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Young Peacemaker's Award

High School Recipient

Sein Yun is a current junior at the Orange County School of the Arts, where she has founded the Peer Mediation Program with the guidance of one of her school’s deans, Dr. Gregory Endelman.

She was first inspired to begin a peer mediation organization at her school after observing the lack of education and discussion between conflicting groups of students. Although students were disciplined by the school administration, Sein has noticed that there were no conversations that allowed students to understand what they could have done differently to avoid such conflicts and learn how to tackle disputes in the future.

She has introduced peer mediation to her school in order to foster such understanding and discussions among students and to create a more welcoming environment. As an alternative to the unusual circumstances the pandemic has brought, Sein developed an app for students at her school to explore mental health-related resources and to privately text peer mediators for help and advice, while continuing to hold Zoom peer mediation sessions. Sein is also working with her school’s Coalition for Antiracism and Inclusion to foster conversations between groups of students regarding race and diversity.

In addition to peer mediation, Sein is an avid violin player and was selected as a violinist for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America sponsored by Carnegie Hall and will soon feature as a soloist on NPR Radio’s show “From the Top.”

Middle School Recipient

Porter Wade is a freshman at Torrance High School, and participated in Wildcat Justice, Madrona Middle School's peer mediation program in his eighth-grade year. He enjoys gardening, baking, and rock climbing. He always looks to improve and tries his best to be helpful and honest. Peer mediation served as an avenue to help others and his community in an impactful way.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Will Hoadley-Brill is in his third year at George Washington University studying Peace Studies and Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture at the undergraduate level while simultaneously pursuing a Masters in Secondary Education.

Throughout his schooling career, Will has been involved in peer mediation and peace education. He was a founding member of "Upstanders," the peer mediation group at South Pasadena Middle School. After transferring to high school, Will noticed that the campus lacked programs that taught empathy, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution skills. Motivated to help his peers, Will started the SPHS Mediators, an organization that focuses on conflict resolution, peer assistance, and promoting mental wellness. After graduating in May 2022, Will plans to continue his work in peace education and peacebuilding as an educator.

President - KMC

Sally Patchen is the president of Kids Managing Conflict. She received her master’s degree from CSUDH in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebulilding in 2014. She is also an educator and trainer for Centinela Youth Services where she has taught restorative justice and in addition has taught mediation at the Pacific Coast University School of Law.

She was the recipient of the William C. Hobbs Award for the Outstanding Adult Volunteer Los Angeles County Bar Association Civic Mediation Program for 2016. Before her experiences in mediation Sally spent 20 years in technology sales working for Apple and HP.

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