Watertown Area Community Foundation Youth Council Celebrates 25 Years of Student Leadership and Local Grantmaking

2 days ago

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Group of youth and adults pose in a library holding a check, with Youth Council 25 Years of Youth Leadership text.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown Area Community Foundation’s Youth Council is marking a milestone as the 2026–2027 school year begins, celebrating 25 years of youth leadership in the community.

Six smiling young adults stand by a brick wall under a Watertown Area Community Foundation sign.

Since its launch in 2001, the Youth Council has included 81 local high school students who have collectively awarded more than $233,000 in grants to youth‑serving organizations across the Watertown area. The program gives students hands‑on experience in philanthropy, community needs, service, and decision‑making.

Smiling group of women and a boy stand by a red barn with a donkey in front on a cloudy farm day.

Executive Director Cammie Mengwasser said the council continues to give students a meaningful voice in shaping local impact.

“Youth Council gives students a meaningful voice in our community and a firsthand understanding of the needs and opportunities that exist in Watertown,” she said.

This year’s council includes seniors Abby Kruger, Kate McElroy, and Owen Muller, along with juniors Harper Bastian, Ashley Hauger, and Braxton Tilberg. Members spent the summer meeting individually with nonprofit leaders to learn about the organizations they serve and the challenges they face. Those insights will help create a community youth needs assessment that guides grantmaking decisions next spring.

Youth council and hockey players pose with a donation check in a library; Watertown Public Opinion, March 26, 2002.

Throughout the anniversary year, the Foundation will highlight past members, historic moments, and stories of community impact. Plans include alumni features, archival photos, and perspectives from current students. The Foundation is also launching a Youth Council Alumni Roll Call to reconnect with former members and gather updates on where life has taken them.

Six smiling young adults pose indoors against a tan wall; one wears a neon yellow hoodie and another a purple soccer sweatshirt.

The celebration will culminate on April 3, 2027, at the Goss Opera House, where current and former Youth Council members will gather to mark the program’s 25‑year legacy and look ahead to its future.

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For more information, contact Kristen Henderson, WACF Communications Director, at 605‑882‑3731 or kristen@wacfsd.org.