Congratulations goes out to Allie 'Rosie' Rosadino on being selected a winner in the 2013 Seniors Ignite Model competition. I had the pleasure of creating Allie's senior portraits back in August and now she will join myself and my senior assistant (classmate) Morgan Dent at the Seniors Ignite Event at the Westin Lake Las Vegas in February.

Allie is active very in her school community. She plays Forward on the Field Hockey team and Attack on the Lacrosse team. She is a member of Best Buddies, a non-profit organization with a mission to help integrate people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with non-disabled peers. Allie serves on her school's Link Crew, selected as a student role model to welcome incoming freshman into the high school and provide guidance. She also works with Peer Advocates, elected as a rep to promote smart decisions for her peers, both inside and outside of school. She works at a local ice cream parlor and does a lot of babysitting as well. Allie will be studying early childhood education in college though as of yet has not decided on which one between a number of schools including UConn, URI, Delaware and Sienna.

I have been a mentor to Morgan Dent for about a year now. I first met her as a high school Junior through the Job Shadow program and was immediately impressed with her enthusiasm for learning. As I grew to know Morgan better, I became equally impressed with her skill sets and more importantly her work ethic. She has now been assisting me through the school year. She is the co-editor of her high school yearbook, a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, and an emerging photography talent. Morgan consistently demonstrates a dedication to success. She is confident and determined with core characteristics and maturity that are refreshing to see in a young woman of her generation.

Aside from her work with me, Morgan is an anchor among her friends and school community. She is a person her classmates turn to for support and leadership on any number of school and personal matters. With a carefree spirit, she gives of herself without the prospect of reward and has a deep understanding and sense of community. Morgan has a well developed value system and she is well respected for her perseverance in doing the right thing. She is simply a joy to be around.

I am beyond thrilled to have these two incredible young ladies join me at the Seniors Ignite Event 2014 as a model and photography student–assistant. I will again be a mentor, educator and lead photographer at the event along with my SI Mastermind friends.