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Centennial Recognizes Local High School Students for Youth Achievement

Published on May 03, 2023

The City of Centennial today announced the recipients of the 2023 Youth Achievement Awards, honoring four local high school students with $1,000 scholarships each for significant contributions to Centennial through service and outstanding leadership in school, community and the workplace.

The awards program is sponsored annually by the City and Jacobs, Centennial’s public works and code compliance provider. Recipients must be residents of the City of Centennial and demonstrate leadership and service to the community.

The 2023 Youth Achievement Award recipients include Centennial residents Frederick Fulkerson, Arapahoe High School; Carly Philpott, Cherry Creek High School; Ryan Reynolds, Arapahoe High School; and Gracie Woo, Denver School of the Arts.

Frederick Fulkerson – After graduating from Arapahoe High School, Fulkerson plans to attend Christopher Newport University located in Newport News, Va., studying business as a member of the President’s Leadership Program. He is Captain of the AHS Boys’ Lacrosse Team, which won the State Championship in 2022. Fulkerson has shared his lacrosse skills in the community by coaching sports camps through South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, working as a field manager for Thunder Youth Lacrosse and serving on the Executive Board for the Denver City Lax, a nonprofit that brings lacrosse to underserved youth. Additionally, Fulkerson helped found a nonprofit, Purpose4Pink, as a senior capstone project to raise funding to support women with Breast Cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Carly Philpott – Philpott is graduating from Cherry Creek High School and plans to attend Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Philpott aspires to pursue a career in journalism focused on environmental issues. She has spent several years as a volunteer for the Carson Nature Center and Bluff Lake Nature Center. Additionally, she has been actively involved in journalism classes and activities, including serving as Editor-in-Chief for the past two years for CCHS’s student-led newspaper.

Ryan Reynolds – Reynolds plans to attend the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis after graduating from Arapahoe High School. He is an Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America and has contributed hundreds of community service hours through that organization. Additionally, he has been an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society and the AHS Environmental Club. Reynolds plans to pursue an international business degree while minoring in computer science and Spanish.

Gracie Woo – Graduating from Denver School of the Arts, Woo has been actively involved with dance and vocal music. Her involvement with the arts community led her to found Everybody Dance, which collects and redistributes gently used dancewear. Woo is looking forward to attending the University of Northern Colorado in the Fall and hopes to pursue a performing arts career to help broaden the portrayal of Asian Americans on stage and challenge stigmatizations of Asian actors.

A photo of the four grant recipients along with Mike Nelson, Jacobs Program Manager and Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko is viewable at the top of this page.