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Valley Southwoods's art teacher, Stephanie Nelson, holding her PAWSitive Impact award.
Four students, RISE group earn city's Martin Luther King Day awards

Four Valley High School students and the school's Refugee and Immigrant Student Embassy (RISE) group were honored with leadership awards at the West Des Moines Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19. Hosted by the City of West Des Moines and the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, the annual event celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The West Des Moines Human Rights Commission, along with the Chamber and the event planning committee, present several awards to:

those who have demonstrated leadership and made significant contributions in the areas of promoting peace and understanding; celebrating belonging and respect for all and improving communication, cooperation between students in the West Des Moines community/schools.

For the 2026 awards, three of four Youth Leadership Scholarship awards were awarded to Valley High School students, and the RISE student group earned the single Community Leadership Award. The three students will each receive $500 as part of their award. Executive Director of Culture and Access Dr. Dau Jok and Director of Strategic Outreach and Systems Change David Maxwell also served on the event planning committee.

2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award-Winners

Biographies adapted from the City of West Des Moines.

Portrait photo of Montserrat Lepe-Guerrero.

Montserrat Lepe-Guerrero, junior — Youth Leadership Scholarship Award

Montserrat serves as the Vice President of the RISE Scholarship, an incredible student-led initiative that has raised $15,000 to support refugee and immigrant students at Valley. Her leadership extends beyond RISE through her involvement in DECA, varsity tennis, Silver Cord, and participation in Valley’s rigorous Honors Program.

As the daughter of first-generation immigrants and restaurant owners, Montserrat’s lived experience fuels her passion for uplifting immigrant and refugee students —especially her peers. Her commitment to service and leadership exemplifies the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and inspires our community.
 
Portrait photo of William Magino.

William Magino, junior — Youth Leadership Scholarship Award

William is an active member of RISE who leads with quiet courage and deep compassion. He consistently pushes beyond his comfort zone to advocate for multicultural students. Alongside fellow RISE member, William helped lead a student-driven effort to expand Valley’s world language offerings, surveying peers, and partnering with district leaders to successfully propose a new course.

Thanks to their advocacy, World Language & Culture Studies will launch in fall 2026, reflecting the languages and cultures of Valley’s diverse student body. William’s passion for mentoring younger students and helping them turn ideas into action exemplifies the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and makes him a truly inspiring youth leader in our community.
 
Senior photo of Blake Ranslow.

Blake Ranslow, junior — Youth Leadership Scholarship Award

Blake is a student leader known for his academic excellence and deep commitment to civic engagement and community service. Elected by his peers to serve as a School Board Student Representative, Blake takes seriously the responsibility of amplifying student voices and participating in local leadership. 

His service includes volunteering with youth voter registration efforts, and he has been honored as a 2024-25 James Jordan Scholar for his dedication to local history and leadership. Recognized by the West Des Moines Historical Society as an emerging young leader, Blake has also completed fourteen AP courses and excels in AP U.S. History. His strong work ethic, empathy, and ability to collaborate across diverse backgrounds truly embody the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and inspire our community.
 
Portrait photo of Sara Samir.

Sara Samir, junior — Youth Leadership Scholarship Award

Sara is an active member of RISE (Refuge and Immigrant Student Embassy), where she co-led a student-driven effort to expand Valley’s world language offerings by organizing surveys, petitions, and partnering with district leadership — resulting in the approval of a new World Language & Culture Studies course launching in fall 2026.

In addition, Sara is a strong advocate for refugee and immigrant youth mental health and served as a panelist at the 2025 Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa Statewide Refugee Summit. Through her empathy, courage, and commitment to equity, Sara exemplifies the spirit of service and leadership championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and inspires our community.
 
RISE student group logo.

Refugee and Immigrant Student Embassy — Community Leadership Award

Valley’s (R.I.S.E.) student group was founded in January 2022 by multilingual student leaders who wanted to lift up the voices of their fellow refugee, immigrant, and first generation students. This student-led group focuses on topics they identify as being in high-demand:

  • Planning college visits specific to refugee, immigrant, and first generation student questions and concerns
  • Bringing in community members who are representative of the R.I.S.E. members to mentor and give advice for success
  • Bridge the experiential gap and build community by going on field trips and planning community service projects that give back to the refugee and immigrant community
  • Representation of all students' cultural backgrounds and stories at Valley.

The group is currently developing the RISE First-Gen Scholarship, available to seniors graduating with the Class of 2026. They also inspired and planned a student-driven mural first unveiled at Valley in 2022.