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Allison Martin
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I would like to enthusiastically nominate Allison Martin for recognition for her outstanding service and dedication during our recent homeschool prom. She graciously volunteered to manage the kitchen—and went above and beyond every step of the way.
From preparing a delicious variety of appetizers, crafting beautiful veggie and cheese platters, and assembling dessert trays, to making punch, refilling drink dispensers, and constantly keeping the refreshment area stocked—Allison did it all with grace, warmth, and an unshakable smile.
She not only ensured our guests were well-fed and cared for throughout the evening, but also took it upon herself to clean up spills and return the kitchen to the venue in better condition than we found it. Her hard work behind the scenes made a huge impact on the success of the event, and we are truly grateful for her selfless contribution.
Allison exemplifies the heart and spirit of our homeschool community, and it’s an honor to recognize her efforts.
Serena Jackson
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I am honored to nominate Serena Jackson for recognition of her generous and creative support of this year’s homeschool prom.
Serena went above and beyond by using her own time and equipment at home to design and create custom mugs and tumblers for our prom prizes. Her thoughtful contribution added a special and personal touch to the evening, and the students absolutely loved them.
She even made the effort to have them ready and available on a Saturday, ensuring everything was in place in time for the event. Serena’s creativity, generosity, and behind-the-scenes dedication helped make our prom feel extra special and memorable for everyone involved.
We are so grateful for her support and heart for our students!
Rachelle Mathis
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I am pleased to nominate Rachelle Mathis for recognition of her enthusiastic and generous service during our homeschool prom.
Rachelle arrived ready to help in any way needed and quickly became an essential part of the evening. She faithfully served at the photo booth all night, assisting students with props, helping take photos, and making sure everyone felt welcome and included. Her kindness and positive energy created a fun and comfortable atmosphere for our students to make lasting memories.
Beyond her assigned role, Rachelle willingly jumped in to help wherever she was needed, especially during cleanup. Her helpful attitude, flexibility, and genuine care for our students did not go unnoticed.
We’re so grateful for Rachelle’s presence and support—she truly helped make the night a success!
Melody Johnston
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
We want to extend our deepest thanks and heartfelt recognition to Melody Johnston for her incredible support of our 2025 Homeschool Prom.
Her generosity in lending decorations from the Fairbanks Homeschool Prom team was a gift in itself—but the fact that she personally drove over 7 hours from Fairbanks to help us set up, serve, and support our event speaks volumes about her heart for this community. From the moment she arrived, she jumped into action—helping decorate, welcoming guests at the door, handing out raffle tickets, organizing seniors for the royal court, stamping hands, and even stepping in to assist students with unexpected wardrobe malfunctions.
Her calm presence and problem-solving attitude were deeply appreciated, and her experience played a vital role in shaping prom policies that will benefit future events for years to come. Even after a long evening, she stayed to help clean up and then, in an incredible act of commitment, drove all the borrowed supplies back to Fairbanks the very next day—on Mother’s Day.
Melody’s selfless service, wisdom, and genuine care were essential to the success of this year’s prom. We are so grateful for the time, energy, and heart she poured into this event and into our students.
Christopher Jones "DJ Chris Whoo?"
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I am thrilled to nominate Christopher Jones, also known as "DJ Chris Whoo?", for recognition of his exceptional DJ services at this year’s homeschool prom.
From the moment he arrived, Chris brought not only top-tier professionalism but also infectious energy that lit up the night. He generously provided his services at a considerable discount, and went above and beyond by offering valuable advice throughout the planning process, including curating a customized playlist that perfectly matched the tone and spirit of our event.
One of the highlights of the evening was without a doubt his stellar dance moves, which kept students on the dance floor and fully engaged from start to finish. His young assistant added even more excitement, dazzling the crowd and adding to the fun, memorable atmosphere.
Chris was also incredibly thoughtful and respectful in his music selection—carefully choosing appropriate songs and handling student requests for spicier tracks with good-natured humor and professionalism. The positive feedback we received from both students and parents says it all: DJ Chris Whoo? helped make prom unforgettable.
We are so grateful for his contribution, and highly recommend him for any event where energy, engagement, and excellence are needed.
Elle Gifford
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I am honored to nominate Elle, our Student Leadership Team President, for her outstanding service and leadership in organizing this year’s homeschool prom.
After the unexpected resignation of the original prom committee chair, Elle stepped up without hesitation and took on the enormous responsibility of leading the planning process. She brought structure and momentum to the team—writing detailed agendas, taking minutes, assigning roles, and calling meetings to keep everyone on track.
Elle personally created many of the decorations, toured multiple venues, and worked closely with our chosen location to finalize the perfect layout. She managed shopping trips for decorations and menu items with care and creativity, all while staying within a limited budget. She even attended behind-the-scenes meetings with venues and ticketing agencies—handling everything with maturity, professionalism, and determination.
Elle was the first to arrive and the last to leave on prom day, taking part in both setup and cleanup. Perhaps most impressively, she inspired and rallied her team along the way, turning a challenging situation into a successful, memorable event.
Elle’s leadership, dedication, and grace under pressure made this prom not only possible, but truly special. We are incredibly proud of her and deeply grateful for all she has done.
Christina Baker
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
It is with great appreciation and admiration that I nominate Christina Baker for recognition of her remarkable service and dedication to the FOCUS Homeschool Student Leadership Team, particularly in support of this year’s homeschool prom.
Throughout the year, Christina has been a steady and encouraging presence, guiding our student leaders with wisdom, helping them focus their ideas, and turning plans into action. Her involvement was especially invaluable during prom season, when she poured countless hours into ensuring every detail was thoughtfully executed.
From helping plan the menu and recruiting qualified chaperones, to running all over town to gather supplies, Christina never hesitated to step in where needed. During the prom itself, she wore many hats—assisting in the kitchen, checking on bathrooms, helping with security, and supporting students on the dance floor. She remained flexible, dependable, and cheerful throughout it all.
Christina’s experience, organizational skills, and community connections were absolutely vital to the success of the event. Her dedication extended beyond the celebration itself—spending hours helping set up decorations and staying long after the music ended to help with cleanup.
Her heart for service and commitment to our students and homeschool community make her more than deserving of this recognition.
Stephanie Burgoon
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
We would like to thank Mrs. B for volunteering her time and talent as the photographer at our homeschool prom. Her professionalism, warmth, and generosity truly made a difference. She was so friendly and helpful with all of our guests, and we especially appreciate her staying late to ensure the prom court had their special moment captured—even when things ran behind schedule.
Giving up a large part of her Saturday to support our students in such a meaningful way speaks volumes about her character, kindness and dedication to our students. We are incredibly grateful for all you did to help make the night so memorable.
Cindy Diggs
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I would like to nominate Cindy Diggs for recognition of her outstanding support and problem-solving in the final stages of our homeschool prom planning.
Cindy stepped into the project at a crucial time and immediately began untangling the financial logistics needed to move everything forward. When presented with our prom plans, she quickly and efficiently pieced together the moving parts, ensuring that nothing fell through the cracks. Her ability to process complex details and make sense of new information without hesitation was truly impressive.
It’s never easy stepping into a new role, especially when it comes with unfamiliar challenges—but Cindy handled everything with a calm, cool demeanor that brought clarity and confidence to the team. Her steady presence and quick thinking played a key role in the success of our event, and we’re deeply grateful for her efforts.
Thank you, Cindy, for bringing your expertise and grace to the table right when we needed it most.
David Baker
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I would like to nominate David Baker for recognition of his generous service and support during this year’s homeschool prom.
David graciously volunteered his time as a chaperone and stepped in wherever he was needed—with a calm, dependable presence that made a big difference behind the scenes. He helped with decorations, pitched in in the kitchen, carried supplies and equipment, worked security at the door to help keep our students safe, and stayed to help with cleanup at the end of the night.
His willingness to serve, without hesitation and in so many different roles, helped ensure that the evening ran smoothly for everyone involved. We are incredibly grateful for his time, strength, and servant-hearted attitude.
Thank you, David, for being such a valued part of our team!
Shane Baker
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I would like to nominate Shane Baker for recognition of his generous and dependable service as a chaperone at our homeschool prom.
As the older brother of one of our attendees, Shane graciously stepped in to help and quickly became an essential part of our event team. He worked security at the door, checked bags and coats, and even made a last-minute run to the store when we realized we were running low on cups—solving a problem before it became an issue.
Shane also stayed to help with cleanup at the end of the night, all while maintaining a flexible, positive attitude throughout the event. His willingness to assist wherever needed made a big difference behind the scenes, and we’re incredibly grateful for his support.
Thank you, Shane, for stepping up and being such a valuable part of our prom team!
Grant Yutrzenka
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I would like to nominate Grant Yutrzenka for recognition of his critical support in making this year’s homeschool prom possible.
Grant played a vital role in helping our FOCUS Student Leadership Team secure the necessary insurance for our prom venue—an often overlooked but essential step that, without his help navigating, could have prevented the event from happening at all. His willingness to jump through the necessary hoops, handle complex details, and ensure everything was properly in place gave us the foundation we needed to move forward with confidence.
In addition, Grant graciously stepped in to assist with last-minute expenses and logistics, even when I wasn’t able to follow the usual protocols. His flexibility, generosity, and steady support behind the scenes allowed the event to continue running smoothly when it mattered most.
Thanks to Grant's efforts, our students were able to enjoy a safe, memorable evening. His contribution was essential, and we are deeply grateful for everything he did to help make prom a reality.
Ashley Baker
FOCUS Student Leadership Team
I would like to nominate Ashley Baker for recognition of her kind and helpful support at our homeschool prom.
As the older sister of one of our attendees, Ashley graciously stepped in wherever help was needed throughout the evening. Whether it was assisting with tasks behind the scenes or simply being an extra set of capable hands, she contributed with a positive attitude and a willingness to serve.
Ashley also stayed to help with cleanup at the end of the night—a time when energy is low but help is most needed. Her support made a real difference, and we truly appreciated her presence and participation.
Thank you, Ashley, for being a dependable and cheerful part of our prom team!
Stephanie Burgoon
Shannon O’Brien
Stephanie thank you so much for helping plan our FOCUS Anchorage graduation while I am out of the office. Knowing that you are there to support our students taken a great deal of stress off of me. You are the best and you always say yes for students.
Lela Lazaros
Shannon O’Brien
Lela thank you so much for helping me navigate my student’s needs while I have been out sick. I am so thankful for your support. You made this hard time easier.
Molly Lashier
Shannon O’Brien
Molly thank you so much for stepping in and carrying a heavier load while I have been out sick. I am so thankful to have you as my coworker. You made this hard time easier.
Tiffany Gifford
Shannon O’Brien
Thank you for chaperoning the FOCUS wide Close Up trip. We appreciate that you were not only willing to chaperone, but the care and dedication that you showed to our students. It is nice to have our students in such safe caring hands.
Christina Baker
Shannon O’Brien
Thank you for chaperoning the FOCUS wide Close Up trip. We appreciate that you were not only willing to chaperone, but the care and dedication that you showed to our students. It is nice to have our students in such safe caring hands.
