Mercer Island students and alumni honored: Pathfinder award, Tiny Memoir winner and national media awards for MIHS
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Summary
The board recognized several student and alumni achievements: a posthumous Pathfinder award for MIHS alum Katie Jay (I ACT cofounder), 14-year-old Lola Lefanur's Tiny Memoir recognition, and national awards for KMIH radio and MIHS TV.
The board recognized multiple students and alumni for awards and national honors at the start of the meeting.
Pathfinder award
The board announced that the 2025 Pathfinder Award recipient is Katie Jay Scott Storm (Class of 1999), a Mercer Island High School alumnus and co-founder of IACT, a nonprofit that has supported displaced populations and refugee-run programs across several countries. Katie Jay was killed in a car accident in November 2021; the award will be accepted on her behalf by family members and her daughter.
Katie Jay and IACT
Speakers at the meeting said Katie Jay's organization provided leadership training, hired refugees into paid positions, and supported more than 36,000 displaced children through programs in Africa, Mexico, Greece and Armenia. Katie Jay's classmates and family described her work and called the award a recognition of her lifelong commitment to service.
Tiny Memoir and student writing
Fourteen-year-old Lola Malia Lefanur, a middle-school student, won national recognition in the Tiny Memoir competition for a 100-word piece about identity and family. Lola read her entry to the board and said the contest prompted her to reflect on her name and heritage.
KMIH and MIHS TV national honors
The board also celebrated several national media honors: KMIH 88.9 The Bridge was awarded the Golden Microphone as the top high-school radio station in the United States (Intercollegiate Broadcasting System awards), and MIHS TV staff and faculty advisors also earned national recognition.
Student voices
Student leaders and radio/TV program participants spoke to the board about how the programs function as hands-on learning labs that help students develop media, interviewing, production and reporting skills. Several students noted that faculty advisors provide freedom and support and that national recognition helps build college and career pathways.
Ending note
Board members congratulated winners and program leaders and said the recognitions showcase the district's arts, journalism and service opportunities for students.