2025 Awards and Honors 

About the Linda Gonzales Award:

Linda Gonzales was the first Executive Director of APRIL for 20 years, and truly was a visionary when it came to including youth with disabilities as leaders in the rural Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement and more specifically, the APRIL youth movement. It is a great honor to give this award to recognize and celebrate Linda’s many contributions to the youth movement and Independent Living. 

Congratulations to our 2025 Linda Gonzales Award Winner for Outstanding Rural Youth: Genesis Lezama!

Learn More About Genesis: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16vUhsqSGP/

[Nominated by Board Member, Dr. Lidia Fonseca]

"I am honored to nominate Genesis Lezama for the Linda Gonzales Award for Outstanding Rural Youth due to her remarkable dedication and impactful work with 18-plus youth in transition services at the Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL). As the Peer & Transition Services Counselor at VAIL, Genesis empowers youth with disabilities in rural South Texas. Her commitment is evidenced by the comprehensive support she provides through VAIL's Teens 'N' Transition program and the Peer, Advocacy, & Leadership program through five key services: career counseling, where she helps youth identify their strengths and pursue suitable career paths; independent living skills training, which equips them with the necessary tools for self-sufficiency; peer mentoring, fostering a supportive environment of shared experiences; advocacy training, empowering youth to voice their needs and rights; and educational support, guiding them through their academic journeys.

Genesis's exceptional success lies in her ability to reach out to 18-plus programs in rural South Texas, ensuring that vital services are accessible despite the region's lack of transportation options. She delivers these services at the different rural organization's facilities or directly at the homes of the youth, breaking down barriers and extending her influence. Additionally, she serves youth that can only receive services virtually through a comprehensive online program that delivers independent living services online. Her passion and unique approach has significantly enhanced the lives of over 200 young individuals each fiscal year, making her a truly deserving candidate for this prestigious award."

About the APRIL Advocacy Award:

Formerly known as the Earl Walden Award, the APRIL Advocacy Award honors and recognizes an outstanding disability advocate in their field at our Annual APRIL Conference. Initially created to honor Earl Walden, a great friend and supporter of our organization in it's early years, he took APRIL under his wing when we needed an advocate on our side. We know he would be so proud to realize that his legacy continues to live on through the APRIL Advocacy Award. 

Meet our 2025 APRIL Advocacy Award Winner: June Hermanson!

[Nominated by Opal Besaw]

"June Hermanson is an often under-recognized icon of the disability community. In 1999 she started the Montana YLF and has been mentoring disabled Youth ever since. She also started the Montana Youth Transitions Conference, which is a uniquely Montana experience designed to support transition age disabled youth, their teachers, and their families in navigating the transition to whatever comes next after high school. Although her program related accomplishments in Disability Rights are notable, perhaps the most important thing about Miss June is her positive hardworking attitude.

Although she retired from the YLF in a formal sense in 2018 I doubt that Miss June will ever stop making Montana a better place for disabled youth. She's still in charge of the transitions conference, which keeps her plenty busy. Although her job is sometimes chaotic unpredictable and stressful I have never seen her without a smile on her face. As the Director of the MYT conference, one could argue that her job could be very behind the scenes, but Miss June takes the time to get to know each and every one of her conference attendees and makes them feel welcome, whether that be through unrelated encouragement, a shared laugh, or just taking the time to have a conversation. She's also very active with APRIL, and she accompanies YLF delegates to the conference every year, taking time to make sure each and every delegate has a fun and fulfilling experience. It is my honor to call June Hermanson one of my heroes."

Honors:

We want to honor some of our APRIL Board Members who will be ending their tenure on the board. Please join us in recognizing the contributions they have made and the dedication they have put forth to make APRIL a success!

Eric Gurley, Alaska

Evan Shockley, Colorado

Stancil Tootle, Georgia

Brooke Wilson, SILC Rep, Oregon

Noah Russell, Youth Seat, Florida

Jordan Hayes, Youth Seat, North Carolina