2023 Young Heroes
Kaydence Bradford
Kaydence Bradford of Baton Rouge (Senior at Liberty Magnet High School) is hardworking and persistent, and when she’s not involved with school or public service, her primary responsibility is caring for and serving as a role model to her niece and two nephews. Kaydence meets them at the bus, cooks their meals, and assists them with their homework. She has also dedicated countless hours to planning, coordinating, and implementing initiatives to promote her school and help her community. She has actively participated in Phi Gamma Sigma Inc., a youth sorority through which she has completed multiple community projects while having the opportunity to learn from Black female role models in Baton Rouge. Kaydence has also served in many leadership positions including: Vice President of her Student Council, Head Ambassador for her Student Ambassadors Organization, President of the Key Club, Junior representative for the National Honor Society, and Biomedical Chair of the Pink Week Committee, leading the planning and implementation of the week-long effort to promote breast cancer awareness and raising more than $2,000 for the cause. In addition to being an exceptional student-athlete, Kaydence has been recognized for prestigious awards such as: Miss Senior, All Academic Girls Volleyball Team (5-A Division 2), College Board African American Scholar, Principal’s List, Scholar Athlete, Chemistry Academic Excellence, French Academic Excellence, and Biomedical Academic Excellence.
Canaan Hoosier
Canaan Hoosier of Deville (Junior at Buckeye High School) is a selfless young man that blazes his own path, in spite of numerous health challenges including autism, dyslexia, eye surgeries, autoimmune issues, and a sports injury that required him to learn to walk again. Through it all, Canaan has volunteered more than 600 hours during high school. He was the leader of the ARC Special Needs adult gift drive at Christmas, has worked with the Alexandria Zoo as a “superhero,” assisted the Lions Club selling Christmas trees to help children receive free vision screenings, and collected over 200 pairs of socks for the Central LA Homeless Coalition. Canaan has shepherded Cinderella’s Closet, providing students free formal dresses for school dances. He is Junior Class President, President of the National Honor Society, Science Club President, STEM Club President, Quiz Bowl Captain, Varsity Powerlifting Team Captain, President of HOSA: Future Health Professionals, Robotics Team Captain, and co-founder of EarthLove: an environmental outreach organization. Canaan serves as a hero to other kids by including everyone no matter their background, physical impairments, or socioeconomic status. As he learned to cope with his own life-changing issues, he has grown into a caring young person with a heart of gold.
Lindsay McKinney
Lindsay McKinney of Baton Rouge (Senior at Franciscan High School) is determined to create the future she envisions. After the passing of her grandparents, Lindsay and her mother left Chicago for Baton Rouge with just two suitcases. They endured months of homelessness, living out of their car and in and out of shelters, but Lindsay never acknowledged these challenges as her reality. Fortunately, life is now stable for Lindsay and her mother. They are a team and know they can get through anything together. As Lindsay sees it, there are people who have helped her throughout her life, and she wants to pay it forward. Lindsay has volunteered at the Baton Rouge Food Bank, Children’s Hospital, and has participated in cleanup efforts at Sweet Olive Cemetery, Baton Rouge’s oldest Black cemetery. She also mentors the underclassmen at her school, offering encouragement to persist even when things get tough. She has served as Treasurer of her school’s Student Government Association, Secretary of the BETA Club, and was named the Student of the Year at Franciscan High School. Her internship at Cajun Industries has sparked her interest in construction management. She prides herself in always treating others with respect because, in Lindsay’s words, "It is so important to be kind."
Nicholas Tarver
Nicholas Tarver of Many (Junior at Florien High School) has dealt with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and vision impairment since birth but it’s how he tackles these hurdles, that is truly inspirational. Nicholas has maintained an “A” average, spending many hours with tutors to help him overcome his vision obstacles. He has served as the Vice President for the 4-H Club, Treasurer for the Future Farmers of America, as well as volunteering at Sabine Parish Trash Bash, Coats for Kids, the Food Pantry, and the Backpack Project. He participates in Games Uniting Mind and Body, and throws the javelin, discus, and shotput, qualifying for Junior Nationals and winning first in all three events. He received a Proclamation from the Lt. Governor, recognizing his achievements as President of Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) for Louisiana. He has worked with the “Wreaths Across America,” placing flags on the graves of the Veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and has served on the National Board as Chairman of the Tomb of the Unknown American Revolutionary Soldier. Things most people accomplish in minutes take Nicholas much longer, but he wakes up an hour earlier to be prepared for his day. Through physical and occupational therapy, and sheer determination, Nicholas continues to be an inspiration to his peers.
Kelsie Tillage
Kelsie Tillage of Baton Rouge (Senior at Southern University Laboratory School) has had to overcome academic challenges with a reading delay, speech impediment, and ADHD. With support from her family, she became an independent thinker and an avid reader. This motivated her to catch up with her peers and thrive by earning a 35 on the ACT’s reading section. Kelsie’s experience motivated her to focus on the literacy of others. She became a teen writing coach, has conducted book drives, and made book logs to encourage reading. She galvanized her school to donate over 1,700 books to the Center of Literacy. Kelsie received the Gold Medal Congressional Award from the US Congress by accumulating over 400 hours of community service in high school. She is involved in numerous academic activities including Senior Beta, Student Government, Mock Trial, Quiz Bowl Team, and the volleyball team. Kelsie is a member of the Student Advisory Board with Teen Ink Magazine, is a John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Scholar, a DUKE University Talent Identification Program Scholar, a 2nd place finisher in the JJOA Regional Scholastic Achievement Award for Juniors, and a Published Author. Kelsie is the definition of a role model, with an innate ability to connect to her peers and inspire confidence.
Vivienne Webb
Vivienne Webb of Shreveport (Junior at Caddo Magnet High School) is in the Talented Arts Program and a straight A student. She is active with Louisiana Developmental Disability Council's Advocacy Network (LaCAN) as a disability’s rights advocate, is a Be Strong representative for her region, and she herself has autism, anxiety, and epilepsy, none of which slow her down. Through testimony at the Louisiana Capitol, Vivienne advocated for and helped obtain $2 million in funding for the lowest-funded Human Service Districts so they could better serve their communities, and helped work to enact policy that would allow cameras in special education classrooms upon parent request. She is the 2021 recipient of the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award for Louisiana for her advocacy work through LaCAN. She currently is a Governor appointed and Senate confirmed voting member of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council and is in her second year of a 4-year term where she works to make our state the best possible place for the community she represents. In spite of her diagnoses, Vivienne always remains focused on bettering the world for everybody in every way she can and has found a way to be a voice for those who can't always use their own.
