Spring 2026 Winner of the Youth Mentor Scholarship

Sofia Millner Calvo

Sofia has been heavily involved with various youth mentoring programs. From volunteering in a preschool classroom to soccer clinics for children with disabilities, she is a firm believer in the power of showing up for others. Congratulations, Sophia, we look forward to seeing all you will achieve!

Read Their Essay Here:

I’ve always believed that showing up matters. Not with a grand speech or a perfect plan, just being there, consistently, with kindness and intention. That’s what I try to do, especially with kids. I’ve seen how powerful it is when young people feel supported, understood, and seen. Youth services and mentorship programs are essential to any strong community because they provide that support early on, when it can make all the difference.

I volunteer in the preschool classroom at Valverde Elementary in southwest Denver, where most of the families are Spanish-speaking. Many of the kids remind me of myself when I was younger, growing up bilingual, trying to fit in while translating forms and conversations for my parents. I help with classroom routines, activities, and language development, but honestly, the most important thing I do is build trust. I listen, I celebrate their small wins, I make space for them to feel proud of who they are, and the languages they speak. That kind of connection doesn’t just help them grow academically, it helps them believe in themselves. Through the Mathletes program, I’ve mentored gifted elementary school students who needed more of a challenge and more encouragement. For many of them, it's the first time they feel truly seen as thinkers. We work on math, but we also talk about goals, challenges, and confidence. I see how early belief from a mentor can shape what a student thinks they’re capable of. When I met Rafa, a newcomer from Honduras, he told me that his younger siblings back home didn’t even have notebooks or pencils. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That’s how Blue Star Supplies was born. I began collecting school supplies to send to kids in Honduras, hoping to give them the basic tools they need to learn and grow. It wasn’t complicated, just driven by the idea that if you see a need, you act. I also volunteer with TOPSoccer, which matches kids with disabilities with soccer buddies like me. At first, I didn’t know what to expect. But those Saturday mornings became a highlight of my week. I’ve seen how much confidence and joy comes from simply being on a team, being included, being encouraged. Sometimes, that’s all a kid needs.

This fall, I’ll attend Emory University to study biochemistry on the pre-med track. My dream is to become a cardiologist and eventually open a bilingual community health center. But no matter what, I’ll always make time for community service and mentorship. It’s part of who I am. I know how much it matters because I’ve been on both sides. I’ve needed mentors, and I’ve had the privilege of becoming one.

Mentorship programs change lives. They make kids feel like they belong, like they matter, and like they can become anything. That’s the kind of world I want to help build.