The Youth Ambassador (YA) Program provides a supportive community and teaches young people to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in their community.  

YAs gain confidence in public speaking, demonstrate leadership skills and collaborate with T1D peers while advancing the mission of JDRF through fundraising and storytelling. YAs inspire others by sharing their T1D story, raise awareness for JDRF, and educate the broader community about T1D. They also develop lifelong friendships with peers living with T1D, volunteer at chapter and community events, and have FUN! Those chosen to serve as Youth Ambassadors are community representatives of JDRF supporting our vision of a world without T1D. 

This year JDRF Wisconsin is happy to have 30 YAs! Of those 30, eleven are returning from 2023: Garrid, Brynn, Madeline, Paige, Callie, Jenna L., Mira, Zakary, Chase K., Jack, and Kennedy. There is no limit to the number of years someone may serve as a YA, except for when they age out of the program upon high school graduation.  

New YAs this year include:  Evie, Chase I., Kollin, Julia, Adeline, Rita, Emerson, Emma, Lucas, Reese, Ellie, Charlie, Jenna S., Carson, Lili, Morgan, Madeline, Oliver, Hope, and Anna. Welcome! We’re so happy to have you all and can’t wait to get started. 

Our Youth Ambassadors come to us with a variety of different backgrounds. Scattered around the state of Wisconsin, our ambassadors are anywhere between K-11th grade. We commend these students for their determination and passion for supporting their peers and raising awareness of T1D in Wisconsin! Watch for these students at various JDRF events throughout the year including Walk, Gala, Ride, Type One Nation education events, and more! Make sure you’re following our Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on what these students are learning and how they are leading in the community. 

 If you are interested in learning more about the Youth Ambassador program, please reach out to Anne Kahl (akahl@jdrf.org) or call the Wisconsin office at 920.997.0038. 

Meet your 2024 JDRF Wisconsin Youth Ambassadors and learn about why they wanted to join the program! 

Garrid, 7th grade – “I enjoy helping JDRF and would really like to continue and to do more to help in 2024!” 

 

 

 

 

 

Mira, 11th grade – “I have been a Youth Ambassador in years past and have really enjoyed the experience. It is very rewarding to be able to serve for an organization that is doing work to benefit myself and fellow type 1 diabetics. I strongly believe in what JDRF advocates for and therefore would like to be a part of what the organization is doing.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Evie, 3rd grade – “I want to show how much power people with diabetes have and how strong we are.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Chase I., 1st grade – “I want to tell others about life with diabetes and how great having a Dexcom can be. I want to show others that diabetes does not limit my life and has made me a stronger person.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Kollin, 9th grade – “I would like to help ease the minds of new T1D’s by sharing the ‘highs and lows’ of my diabetic journey.” 

 

 

 

Julia, 6th grade – “Being a Youth Ambassador seems fun, and I want to share my story.  I would like to spread education and awareness for T1D. I would like to help make a difference to raise awareness and raise funds to find a cure.” 

 

 

 

 

Adeline, 10th grade – “I want to better engage in the diabetic community and meet fellow type one diabetics. Having type 1 can feel so isolating at times, so I want kids like me to know they are not alone. I also want to show the world just how much diabetes can affect someone’s life and provide education for those who may be lacking knowledge on the subject.” 

 

 

 

Rita, 11th grade – “Diabetes has taught me how important community is. I want people to know that they’re not alone in their journey with T1D. One voice can do so much good to a community, and I want to help make a difference to all diabetics who feel the same isolation I felt for so long. 

I also want to educate others on the importance of T1D awareness and empathy. There are so many ways to improve the lives of diabetics, ranging from scientists working for a cure to a friend knowing that they’re there for you. As an ambassador, I know I can be somewhere in that mix, boosting hope for a cure and making change in the T1D community through friendship and informing others.” 

 

Emerson, Kindergarten – “I want to help people with diabetes and teach other people about diabetes.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma, 7th grade – “I enjoy interacting with other people who are like me. I don’t often meet other kids with T1D, and I feel like it would be an awesome experience.”  

 

 

 

 

 

Callie, 8th grade – “I love educating people about type 1.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenna L., 8th grade – “I want to spread awareness, and I really enjoyed being an Ambassador this year.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucas, 4th grade –“I want to help get the word out about TID.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Reese, 9th grade – “I aspire to serve as a JDRF Youth Ambassador this year due to my unwavering commitment to raising awareness, championing research efforts, and providing support to the T1 community. My diagnosis of T1D has forged a deep personal connection, and I am eager for the opportunity to share my knowledge about T1D with others while actively advocating for policies that enhance treatment options. I firmly believe in the significance of leadership and recognize the importance of inspiring hope and offering motivation to fellow individuals living with T1D. I envision myself as a positive role model, especially for younger children navigating their T1D journeys.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Ellie, 5th grade – “I want people to learn more about T1D. I want other T1D’s to know that it doesn’t have to slow you down or keep you from doing things.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Paige, 7th grade – “I feel like it is so important to raise awareness about Type 1 Diabetes. Sharing my story can help newly diagnosed kids and families see that you can still do anything you set your mind to. I also feel that it is important to reach out to the community and educate people about Type 1 Diabetes.” 

Charlie, 10th grade – “I want to inspire other people struggling with T1D and bring awareness to what we go through.” 

 

 

 

 

Jenna S., 7th grade – “I want to do something good and help spread awareness about Type 1 Diabetes.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Carson, 3rd grade – “It is something that I have never done before, and I would like to have the experience to reach out to other kids with T1D.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Lili, 10th grade – “I want to help advocate for other T1Ds in my community just as it has been done for me.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan, 4th grade – “I think it would be fun to share my story with the community and other T1Ds and help bring awareness to T1D.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Zakary, 3rd grade – “I want to be an ambassador so I can visit schools and educate their staff with my mom, so more teachers become aware of the signs/symptoms of T1D and how to care for their Type 1 student if they have one.” 

 

 

 

 

Chase K., 3rd grade – “I want to help other kids like me and my twin brother. I enjoy talking to other kids with T1D that are afraid of getting pumps and CGMS. I also enjoy playing club soccer and self-managing during practices and games and teaching my teammates all about it.” 

 

 

 

 

Brynn, 5th grade – “I want to share things about diabetes so people stop believing stories that aren’t true.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Madeline, 10th grade – “I want to help those who are going through the situation that I was/am in and provide hope for those who are struggling. I also want to raise awareness and educate the community about T1D and promote the message of JDRF. By promoting this message, I hope to help the goal of finding a cure for T1D for all the people like me having to live with it. I also really want to expand on educating the community about what T1D is, because a majority of our community does not understand what type 1 diabetes is. If more people are educated on it there might be more of a movement to help find a cure. By becoming an ambassador, I feel like I will be doing my part to try to accomplish the overall goal of finding the cure for type one diabetes and my personal goals. 

 

 

 

Kennedy, 5th grade – “I want to help others with this disease.” 

 

 

 

 

Oliver, 5th grade – “I want to teach people in our community what diabetes is and how to respond to it.” 

 

 

 

 

Anna, 11th grade – “I want to share my story and help others that with the struggles and challenges of being a diabetic! I want to help, in any way I can, find a cure for this disease.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack, 11th grade – “I hope that by sharing my story, I am able to bring awareness and understanding to a disease that is otherwise fairly invisible; inspire others, especially those that are newly diagnosed; and educate about new advancements in research and technology.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope, 4th grade – “I want to show other people how to get through the ups and downs of diabetes. ”