The Kids Issue: 18 Under 18

Hannah Adams, 15, Pediatric Cancer Survivor and Activist, Fleming Island. Hannah was diagnosed with Stage III Nephroblastoma at age five. Her battle with pediatric cancer inspired her to share her story, raise awareness and spread hope to all children. Along the way she’s raised more than $40,000 with the American Cancer Society #GoldTogether Program, and served as a Hyundai Hope On Wheels Ambassador. Hannah’s family’s foundation, H.U.G.S. 4 Childhood Cancer, focuses on legislative awareness, family support and community awareness. Cancer-free for nine year now, Hannah promotes her cause by competing in pageants. She dreams of becoming a Pediatric Oncologist and, one day, ending pediatric cancer.

Niveah Glover, 16, Poet and Writer, Jacksonville. A talented wordsmith from Jacksonville’s Northside, Niveah joined LaVilla School of the Arts’ poetry team in sixth grade, a feat usually reserved for seventh and eighth graders. She’s actively involved with Jacksonville Arts & Music School (JAMS), where she’s directed a full-length play performed by fellow JAMS students. The gifted communicator served as a guest speaker at the Jacksonville Public Education Fund Teacher of the Year Celebration and is currently working on a collection of original poetry. She dreams of becoming a writer, owning a black-excellence magazine, and writing bestselling novels and sold-out plays.

Maddie Bowen, 12, Competitive Swim Champion, St. Johns, Maddie is a competitive, year-round swimmer for the Bolles School Sharks. She began swimming at age eight. At 10, she placed first in the state in the 200 and 500 free, and was ranked nationally in those events. She recently competed at the International Swim Coaches Association TYR Elite Showcase. Maddie is most proud of her participation in the national Open Water Zone Championships, where she represented her state and placed fourth overall in her age group and first in a relay team. Maddie dreams about swimming for the University of Florida team and eventually competing in the Olympics.

Indie DiMartino, 18, Award-Winning Filmmaker, St. Augustine. Indie DiMartino’s 2018 short film Usual made the finals for Best Screenplay and Best Original Score at the All American High School Film Festival. It was also selected among the “Best of the Fest.” The director received a Gold Key for the film at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and later the American Visions Award. Indie plans to work toward a BFA in Production at Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts. He dreams of working professionally in the film industry. When not film making, Indie enjoys performing all over Northeast Florida with his band, Subdivision.

Talan Hausman, 11, Artist and Boy Scout, Green Cove Springs. When his friend, Ian Bailey, was diagnosed with bone cancer this past February, Talan wanted to help. Combining his passion for fishing with his artistic ability, he created a series of aquatic life studies with the intent to raise money for Ian. Talan’s mom posted the first images to Facebook and they went viral. To date, Talan has drawn and painted more than 100 works and raised nearly $4,000 for the Bailey family. Talan is also actively involved with Boy Scouts and his church youth group. He’s not certain what he wants to be when he grows up, but it will probably involve fishing.

Lucas Gimenez, 10, Martial Arts and Golf Phenom, Jacksonville. A martial artist and golfer since age two, Lucas has qualified for world championships in both sports and has placed in numerous local and state competitions. Lucas loves training. His personal goal is to put in 10,000 hours of training over a 10-year span. He loves teaching, too. He’s an assistant instructor at Karate America in Ponte Vedra. Lucas is a second-degree black belt (and set to test for his third-degree this summer). He dreams of becoming a martial-arts master as well as a professional golfer.

Sydney Lewis, 17, Softball Star, Fleming Island. Sydney is an athlete with a heart for volunteering. The National Honor Society student has played on the FACA 6A All-Academic Team for the past three years and has been a Varsity Softball team scholar for just as long. She also served as Senior Class Vice President at Clay High School and is a member of the Beta Club, American Sign Language Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She looks forward to studying civil engineering at the University of Florida this fall. Sydney was recently diagnosed with Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis, but she won’t let that slow her down.

Landon Amburgey, 16, Musical Theater Star, Green Cove Springs. Landon loves the performing arts. When not helping at his family’s horse farm or participating in 4H, the Fleming Island High School AICE student is actively involved in community theater. He’s currently playing Gaston in Beauty and the Beast at Orange Park Community Theater (OPCT). Landon has also performed at The Island Theater in Fleming Island. He’s an award-winning vocalist, too. In the future, Landon hopes to enroll in the University of Florida’s voice and musical theater programs. His goal is to perform on Broadway.

Kamryn “Kamy” Loustau, 18, Star Soccer Player, Orange Park. A soccer star and a scholar, Kamy holds a 4.97 GPA at Saint Johns Country Day School. As captain, she led the school soccer team to its eighth straight state championship this year. She has also helped the Chemathon and Spanish teams place in recent statewide competitions. Kamy serves as Student Council President and editor of the school’s yearbook in addition to her involvement with the school’s volunteer organization, Interact Club. She is headed to Princeton University this fall and looks forward to playing on their soccer team.

Isaiah Maass, 17, Autism Activist and Photographer, Jacksonville. Growing up with a severely autistic sister taught Isaiah how to live a full life and appreciate the small things. It’s also made him passionate about helping others. Isaiah volunteers with Surfers for Autism, and he’s extremely proud of his award from the Jacksonville School for Autism. The National Honors Society student plays football at Paxon School for Advanced Studies, where he’s enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. He’s also an award-winning photography editor in his school’s journalism program. Isaiah hopes to study psychology in college and become a Behavioral Therapist.

Jessie Miller, 11, Taekwondo Champion, Ponte Vedra Beach. This martial arts master-in-training has competed in national and international tournaments. Jessie has won multiple state championships, including a triple crown. Her proudest achievements: earning her black belts (she acquired her third-degree black belt this year) and assistant teaching collar. When not practicing on the mat, the honor-roll student enjoys drama club and serving at church. Jessie dreams of becoming a taekwondo master—and a triple champion on the European, Pan-Am and world circuits.

Tobi Eila Niece, 11, Community Volunteer, Jacksonville. Tobi is a volunteer who prides herself on giving back to the community, especially the homeless. She proudly serves in the homeless ministry at San Marco United Methodist Church every Wednesday, where she organizes, folds and prepares supplies, gives out clean clothes, serves dinner and assists in cleanup. Tobi’s also passionate about protecting animals. Homeschooled by her parents, Tobi is an excellent student and a member of Classical Conversations of Mandarin. She loves musical theater and studies at SET Studios. Tobi dreams of one day becoming a wildlife biologist.

Emily J. Stiles, 17, Award-Winning Artist, Jacksonville. Emily explores everyday high-school themes with painting, drawing and sculpting, transforming the mundane into beautiful canvases. She has submitted work to—and has been recognized by—local and national art competitions. Emily received the National Scholastic Art Silver Award and multiple Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Oh, and she rocked the Best of Duval High School Art Competition three years running. Volunteering and fostering for local animal shelters is a passion. Emily looks forward to attending Jacksonville University, where she’ll pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Illustration. She hopes to become a fine artist and entrepreneur.

Danielle Marie Summerton, 17, Musical Theater Star and Animal Rescue Activist, Jacksonville. Musical theater is Danielle’s passion. She’s performed in 21 community theater productions since age 11. Most recently, she played Fiona in The Island Theater’s Shrek the Musical. In addition, Danielle is part of Fleming Island High School’s Thespian Honors Society and is an AICE student. Her vocals have won awards at both district and state competitions. When she’s not performing, helping backstage or dreaming of a future on Broadway, she’s rescuing animals. Danielle can be found most weekends at Middleburg’s Safe Animal Shelter. Her family has fostered over 300 Safe-sourced kittens over the past three years.

Lana Taylor, 15, Acclaimed Filmmaker, Jacksonville. Lana enjoys the entire creative process of making movies: writing and directing screenplays, choreographing dance routines, editing and more. She studies film at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and loves the challenging nature of their program. Lana was awarded the 2018 Female Rising Award at the All American High School Film Festival for Astronaut Starbright, a documentary short about a young girl of color who dreams of becoming an astronaut. The award inspired Lana to work even harder at her craft. She hopes her passion grows into an active career in filmmaking.

An Tran, 17, Award-Winning Artist, Jacksonville. An is an accomplished artist whose work has been featured in international student literary magazine, Élan. She’s the Junior Art Liaison for the National Arts Honor Society, a member of the National Honors Society and National Math Honors Society, and president of the Robotics Club of her school, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. This year, her surrealist portrait of her father, Hoa, earned An a Gold Key and American Visions Nomination at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. An would love to become an architect and design efficient, environmentally friendly homes.

Abigail “Abby” Webber, 17, Violinist and Volunteer, Jacksonville. Abby is an outstanding student, volunteer and community activist. She is also the first-chair violinist in the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Orchestra Department. The young musician helped grow her school’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Artists. She travels internationally, helping missionaries in areas of education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. She played the electric violin as part of YouthQuake Live; the gig took her to Uganda, where she and her bandmates worked in an orphanage. Abby plans to get a teaching degree in music education and a masters in ethnomusicology so she can travel the world and cross cultural boundaries through music.

Olivia Williams, 8, Musical Theater Actress and Athlete, Keystone Heights/Fleming Island. Olivia is a straight-A student at Clay County’s Keystone Heights Elementary School. She’s a gymnast at Starlight Gym and a musical theater actress. Olivia is also an athlete who runs track, surfs and plays soccer. She has appeared as Molly in The Island Theater’s production of Annie and several other plays. In the fall of 2018, she was recruited by Palatka’s Florida School of the Arts to play the character of Little Girl in the college production of Ragtime. Olivia is an avid baker and hopes to become a professional cook or actress when she grows up.