Littleton, Colorado
Hobbies/Interests: Animals and gardening.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: ?
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to South Africa.

Logan Myers

School: Fossil Ridge High School (Preston)

Hobbies/Interests: Basketball and golf.

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I have a crooked finger.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go snorkeling.

Ethan and Tricia Engelhardt

Tricia Egelhardt

Hometown: Schaller, Iowa
Hobbies/Interests: Cycling and Character Education.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Speaking Russian.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to Prague and scuba dive at the Barrier Reef.

Ethan Engelhardt

School: Fort Collins High School (Preston)

Hobbies/Interests: Fishing and swimming. 

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I like to fish.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Go to Olympic trials.

Mara Konopasek and Bohdan Salcido

Mara Konopasek

Hometown: Sebastopol, California
Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, running, and traveling.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Paddle ball.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Visit the Amazon.

Bohdan Salcido

School: Fort Collins High School (Boltz) 

Hobbies/Interests: Soccer and computers. 

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I could be in 8th grade.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: visit Alaska.

Pamela and Raymond Randall 

Pamela Randall

Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, camping, and walking our dog.
Your most unique quality, characteristic or talent is: Treating others how I want to be treated; I try to always have a smile on my face.
Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: Travel all over the world.

Raymond Randall

School: Rocky Mountain High School (2020) 

Hobbies/Interests: Soccer and YouTuber. 

Tell us something unique about you that most people don't know: I am a YouTuber.

Name one thing on your bucket list you hope to do someday: go skydiving.