Lacey Youth Council seated for 2025-26 term 

The Lacey Youth Council ushered in the 2025–26 term with a new slate of student leaders and representatives, the City of Lacey announced on Friday, Oct. 17.  

The city said the advisory body enters its seventh year as a youth counterpart to the Lacey City Council. It gives high school students the ability to take part in civic discussions and community planning through the city’s youth engagement program. 

The program runs through the school year and draws sophomores, juniors and seniors from River Ridge High School, Timberline High School and North Thurston High School, as well as home school students. 

The youth council meets twice a month at Lacey City Hall and reports directly to the Lacey City Council during regular sessions. Members engage in ongoing city projects, public events and committee work throughout the school year.  

The youth council also takes part in recurring city functions, such as the Lacey Spring Fun Fair, a joint session with the City of Lacey Commission on Equity and Lacey Youth Summit. 

Youth council roster 

The 2025–26 Lacey Youth Council roster consists of 15 students, with returning members marked by an asterisk: 

• Dior Trinh* – Mayor, Senior, River Ridge High School 

• Isabella Valerio* – Deputy Mayor, Junior, River Ridge High School 

• Makayla Pennington – Clerk, Senior, River Ridge High School 

• Matthew Mandig – Social Media Coordinator, Senior, Timberline High School 

• Aryan Kumar* – Parks, Culture, & Recreation Board Representative, Senior, Timberline High School 

• Avani Kumar* – Historical Commission Representative, Senior, Timberline High School 

• Luka Froehlich* – Library Board Representative, Junior, Home School 

• Michelle Ewig – Commission on Equity Representative, Junior, North Thurston High School 

• Jennifer Zheng – Human Services Commission Representative, Junior, North Thurston High School 

• Sydney Lee* – Junior, North Thurston High School 

• Joel Whipple* – Senior, North Thurston High School 

• Caleb Kim – Senior, River Ridge High School 

• Makayla Lesane – Junior, River Ridge High School 

• Shalom Mutua – Junior, Timberline High School 

• Harmony Johnson – Sophomore, River Ridge High School 

“This year is shaping up to be an exciting one for the Lacey Youth Council, with many city projects underway and opportunities for our youth to provide meaningful input and collaboration,” said Lacey Youth Council Liaison Sadie Siglin in a statement included in the city's announcement.

According to the youth council, the new members spent a recen afternoon at orientation, learning their duties and building teamwork before the year’s schedule begins.

They also had a meet and greet session with the Lacey City Council wherein youth leaders exchanged perspectives with city officials. 

The event served as their first activity under the current term and prepared them for upcoming meetings and assignments.