Leading in Advocacy and Positivity

Everyone at FHN knows junior Andrew Tollefson, the cheerful, hall-zooming student who always seems to be smiling. Not only is he known by teachers and students alike, he’s known in the community too. Despite having to navigate his life with special needs, he makes his way through high school like any other teenager. He goes to his classes, participates in clubs, tutors others. He’s a leader, and now he’s got the statewide recognition of the Youth Leadership Award to prove it.

“I was super excited when he got the award,” Juli Smith, Andrew’s case manager, said. “I was proud of him. What came to mind the most, I realized and already knew that he is a leader. He has come to high school and proved he can do what everyone else is doing.”

In February, Andrew, who has motor and communication differences, was notified that he would receive the fifth annual Youth Leadership Award for the Governor’s Council on Disability, which is only awarded to one person in Missouri each year. According to the council, it recognizes dedicated special needs youth who display leadership and advocacy for those with special needs. The award requires a nomination, and he was nominated by both Martha Hefner, an occupational therapist at Henderson Elementary, and Cathy Fortney, a therapeutic services coordinator for FHSD.

“For several years I’ve always thought of students that would be good candidates to nominate, and he has always come to mind,” Fortney said. “I’ve known him since pre-k, and I think he always had that leadership ability early on.”

His mother, Ann Tollefson, recalls that it was Feb. 23, the day before FHN’s Snowcoming, when Andrew received a call letting him know he won the award. Neither he nor Ann knew he had been nominated. Andrew will attend the Power Up conference on April 17 in Columbia to receive his award.

“I was shocked [when I found out],” Andrew said through his talker, which is an application on his iPad. “I was so surprised.”

His participation in school is one of the reasons Fortney nominated Andrew for the award. Andrew is involved in many clubs, such as KOE, We Are All Knights and Mentors. He is a member of the A+ program and tutors other kids with special needs at Henderson, helping them with reading skills by listening to them. Ann believes it’s comforting for the students he tutors to have someone similar to them helping them. Many people describe Andrew as positive, smart, funny and determined, as well as a high achieving student.

“I am proud of him for tackling high school,” Smith said. “He takes the classes he needs for his credits, and he has maintained almost a 4.0. He has perfect attendance, he has made a lot of friends, all the teachers know him. To me, that’s a great accomplishment to come into high school and take over.”

Fortney also found Andrew’s advocacy to be a very important quality of his, making it another factor that contributed to his nomination. Andrew’s influence extends beyond FHN, as he attends FHSD elementary schools during Disability Awareness Week to inform young students of his disability, what a day in his life is like and all the many things that he can do. At the suggestion of Hefner, Andrew began his presentations with his mom in fourth grade and has continued them ever since.

“It takes away the stares,” Ann said. “The kids can ask whatever they want, they love to watch him drive, they love to see his talker. Because of his ability to go out and meet people, they’re not afraid to talk to him.”

According to Ann, Andrew has always been open about discussing his special needs. Due to seeing previous presentations during Disability Awareness Week in his elementary years, it took no encouragement to get him started. He is very willing to answer questions from his curious grade-school audience and others too.

“Whether it be school community or church community, he is very open and we are too about answering any questions, and also to try and demonstrate through his actions that he can do a lot of things,” Ann said. “When someone meets him for the first time I’m sure they’re thinking, ‘Oh, this poor little guy can’t do anything,’ but that’s not true.”

According to Fortney, this award provides recognition for not only Andrew, but all students with special needs, demonstrating that there can be leadership within everyone no matter the obstacles.

“This award is very important to me,” Andrew said. “It recognizes that special needs students can make a positive impact on our community. We want to fit in like everybody else.”