Student Health Advocates

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Who are the OSBHA Student Health Advocates?

Youth voice is a critical priority for us at the Oregon-School Based Health Alliance (OSBHA). Student Health Advocates (SHA) promote the value of school-based health across Oregon. OSBHA offers this leadership opportunity to young people in high school and college across Oregon who are interested in becoming a voice not only for their own health but for the health of their peers and community 

What do Student Health Advocates do?
  • Advocate for local and statewide school-based health centers
  • Advocate for health equity and social justice legislative efforts
  • Attends listening sessions
  • Provide feedback
  • Participate in OSBHA events, such as School Health Advocacy Day and OSBHA's annual conference
  • Work effectively within diverse communities and settings

How do I connect with the Student Health Advocates for an event, workshop, or training?
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with OSBHA Student Health Advocates, please contact Asia Gates, Youth Engagement Coordinator, at asia@osbha.org


How do I become a Student Health Advocate?
The 2023-2024 cohort application is live on September 6th, 2023, and can be found here. The application deadline is September 30th, 2023 at 5pm PDT. If you have any questions, check out our FAQ page.

Benefits of becoming a Student Health Advocate:

  • Leadership opportunities
  • Positive impact on your community
  • Relationship and team-building skills
  • Policy advocacy skills
  • Deepened relationship to social justice



Meet our 2023 - 2024 Student Health Advocates Cohort:

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Chloe Wilson | Catlin Gabel
 
Chloe is passionate about serving her community and youth access to health services. Being a Student Health Advocate, Chloe wants to advocate for these things hands-on and gain insight into others experiences as well. An entrepreneur and student at Catlin Gabel, Chloe hopes to continue to pursue her passions for business and community service. Chloe is a member of Tigard Youth Advisory Council, is a Young Professional with OCT, and regularly volunteers throughout the Tigard-Portland area. Chloe loves to do aerial silks, eat good food, and loves fashion!




 


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Geneva Lehto | Grant High School
 
Some things Geneva is passionate about include equal access to healthcare, holistic health approaches, and advocating for those with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Geneva is hoping that being a Student Health Advocate will expand their knowledge about healthcare and barriers that one might face while seeking it, and help gain essential skills that will be needed in a future career. Geneva plans to major in Biology in college, and pursue a career in either research or the field of healthcare. Outside of SHA, Geneva volunteers for Camp Blue Spruce, a camp for kids with food allergies, and is involved in NHS and theatre. In their free time, Geneva loves reading, going for walks, listening to music, and having dinner parties with friends.



 


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Grace Choi (she/her) | Oregon Charter Academy
 
Grace aspires to be an advocate for health equity and a voice for her community, and she believes that being a Student Health Advocate will help further these goals. As a part of SHA, Grace hopes to elevate her advocacy skills and expand her knowledge in healthcare in order to maximize the positive impact she can make on her community. Ultimately, Grace aims to use her passion and love for science to serve the public through clinical research and healthcare policy advocacy. In addition to SHA, Grace is a Red Cross Field Ambassador, a member of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Board for the city of Beaverton, and a Teen Tech Center Facilitator at OMSI. She is a competitive fencer and a mint chocolate chip enthusiast! In her free time, Grace enjoys watching the clouds, reading her biology textbook, and listening to alternative R&B




 


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Hai Nguyen (he/they) | Clackamas High School
 
Hai is a student with a commitment to spread the message of global health and well-being. He carried his passion into SHA - starting the journey with the smallest steps: advocating for his community, and the world around him. With aspirations to be a Nurse Practitioner after high school, Hai seeks to impact and improve the lives of those around him. Beyond the academic setting, Hai also is a varsity Speech and Debater along with volunteering across diverse organizations, covering numerous aspects of life.




 


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Luke Shirtcliff (he/him) | Summit High School
 
Luke is an aspiring freshman at Summit High School in Bend OR and joined SHA to make a difference in his community. His brother, Joseph, has special needs and Luke has always wanted to be able to open doors for people like his brother. He hopes to join his sister at the University of Notre Dame and major in engineering. He is a part of TCHA (Teen Community Health Advocates) and Speech and Debate. In his free time, he enjoys playing baseball and basketball, hanging out with friends, and reading.




 


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Mackenzie Devereux (she/her) | Ida B. Wells High School
 
For as long as she can remember, Mackenzie's call to service is where she finds fulfillment - especially when this passion is combined with her interests. Connecting with her community as an Ambassador Girl Scout, Red Cross Club President, dance teacher, and tutor, Mackenzie enjoys incorporating service into every facet of my life. This is further exemplified in her future plans to earn a  M.D./Ph.D. to become a surgeon and biophysical researcher. Mackenzie is thrilled to have this opportunity working with both peers and professionals to improve the state of student healthcare resources and opportunities.



 


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Nicole Reksopuro (she/her) | Adrienne C. Nelson High School
 
The topic of accessible healthcare has always been a priority to Nicole. As an underrepresented minority, Nicole strives towards making a difference. From volunteering at homeless shelters, to voicing opinions at district board meetings, she is there. In her school, Nicole is a devoted advocate for social justice and student representation, and figures taking this opportunity as a Student Health Advocate aids her voice in the spread of accessible healthcare at school.




 


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Olivia Phan (she/her) | Centennial High School
 
SHA aligns with my goals to make health care accessible for anyone despite circumstances. Through SHA, I hope to bridge the gap in healthcare for marginalized groups. I I want to go into biomedical engineering to develop imaging technology that is effective and readily available. I am currently conducting research on protective methods to shield healthy cells during radiotherapy for cancer and hope to continue research in college. In addition to accessible health care, I am also passionate about STEM opportunities for youth. I created after-school science programs at multiple schools in Gresham. In my free time, I love dancing. Creative outlets like dance help keep my mind flowing and active after spending lots of time analyzing data or doing problem sets.schools in Gresham. In my free time, I love dancing. Creative outlets like dance help keep my mind flowing and active after spending lots of time analyzing data or doing problem sets.


 


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Ruby Nevin | Sam Barlow High School
 
Ruby has always wanted to work in the medical field, specifically pediatrics so being a student health advocate is important to them because Ruby can help ensure everyone has accessible health care from a young age no matter their race or income. Ruby’s taking the first steps to their future working in the hospital by volunteering at OHSU with much enjoyment. Outside of Ruby’s interest in health care and nursing, Ruby is really passionate about fashion and makeup.




 


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Sabrina Zhang (she/her) | West Linn High School
 
Through SHA, Sabrina hopes to not only be given a platform and community to express her ideas, but also provide healthcare access towards her fellow student peers. In and outside of school, Sabrina is involved in conducting scientific research, taking long walks with her Sony camera, and creating meaningful impact through her own organization - Bits of World (@bitsofworld on insta!). She is also a huge fan of weekend boba runs, and staying at home to cook anything she is craving for!




 


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Stella Fergeson (she/her) | Ida B. Wells High School
 
Stella has always aspired to be a pediatrician because of her love for science as well as her passion for the wellbeing of children. Her dedication to this has grown to wanting to make a positive difference in the field, and Stella saw this as an opportunity to start while in high school! As a student health advocate, her goal is to gain insights into student health centers that are in place, and to advocate for enhanced care for students locally and statewide. Stella hopes to learn how to use my voice and ultimately impact student healthcare and equality. She has played softball her whole life, is a leader of the Multnomah Community Outreach group, Red Cross Club, Asian and Pacific Islander Club, and also works as a summer camp counselor.



 


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Sumanaa Rajagopal (she/her) | Westview High School
 
Sumanaa finds purpose as a Student Health Advocate, driven by the firm belief in accessible healthcare for everyone—an essential aspect of what SHA contributes to. Sumanaa’s aspirations include attending a four-year university with the ultimate goal of becoming a doctor or earning a Phd. Beyond academics, Sumanaa actively engages in various extracurriculars, serving as a mentor in the LLS student visionary program, and expressing their artistic side through graduate Bharatanatyam dance and Carnatic violin. During downtime, you’ll likely find Sumanaa hanging out with friends, cooking and baking, and traveling!



 


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Tracy Zhen (she/her) | Benson High School
 
As a Student Health Advocate, Tracy’s role aligns seamlessly with their life values and goals, rooted in a passion for helping others, activism, and advocacy. Tracy’s commitment to making a positive impact in the community can also be reflected in my participation in the Multnomah Youth Commission, Portland Bureau Advisory Committee, Youth Action Council, and more. Tracy’s aspirations for the future is to attend a four-year college and major in business administration/finance. Tracy aspires to become a lawyer and/or a business executive. In their free time, Tracy likes to listen to the endless amounts of atmospheric instrumental mixes out there while painting or other crafts such as jewelry making. Tracy enjoys playing volleyball, thrifting, and doing nails!



 


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Zoey Mcknight | Metro East Web Academy & Mt. Hood Community College
 
Being a student health advocate lets Zoey express their passion for mental health issues and Zoey gets to bring real change to important topics. Zoey’s goal is to bring compassion and love into all spaces of advocacy. Zoey is working towards a social work degree and is excited to both legislatively advocate and directly help people. Outside of school and SHA, Zoey enjoys church, being in community, and volunteering.




 




Meet our 2022 - 2023 Student Health Advocates Cohort:


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Abigail Cook (she/her) | Portland State University 

Abigail values health and people having resources. In the future, she wants to work within schools to advocate for students as a Social Worker. She felt like this was a great place to start. Abigail is currently studying sociology with a minor in Gender and Sexuality. She is involved in LGBTQ, and Sociology related activities within school. Abigail likes to listen to audiobooks and podcasts, and also likes to create art.




 
Jezreel Gaad Website Photo.pngJezreel Gaad (she/her) | David Douglas High School
 
Jezreel hopes to bring empathy, allyship, and advocacy so she can best help the people she serves. Jezreel wants to gain more experience in the health field and gain valuable skills while being a Student Health Advocate so she can continue to carry on in her future career. She plans to attend medical or pharmacy school to become a medical researcher or doctor for cancer and/or Alzheimers. In her school, she is founder and president of HOSA, president of Red Cross club, board member of NHS, member of ASU, member of student council, and member of the Wind Ensemble and Symphony. She also enjoys volunteering at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center on the weekend. She loves reading, listening to music, growing plants, and traveling!
 



 

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Priya Gadhe (she/her) | Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering 

As an aspiring healthcare professional, Priya’s interests in science, service, and advocacy form the perfect synergy to drive change in our community as a student health advocate. Priya looks forward to building more powerful experiences working with underrepresented communities and studying the factors contributing to healthcare inequity. She is passionate about public health and hopes to study this further! She has contributed to published research at AASPIRE, an autism research lab at PSU, and she is also a licensed advocate and writer at SARC (sexual assault resource center). At school, Priya is VP of leadership in HOSA and Committee Chair at MUN! She likes to hang out with her friends, and go on coffee runs :)



 

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Katie Gragg (she/her) | Catlin Gabel High School 

To Katie, the main goal of being a member of SHA is to advocate for and promote student-based health centers, which are centers that improve access and health outcomes for students. One value she finds important in life is equity in access to opportunities, which can’t be accomplished if you are missing basic needs, such as health care. In the future, Katie hopes to work in the STEM field. She is still discovering her passions and what makes her excited in this area, but one thing she does know is that she would like to pursue a career that aligns with both her interests and personal values. Outside of SHA, Katie volunteers at OMSI, is a member of her local library’s teen council and plays tennis throughout the year both at a club and for her school team. In her free time, Katie likes to play guitar, crochet, and read.



 

Lee, Alessandra Website Photo.pngAlessandra Lee (she/her) | Cleveland High School

Alessandra has always cared about social justice and how marginalized groups are disproportionately influenced by social issues, such as disparities in healthcare. Her goal is to promote better access to healthcare services and spread awareness of the importance of having access to healthcare and health-related education. She is not sure about what kind of career she wants to pursue in the future, but she would like to go to college after high school and stay involved in social justice work. Alessandra is involved in student government as the Publicity Representative for the Executive Council, and she is also a member of the Cleveland Alliance for Racial Equity. She is part of her school's theater program, as well as many clubs and affinity groups, such as AAPI, SAGA, Youth Action Council, and Pigmice. In her free time, Alessandra likes to listen to music, draw, crochet, knit, read, and watch TV shows.
 
 

Markus, Corinne Website Photo.pngCorinne Markus (She/her/hers) | Cleveland High School

Corinne is super passionate about accessible health care and reproductive health rights! Being a student health advocate is a way she can advocate for the change she wants to see! Corinne wants to be a holistic health specialist for women and people with uteruses! She wants to teach women and people with uteruses how to work with their bodies- not against them. Corinne is also involved with Planned Parenthood Teen Council, OSBHA board, and the All In My Head podcast for teen mental health! In her free time, she likes getting coffee or tea with friends, thrifting, and eating mochi!





 

McKnight, Zoey Website Photo_0.pngZoey Mcknight | Sam Barlow High School

Zoey is passionate about access to mental health care, preventative care, and advocating for health education so people can make informed consent. Being a Student Health Advocate gives Zoey a place to advocate for what they are passionate about and learn from others about their passions/experiences. Zoey hopes to have a career in social work to work with and advocate for people in marginalized communities. Zoey is part of the Gresham Youth Advisory Council, writes for the school’s newspaper, and is in the school’s book club. Zoey enjoys volunteering, doing crafts, and playing with their cat.
 



 

Piedad, Sandra Website Photo.pngSandra Piedad (she/her) | University of Portland

Sandra sees SHA connecting to her goal of going to graduate school to pursue physical therapy by understanding health advocacy to advocate for her patients' health and wellness. Holistic care is her main priority as a future healthcare practitioner, which fits well with health advocacy. Sandra is involved in UP Club basketball, UP Intramural Volleyball, UP IHW Club Member, & UP International Club member. In her spare time, she likes cultivating her friendships and relationships. She also enjoys traveling, physical activity, drawing, spending time with family, photography, videography, and eating out.




 

Schreiner, Elle Website Photo.pngElle Schreiner | Sandy High School 

Service is something Sandy has always valued. As a Student Health Advocate, Elle is able to make a difference and advocate for those who are in uncontrollable circumstances. Elle hopes to be able to improve services for everyone in need. Elle plans on graduating from high school with an  Associate's Degree and continuing education at an undergraduate school. Elle would like to earn a degree in Microbiology and Immunology and advance to medical school to become a dermatologist. Elle is a ski racer on the Sandy High School Ski Team along with being a grade representative for the high school's HOSA Future Health Professionals chapter. Elle is a member of Key Club and National Honor Society and is on the school's tennis team. Outside of school, Elle enjoys skiing, playing board games with family, and listening to music on a record player.



 

Vaddadi, Lekhana Website Photo.pngLekhana Vaddadi (she/her) | Westview High School

Lekhana’s goal in being a Student Health Advocate is to use her voice and make sure healthcare is available to everyone, especially for youth. She wants to expand her knowledge in the healthcare field and also help implement more student-based healthcare centers throughout Oregon. Her future aspirations are to attend college and become a physician! She is involved with HOSA, soccer, speech and debate, piano, and volunteering at OMSI and Kaiser. Lekhana likes to watch a show on Netflix or go out with her friends!
 




 

Wang, Sophie Website Photo.pngSophie Wang (she/her/hers) | Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering

Sophie is very passionate about advocating for equity in healthcare, which is exactly why being a Student Health Advocate fulfills her mission. Through SHA, Sophie can not only be given a platform and community to express her ideas, but also provide healthcare access towards her fellow student peers. In the future, Sophie strives to intersect healthcare with technology to help combat disparities in healthcare for marginalized communities. She aims to conduct research that involves laboratory work and strives to continue to spread her love for science to those around her! In addition to being a member of SHA, she is the VP of Outreach for her HOSA chapter and co-founder of her own Science Fair club. Sophie volunteers with OMSI, where she presents science-related demos and curates her own educational videos. She is also a competitive dancer as well as a pianist!



 

 
Wenzel, Haven Website Photo.pngHaven Wenzel (he/him) | Central High School 

Haven is a Junior at Central High School who joined SHA to make a difference in the health of his community. He is interested in public policy, and wants to go to college for architecture or engineering in order to create accessible and healthy communities for all. Haven likes staying busy; he’s passionate about swimming for his High School team and club team, in addition to running track and field. He’s part of Model UN, Chess Club, NHS, and the Robotics Club. When he's not trying to race his teammates, he likes to hang with friends, critique food, bike, woodwork, and do anything outdoors.




 

Wong, Justin Website Photo.pngJustin Wong | University of Portland

Justin connects being a SHA with the goals of learning what happens on the ground of advocating for policies that improve health outcomes and gives people greater access to healthcare, such as school-based health centers. Justin’s future aspirations are to graduate college and work to become a legislator. Justin is involved with the Integrative Health and Wellness Club, swing dancing, martial arts, and various church groups. Justin likes to spend time playing guitar, singing, binge-watching shows, and hanging out with family and friends.
 




 

Zhen, Tracy Website Photo.pngTracy Zhen (she/her) | Benson Polytechnic High School

Tracy believes being a Student Health Advocate lets students work effectively within diverse communities and settings and promotes the value of school-based health centers across Oregon. This is important to her because she is impassioned about advocating for impact and working with people in a diverse environment. Her aspiration is to graduate high school and attend her dream college to pursue a career related to healthcare, like public health, nursing, or environmental sciences. She is involved with the Multnomah Youth Commission (MYC). MYC is the official youth body policy for both Multnomah County and the City of Portland. During her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, watch Korean dramas, and listen to music while journaling.