Hi! My name is Karla Creque, I have been with the YMCA movement since 2009 and currently with the YMCA of South Florida as the AVP Of Family Services. I have been involved with Blue Ridge Leaders’ School since 2011. When I’m not at work I enjoy working out, doing Half Marathons, going to the beach and hanging out with friends. I have 3 adult kids who I love spending time with and making memories with!
Michael Irving
My name is Michael Irving and I am a freshman at James Madison University. I will be majoring in biophysical chemistry and minoring in both Spanish and Italian. I have lived in Chesapeake all of my life and have never moved. I started becoming involved with the Great Bridge/ Hickory Family YMCA during the summers [...]
Caitlyn Snead
“She’s a Y Kid,” I would hear my mom’s coworkers say. My mom has worked for the YMCA of Greater Richmond for the past 19 years, and as result, I have been involved in YMCA programs all of my life. I began attending camp and participating in swim lessons at the age of four; it [...]
Enoch Councill
Howdy! My name is Enoch Councill and I am so excited to serve as one of this year’s BRLS Honor Leaders. I am currently a sophomore studying Neuroscience at Brigham Young University and will be a sixth year on the mountain this June. I was born in Orem, Utah and spent the first three years [...]
Paige Parker
Hi I’m Paige Parker and I am a proud member of the James L. Camp Jr. YMCA Leaders' Club. I began my journey with the Y at a young age, playing youth soccer, youth basketball, and attending camp every summer. My grandparents’ firm foundation in the Y led to my involvement in several of the [...]
Trevor Fick
My name is Trevor Fick and I am a freshman at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts studying bioengineering. I love all sports but football is my passion, whether it is playing or watching it. My YMCA roots go all the way back to my pre-school years living in West Islip, NY at the Great South [...]
Katerina Biancardi
When I received my first bright red YMCA Leaders’ Club sweatshirt, I read on the back a quote by David Viscott, “The purpose of life is to discover your gift, and the meaning of life is to give your gift away.” I remember as a thirteen-year-old girl wondering, “what is my gift to give away”? [...]
Devin Pawline
My name is Devin Pawline I was born in Syracuse, New York. I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and been a participant of the Siskey Family YMCA since I was a child. I am currently a Freshmen at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. I intend on double majoring in psychology and biology [...]
Caroline Hastings
My name is Caroline Hastings and I’m from Memphis, TN, but serve at the YMCA of Schilling Farms in Collierville, TN. I’ve always been involved with the YMCA because both of my parents, Peter Hastings and Gay Eleanor Cosby Hastings, grew up as Leaders in their hometown YMCAs in Knoxville, TN and Franklin, VA, attended [...]
2015 Paul Grist Award Winner: Tony Sigmon
Tony Sigmon began his YMCA career working summers at Camp Sea Gull. In 1993 he left the public school system for the YMCA of the Triangle in Raleigh, NC where he served as one of the association’s first Teen Directors. He first attended Blue Ridge Leaders School in 1995 bringing the first Leaders Club from the A.E. Finley YMCA. His career continued as he moved a few years later to the YMCA of Wilmington in NC.
In 2000 Tony became the Executive Director of the Central YMCA in the Gaston County Family YMCA Association. He lead that YMCA in Financial Development as the Gaston County Family YMCA grew its charitable annual giving campaign from $12,000 to $300,000 currently. In 2006 Tony was named CEO of the Gaston County Family YMCA and continues his work with teen programs and philanthropy. He served as one of the Assistant Directors for Blue Ridge Leaders School under Steve Tarver and remains involved in local teen programs. Tony has two amazing children, Lucy and Preston.