The Leaders of USL

Core Member, Class of '27

Lilly Katzinger has been a part of USL since 2023, and has been a core member for the past two years. She is passionate about advocating for climate and social justice, and is grateful for the platform USL provides for her.

Core Member, Class of ‘27

Graduated Core Member, Class of '26

Desiree Andrews is a SWHS graduate who is interested in climate action. She moved to South Whidbey in the summer of 2023 and has been a part of USL since.

Graduated Member, Class of '26

Graduated Core Member, Class of '26

Graduated Core Member, Class of 26'

Carter McKnight was a member of USL from his sophomore year to his senior year. He joined because he wanted to get involved in fighting for more action on the climate crisis. He is now attending University of Washington and will continue activism in Seattle.

Graduated Core Member, Class of ‘25

Kjersti Ringsrud was a student at South Whidbey High School and a core member of USL. They are interested in climate justice and making sure that society can move forward into a sustainable, equitable world. Kjersti hopes to become an environmental lawyer and help advocate for sustainable and regenerative farming.

Graduated Member, Class of '24

Graduated Core Member, Class of ‘23

Torrey Green was a student at SWHS and was a core member of USL. She moved to Whidbey Island from San Diego in 2020, and since has been an active member of the Whidbey community. She is passionate about gender equality, and enjoys teaching her community about the intersectionality of climate justice through USL. As president of the Social Justice Club at SWHS, she aims to educate and involve students in world change. After graduating she is planning to major in Women’s Studies with a minor in Political Science in NYC.

Graduated Core Member, Class of ‘24

Audrey Gmerek is a South Whidbey High School graduate and was a core member of USL. She joined United Student Leaders in their student-led work to reconstruct education and demand climate crisis action. She is extremely passionate about elevating youth voice in governance to ensure a prosperous future. She has committed herself to this work as a student representative on the South Whidbey School District Board. She is also the Co- President and Founder of the SWHS Model United Nations club.

Graduated Core Member, Class of ‘24

Naomi Atwood is a SWHS graduate who strives for a more equitable and sustainable future. She feels empowered by the voice USL gave her to fight for climate and social justice. Naomi is inspired by the impact USL has had on her and the larger community and wants to continue to share that with others.

Graduated Core Member, Class of ‘24

Sophia Patrin is a SWHS graduate who wants a more sustainable future for future generations and her own. She is interested in climate action and equity for all. She hopes to study environmental science and biology in later years. USL gives Sophia an environment to fight for her ideas and make change in her community. She is inspired by the other members of USL who make the change possible.

Graduated Core Member, Class of ‘23

Jackson Murphy is a SWHS graduate and a graduated core member of USL and was Campaign Manager of the Transforming Education campaign. He got involved in USL because of his passion to see change in his community around social justice, and to protect the future of our ecosystems and earth. He is also involved in Dismantling Systemic Racism Advisory Group for the City of Langley and President of Queer and Trans Club at SWHS.

Graduated Member, Class of ‘23

Maddy Racicot is a SWHS graduate who joined USL in 2020 to educate herself and further her passion for climate and social justice. Maddy is very grateful for the incredible youth activists in USL who gave her an opportunity to work towards meaningful change in her school and community. Maddy plans to study environmental engineering in college next year and hopes to use that knowledge to combat the climate crisis through sustainable engineering practices.

Graduated Member, Class of ‘22

Syd Carver is a SWHS 2022 graduate taking a gap year volunteering internationally on sustainable farms to learn more about different cultures and global environmental issues and solutions. Syd moved to Whidbey from Arizona in 2020 and joined USL in 2021 with a passion for the environment, climate action, and social justice. She plans to attend WWU next fall to study environmental science and biology to continue working to help save our planet.

Graduated Member, Class of ‘23

Graduated Member, Class of ‘23

Co-founder, Class of ‘22

Co-founder, Class of ‘22

Annie Philp is a SWHS Graduate and is currently working full-time as a Preschool Teacher at South Whidbey Children’s Center. She co-founded USL with Maggie Nattress in 2019 and is incredibly inspired by the students and adult allies that continue to fight for social and climate justice.

Adult Mentor

Derek Hoshiko organizes with the nonprofit For the People and mentors USL as part of Rapid and Just Climate Action, a project to stop global warming by 2030. Derek is committed to lifting up and supporting youth leadership. He believes community-based action will unleash the transition to a regenerative economy that we need to survive the climate emergency.