Next is the Young Alumni Achievement Award. This award honors alumni within 15 years of graduating from Minnitanka High School for distinguished post-secondary academic achievement, professional achievement, distinguished leadership, andor distinguished service to the greater good. Congratulations to Lizzie Adams from the class of 2015. [Music] A public relations specialist and writer based in Washington DC, Lizzie Adams serves as a head lead writer for the Department of Veterans Affairs homeless programs. Her advocacy has contributed to na national awareness campaigns including a Senate hearing on military housing. Whether supporting the VA RN or sustainability nonprofits, Lizzie uses her voice to amplify stories that matter. Introducing Lizzie is Holly Adams. [Music] Good morning. As Lizz's mom, I can tell you that she's always had a gift for words and a heart for people. Minnitanka helped nurture those gifts, and she's carried them into her career that uses storytelling to make a difference. Early in her career, Lizz's writing supported veterans experiencing homelessness and nonprofits focused on improving military housing and sustainability. Her work supporting better housing to military members and their families living on bases even reached the floor of the US Senate. Today, she carries that same passion into her role at Delta Airlines, where she continues to honor and uplift veterans. In 2023, Lizzie was chosen as Delta's communication delegate for their return to Normandy program, accompanying more than 40 World War II veterans back to the beaches of D-Day for the 79th anniversary. She helped share their stories with people across the world so that their sacrifices would never be forgotten. And yes, she even knew Papa Jake. What I admire most about Lizzie is that she doesn't just write, she listens. She has a way of finding the humanity, the heart, and the hope in every story. I'm so proud to see her recognized here today back where her story began. Please welcome Lizzie to the stage. Good to see you. Congratulations. Little bit shorter. That's okay. I think it's fun. we get to see the different generational divides because it started with memory and then post-it notes and now I have my cell phone. So, Gen Z here. Um, the school doesn't look that different to me, but I will say it just keeps getting a little bit slightly bougier and it's pretty nice and I feel really grateful to have the chance to have attended here and graduated in 2015. I really just want to start by thanking the Minnetonka Alumni Association. It is such an honor to receive the Young Alumni Achievement Award and I'm even more honored to be recognized among this other group of recipients um who are changing the world that we live in for the better. And next, I want to thank my wonderful family for always believing in me and reminding me that my voice matters. Your encouragement and your own accomplishments are the reason and that I have the courage to chase after my own dreams. I want to thank Minnetonka High School because this school didn't just prepare me with academics. It encouraged me to always be curious, to dream big, and to believe that I could use my talents to make an impact. Those values have guided me every step of the way. I can't really see any of you, so I'll move it down a little. After graduating, I did have the privilege of working in Washington, DC as a writer and public relations specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs. And in that role, I was able to share stories of veterans experiencing homelessness, contributing to national awareness campaigns, and even supporting a Senate hearing focused on improving military housing conditions. While my bio was a little bit outdated today, I'm still able to do work and make an impact in my community at Delta Airlines, where I serve as a recruitment marketing specialist on the talent acquisition team, where I help recruit and inspire candidates um for Delta's customerf facing roles like our world-class flight attendants. I've also had the privilege of continuing my connection to veterans through Delta's return to Normandy program where, like my mom said, I was able to travel with more than 40 World War II veterans to bring them back to the beaches of Normandy where they stormed on D-Day. I'm grateful to Minnetonka for giving me the foundation to pursue this work and for honoring me with this award. Thank you for always encouraging me to stay curious, dream big, and use my voice for good. And I am always incredibly proud to be a skipper.