Wyman honors partners for their commitment to young people at the 2025 Amplify Gala
Three alumni and two community partners were honored at Wyman’s 2025 Amplify Gala for their extraordinary commitment to young people.
“Each of these honorees lives out Wyman’s mission of building strong connections, being of service to others, and helping young people thrive,” says Allison Williams, Wyman’s President and CEO. “This is exemplified in their work with Wyman, as well as how they show up as community members who care about this region.”
Alumni Honorees
Three dedicated Wyman alumni – Dr. Christopher Dailey II, Kyah Donald, and Jalen Mathis – were honored for their continued work to support young people’s educational success, life and leadership skills, and healthy behaviors and relationships.
These three young alumni met when they entered Wyman Leaders as part of the Class of 2018. Today, they continue their work together and leverage the connections they made with Wyman peers and mentors to achieve their goals. Chris, Kyah, and Jalen share a passion for connecting the young people in Wyman programs to future opportunities, as well as connecting fellow alumni and others to Wyman.
They are strong leaders and partners in Wyman’s mission, with a demonstrated belief in the power of ALL young people.
Dr. Christopher Dailey II
Wyman Leaders Alum
Class of 2018
Dr. Christopher Dailey II is a member of the Wyman Leaders Class of 2018 and a former Camp Counselor. Chris has been involved with Wyman since 2014, when he joined Wyman Leaders as an 8th grader.
The energy Chris brings to support Wyman’s mission is incredible. Chris is dedicated to his work, is a strong leader, and consistently demonstrates passion for ensuring all young people have high quality experiences and develop strong relationships and connections.
Additionally, Chris is collaborating with staff and alumni to create a training program for teens to access and succeed in careers after college graduation.
“My experiences with Wyman Leaders, from being a camper to a group leader and now participating as an alumni, have been invaluable. I am a proud Wyman Alumni and look forward to the continued positive impact we make on teens’ lives and development. Teens are the future and supporting them is an investment in our future as a society and community.”
This spring, Chris will graduate from Logan University with his Doctorate in Chiropractic. He plans to provide chiropractic and acupuncture services in the St. Louis area. Chris was also recently appointed to the City of St. Louis Board of Health, where he advises and advocates for strategies and resources that will enhance health and well-being in the City of St. Louis. Additionally, Chris helps the unhoused community, and hopes to eventually provide them with health care services. He also supports the programs and priorities set by the Department of Health in the City of St. Louis, and the Chronic Pain Initiative.
Kyah Donald
Wyman Leaders Alum
Class of 2018
Kyah Donald is a member of the Wyman Leaders Class of 2018. She first became involved with Wyman in 2012, when she participated in the Teen Outreach Program as a 6th grader at Brittany Woods Middle School.
Kyah has a deep commitment to ensuring the next generation thrives. She inspires others through her commitment to community, amplifying youth voice, and her dedication to furthering her own learning, growth, and development.
Kyah is a committed mentor, content creator, and STEM advocate, passionate about shaping the next generation of leaders. She is using her skills to collaborate with Wyman staff and alumni to create a training program for teens to access and succeed in their careers after college graduation.
“Wyman has been and still is something that young teens need. It’s a guiding light of diverse experiences that allow them to think differently from their peers or typical communities. I value that from my own experiences and see the value of how that will help young teens today.”
Kyah graduated from Missouri University of Science & Technology in 2023 with a degree in Business Management Information Systems. While working on her degree, Kyah was an Aspen Young Leaders Fellow. She then became a Youth Facilitator and now serves as an Advisory Board Council Member. Now, Kyah is a Business Analyst and part of a three-year leadership development program at Schneider Electric.
Jalen Mathis
Wyman Leaders Alum
Class of 2018
Jalen Mathis is a member of the Wyman Leaders Class of 2018, a former camp counselor, a founding member of Wyman’s Youth Leadership Council, and one of Wyman’s newest Board Members. Jalen has been involved with Wyman since 2014, when he joined Wyman Leaders as an 8th grader from Hazelwood North Middle School.
As an alum, Jalen played an important role in developing Wyman’s Youth Leadership Council. This work has transformed how Wyman partners with young people to ensure their voices are included AND amplified.
Jalen demonstrated strong leadership skills throughout that process and continues to help Wyman grow through his work on Wyman’s Board of Trustees. Additionally, Jalen is collaborating with staff and alumni to create a training program for teens to access and succeed in their careers after college graduation.
“Wyman has been such a foundational part of my life, shaping me into the leader I am today. The relationships I’ve built, the mentorship I’ve received, and the opportunities I’ve been exposed to make it impossible for me to step away. Giving back and staying connected is my way of paying it forward to the next generation.”
Jalen graduated from Morehouse College in 2022 with a degree in Business Finance. He recently accepted a role with AT&T’s Marketing Growth Organization as a Senior Analyst. Jalen is also an entrepreneur and an active member of his community, helping to educate young people on entrepreneurship and money management. He works to bridge gaps, provide resources, and ensure the next generation has access to opportunities that shape their future.
Community Partner Honorees
Wyman’s work doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes a strong, committed network of partners, advocates, and volunteers who believe in the boundless potential of our young people.
Two extraordinary partners – Sue Pruchnicki and St. Louis Children’s Hospital –pave the way for brighter futures by ensuring young people have the support, opportunities, and encouragement they need to thrive. They are not just supporters of Wyman, they are partners in change.
Sue Pruchnicki
Volunteer
Sue Pruchnicki, Principal at Bond Architects, has been volunteering with Wyman since 2022 when she and former Board Chair, Amy Berg began discussing the idea of a constructions trade program at Wyman.
Since she began volunteering with Wyman, Sue has been instrumental in multiple projects and events. Sue played a key role in the launch of Wyman’s Trades Camp. She connected Wyman with Building Futures – a local organization that provides STEAM-based learning programs for young people – and she has worked
hands-on with teens on various projects at Camp Wyman.
These include building benches near Lake DeVonne and designing plans for a new ramp to improve access to the dining hall. Sue has also participated in the Wyman Leaders Career Day for the last two summers, sharing her experience and passion for her career with teens. By being an ambassador for her industry, Sue believes more young people might consider a career in the architectural or engineering fields.
“I’m drawn to organizations that give opportunities to young people to discover and pursue a career or passion, especially those who don’t typically get these kinds of career opportunities. Wyman has been doing amazing work for so long. I am proud to be a small part of that.”
Originally from New Jersey, Sue graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture. She has worked at Bond Architects for more than 25 years. In addition to her work with Wyman, Sue volunteers her time with several other organizations in the St. Louis area, including Building Futures, the Steedman Architectural Library at St. Louis Public Library, and the American Institute of Architect’s St. Louis and Missouri Chapters.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Child Health Advocacy and Outreach Department
Community Partner
St. Louis Children’s Hospital Child Health Advocacy and Outreach Department has been Wyman’s partner since 2014. At that time, they began replicating the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) in response to child and mental health disparities identified in the Community Health Needs assessment.
“When we were selecting a program over 10 years ago to increase our impact in the community, Wyman was a clear choice for us,” says Nicole Kozma, Director of School and Community Outreach Programs. “Both organizations have been serving the St. Louis community for over 100 years and serve the purpose to improve the lives of children. In addition, the impact of both organizations goes beyond St. Louis and serves youth across our nation. To date, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Teen Outreach Program has served 7,434 youth and those youth volunteered 100,332 service hours in their communities.”
St. Louis Children’s Hospital implements TOP in four middle schools – Busch Middle School, Hazelwood Northwest Middle School, Normandy Middle School at Lucas Crossing, and St. Margaret of Scotland – and the Teen Connection Project (TCP) at Gateway Science Academy.
School partners consistently praise TOP for introducing students to community service and providing a safe space for them to authentically express themselves. With TCP, the transformation they see each semester as students become more comfortable engaging and connecting is incredible.
“We have the privilege of supporting children and families, helping them improve their quality of life. While their environment may shape them, it does not define them,” said Yulanda Tomlin Community Outreach Manager. “We focus on health equity, and our goal is to step in when there is a gap in services. Our partnership with Wyman allows us to reach more teens – helping to shape and guide students so they can reach their full potential.”
The Child Health Advocacy and Outreach Department embraces St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s mission to “do what’s right for kids”, and strives to keep young people healthy, safe, and strong. They offer several health programs through mobile clinics, a home visiting program, embedded school staff, virtual care, and health education programming. In 2024, these programs served over 14,000 kids in 193 schools across 18 districts.
This award was accepted by Nicole Kozma, Director of School and Community Outreach Programs, and Yulanda Tomlin, Community Outreach Manager. Nicole has worked with Wyman since the beginning of the partnership and Yulanda has worked with the Teen Outreach Program since 2021.