2025 Winner
Kaceme Djellouli
Kaceme Djellouli grew up on the east end of Pittsburgh. Inspired by the Spiritan mission to serve students, he has dedicated his career to serving under-resourced communities. After serving in the US military from 2006 to 2011, where he earned the Humanitarian Service Medal for his work in Haiti as part of America's Global Response Force, Kaceme transitioned back to civilian life. He earned his degree in business administration with a concentration in supply chain management from Duquesne University in 2018 and his Certification in Planning and Inventory Management in 2019.
During the 2020-2021 COVID pandemic, Kaceme led efforts to provide essential resources to communities in need, helping learners navigate the challenges of remote education by placing technology in the hands of students with no access to learning tools and delivering hope through the 'Boxes of Joy' initiative. He and his team distributed over $17 million in vital resources to the communities most vulnerable to the pandemic's impact during this period.
In 2022, Kaceme completed the Community Leadership Course for Veterans, which increased his understanding of how he can serve his community on a deeper level. This experience inspired him to join two boards of directors: one as treasurer of the working board with YNPN and the other as a board member for Sojourner House.
Kaceme is currently studying for an MBA, which will provide him with the tools to enhance the infrastructure he has helped build to support teachers and students in under-resourced communities. He is the Director of Operations at The Education Partnership, where he oversees the distribution of school supplies to under-resourced schools across Southwestern PA.
Kaceme's leadership philosophy centers on service, responsibility, and sustainable impact. He believes that effective leadership involves adapting to challenges and taking on difficult tasks to create meaningful change. His work is driven by a strong belief in the power of education and community support to transform lives.
2024 Winner
Carinne Houston
Carinne Houston is a local Pittsburgh native. After achieving a degree in Chemistry from Gettysburg College, she began her career in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Carinne’s professional ambition aims to ensure quality in product development, manufacturing, and distribution. Creating data-supported scientific advancement enables safe, healthy futures for all of us and our loved ones.
Carinne is an advocate for personal development and believing you are never too old to learn. She takes pride in being a problem solver and enabling others to succeed. To Carinne, active leadership means stepping up to the plate to take on difficult tasks, as well as learning to be adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges and conflict.
Carinne has presented Chemistry research to the American Chemical Society (2008), was recognized with the Mid-Atlantic Society of Quality Assurance (MARSQA) Annual SQA Conference Award (2011), was a winning contestant on NPR’s news quiz Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me (2014), and has professionally achieved awards at Thermo Fisher Scientific for Innovation (2018) and Quality & Regulatory Special Recognition (2023). She is looking forward to adding the Master of Business Administration degree to the list of accomplishments in August 2024.
In her free time, Carinne participates in science career days at the local daycare as well as in STEM education. Carinne is involved in local activities including the food bank and the community garden. She enjoys spending time with her supportive husband, Nathaniel, two hilarious young children, and one well-loved old dog.
2023 Winner
Pete Mrvos
2022 Winner
Janetta Bekman
2021 Winner
Zachary T. Susko
2020 Winner
Meghan Ryan
2019 Winner
Eliana R. Latterman
2018 Winner
Corey Seymour
2017 Winner
Robert Thomas Luke, Jr.
2016 Winner
Stephen Erskine
2015 Winner
Tyler C. Montabon
2014 Winner
Amber (Sobieralski) Benedict
2012 Winner
Danell R. Cooper
2011 Winner
Amanda M. (Morel) Sopata