The Wisconsin Youth Ambassador (YA) Program provides a supportive community and teaches young people to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in their community.
YAs gain confidence in public speaking, demonstrate leadership skills and collaborate with T1D peers while advancing the mission of Breakthrough T1D through fundraising and storytelling. YAs inspire others by sharing their T1D story, raise awareness for Breakthrough T1D, and educate the broader community about T1D. They also develop lifelong friendships with peers living with T1D, volunteer at chapter and community events, and have FUN! Those chosen to serve as Youth Ambassadors are community representatives of Breakthrough T1D supporting our vision of a world without T1D.
This year Breakthrough T1D Wisconsin is happy to have 36 YAs! Of those 36, twenty are returning from 2024: Garrid, Morgan, Kollin, Reese, Chase I., Callie, Jenna L., Jenna S., Evie, Zakary, Chase K., Lucas, Hope T., Julia, Emerson, Addie, Oliver, Kennedy, Charlie, and Carson. There is no limit to the number of years someone may serve as a YA, except for when they age out of the program upon high school graduation.
New YAs this year include: Brady, Ryan, Leo, Aveline, Maddie, Kelsey, Nolan, Olivia, Grace, Maggie, Hope O., Zoe, Yuvraj, Sophia, Jules, and Marshall . Welcome! We’re so happy to have you all and can’t wait to get started.
Our Youth Ambassadors come to us with a variety of different backgrounds. Scattered around the state of Wisconsin, our ambassadors are anywhere between K-11th grade. We commend these students for their determination and passion for supporting their peers and raising awareness of T1D in Wisconsin! Watch for these students at various Breakthrough T1D events throughout the year including Walk, Gala, Ride, Type One Nation education events, and more! Make sure you’re following our Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on what these students are learning and how they are leading in the community.
If you are interested in learning more about the Youth Ambassador program, please reach out to Anne Kahl (akahl@BreakthroughT1D.org) or call the Wisconsin office at 920.997.0038.
Meet your 2025 Breakthrough T1D Wisconsin Youth Ambassadors and learn about why they wanted to join the program!
Garrid, 8th grade – “I have really enjoyed helping and being a face for T1D”
Evie, 4th grade – “I think it’s important for everyone to be aware of diabetes and know about it too. I would like to help Breakthrough T1D with that.”
Chase I., 2nd grade – “I love being able to share my T1D story with others and raise awareness.”
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Kollin, 10th grade – “I would like to help ease the minds of new T1D’s by sharing the ‘highs and lows’ of my diabetic journey.”
Julia, 7th grade – “I like to raise money and awareness for T1D. I like to help with the progress and medical advances that Breakthrough T1D helps with each year. Since my diagnosis, lots of people make many misconceptions on what T1D is, and I feel that people should have an understanding of T1D.”
Addie, 11th grade – “I want to make a difference in my community. I want to be an endocrinologist when I’m older and provide people the same care and commitment that Breakthrough T1D has shown to me. I want to be able to further use my voice to advocate for diabetes, and Breakthrough T1D has really given me the resources and support to make that happen. I want to continue to help this amazing community and work with Breakthrough T1D to provide people with diabetes with hope and support. ”
Emerson, Kindergarten – “I like spending time with other kids who have T1D like me, and I like telling others about T1D.”
Callie, 9th grade – “I love educating people about type 1.”
Jenna L., 9th grade – “I want to advocate for myself and others living with T1D, and I want to show other type one diabetics you can do anything even with T1D.”
Lucas, 5th grade –“I want to educate others about T1D and to bring awareness to T1D.”
Reese, 10th grade – “Being a Breakthrough T1D Youth Ambassador last year was an absolutely amazing experience. I want to continue in this role to help spread awareness about Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and support the incredible work being done through fundraising efforts. Additionally, I aspire to be a role model for other kids with T1D. Being part of this group makes me feel like I’m contributing to something much larger than myself.”
Charlie, 11th grade – “I want to use and share my T1D story to help others..”
Jenna S., 8th grade – “I want to spread T1D awareness to more people.”
Carson, 4th grade – “I would like to be a YA again this year because it is a great way to meet and interact with other T1D kids who I likely wouldn’t otherwise get to meet!”
Morgan, 5th grade – “I want to help others with Type 1, get to know others with Type 1, and share my T1D story to help create awareness and raise money for a cure.”
Zakary, 4th grade – “I like being a youth ambassador to meet other kids like me & teach people about diabetes at events we go to and visit.”
Chase K., 4th grade – “I enjoy getting together with other people who have diabetes that are my age and going to events where I can meet new people for diabetes.”
Kennedy, 6th grade – “Last year was such a wonderful experience and I enjoyed connecting with so many others who have type one diabetes. I also loved advocating for T1D and finding new ways to raise awareness and be part of fighting for a cure.”
Oliver, 6th grade – “I like raising awareness for T1D and talking about my story to help people understand it better!”
Hope T., 5th grade – “I want to show people that people with t1d can do anything they can do.”
Brady, 11th grade – “Getting through the diagnosis of T1D was an extremely hard experience, and I want to make it easier for other people who may have similar experiences during their diagnosis like I did. I would like to be a leader and a role model to other people to help them through their struggles with diabetes. I feel that having someone to relate to and to learn from is extremely important especially in the case of being diagnosed with T1D, and I would like to be that person.”
Maddie, 7th grade – “I would like to have the opportunity to share my life as a diabetic and help others feel more comfortable having the disease.”
Kelsey, 6th grade – “I want to help promote awareness and understanding of T1D.”
Maggie, 10th grade – “This upcoming year marks by 10th year with type 1 diabetes, so it would be memorable if I could be the Youth Ambassador. I have been the youth ambassador before so it would be cool to see how different it is since I was 8.”
Yuvraj, 9th grade – “Beyond my own personal management, I want to help others with T1D and spread awareness.”
Sophia, 11th grade – “I want to spread awareness and knowledge about T1D. Following my diagnosis and ongoing learning, I have witnessed a lack of information as well as misinformation about diabetes. I am interested in pursuing a science-related career, and I also want to be an advocate for finding a cure.”
Ryan, 6th grade – “I have diabetes, and I know it’s hard. I would like to share my knowledge, especially with other kids who are newly diagnosed. It would be fun to meet other kids around Wisconsin who have T1D, and I’m interested in learning how to share my story.”
Aveline, 3rd grade – “I want to share my story with everyone and teach them how they can handle T1D better.”
Jules, 6th grade – “I want to inspire young kids; just because you have a condition, it does not mean that you can’t be or do what you want to do. I also would like to tell my story.”
Olivia, 5th grade – “I want to help inform the community and people around me about every day struggles and positives for people living with T1D.”
Zoe, 4th grade – “I want to tell more people about T1D and raise more money. I want to meet and help people with Type 1 Diabetes. I want to help find a cure for T1D. I want to tell people it will be ok if they found out they have T1D.”
Marshall, 5th grade – “I want to build confidence and promote T1D education.”
Leo, 1st grade – “I want to help others understand what it is like to have T1D. I want to have the same opportunities as other kids my age and help educate others on how to care for kids just like me.”
Grace, 10th grade – “I want to be able to spread awareness about diabetes, and help those who are struggling with diabetes find a reason to look at the positives. I also have been to the Breakthrough T1D meetings and events, and have seen the positive atmosphere that it has which I would love to be more apart of.”
Hope O., 6th grade – “I would love to meet more people like me.”
Nolan, Kindergarten – “I want to raise awareness for Type 1 Diabetes and help fundraise to find a cure.”
