The RAPSA Forum Award Winners

The RAPSA Forum celebrates the individuals and students who embody the spirit of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to At-Promise youth. Each year, the Forum recognizes outstanding contributions through the Heart, Vision, Passion, and Courage Awards—honoring those who lead with compassion, illuminate new pathways forward, champion student success, and demonstrate remarkable perseverance. This year’s recipients exemplify the best of our community, and we are proud to recognize their accomplishments.

The Courage Awards

The Courage Award is so much more than a scholarship, it is a recognition of the amount of work, determination and accomplishments At-Promise students have made. These individuals have triumphantly conquered many obstacles they have encountered and received their high school diploma.

Christian Wilkinson
New Dawn Charter School
New York

Rose Chitop Pu
RUTH YouthBuild
Los Angeles, CA

Eduardo Mendoza
California State University
Salinas, CA

Erick Bonilla
RUTH YouthBuild
Los Angeles, CA

Enrique Garcia Luis
Pomona/Azusa YouthBuild
Pomona, CA

The Heart Award

The RAPSA Heart Award honors a dedicated staff member from a school or organization who demonstrates extraordinary compassion and commitment to At-Promise and Opportunity Youth. This award recognizes educators and administrators who see beyond the challenges and trauma students face, meeting them with respect, integrity, and unwavering support. By building trust and creating safe, affirming spaces, these leaders help students reengage with education and believe in their own potential.

Dr. Sara Asmussen

Dr. Sara Asmussen has been a steadfast advocate for at-promise students since 2007, dedicating her career to expanding access to safe and supportive learning environments. Her belief in equitable education led to the founding of New Dawn Charter High School in 2012 and New Dawn Charter High School II in 2019, with plans underway for a third campus in Newburgh, NY. A respected leader in the transfer high school community, Dr. Asmussen continues to mentor emerging professionals in the charter sector while inspiring others through her humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to helping students succeed.

Elena Bautista

Elena Bautista exemplifies the compassion, vision, and unwavering commitment that define the RAPSA Heart Award. As Principal of Gateway College and Career Academy—a dual enrollment alternative high school serving students who have been pushed out, disconnected, or counted out—she leads with empathy and a fierce belief in every young person’s potential. Under her leadership, Gateway has built a culture grounded in trust, restorative practices, and trauma-informed care, helping students reclaim their education and their future.

Kendra Ford

Kendra embodied the true spirit of whole-child education through her deep commitment to at-promise students and their success. As Assistant Principal and MTSS Coordinator, she built systems of support grounded in compassion, data, and equity—ensuring every student received what they needed to thrive. Her leadership brought restorative practices, wellness supports, and creative interventions like the Phoenix Nest to life, transforming school culture and reducing discipline referrals. Kendra’s work was a model for alternative education, blending heart and strategy to help students feel safe, valued, and capable of success.

Tabitha Frable

Tabitha Frable embodies the spirit of the RAPSA Heart Award through her unwavering dedication to at-promise students and the empathy shaped by her own lived experience. A graduate of Tucson Preparatory School, she overcame the challenges of group homes and the Child Protective Services System to earn her degree from Northern Arizona University. Now an administrator at Tucson Prep, Tabitha leads with compassion and purpose—developing alternative accountability measures, improving data systems, and teaching vital career and life skills.

Dr. Mercedes Harvey-Flowers

Dr. Mercedes Harvey-Flowers exemplifies the compassion and commitment celebrated by the RAPSA Heart Award. For over a decade at Crestwood High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, she has created inclusive, trauma-informed classrooms that reengage students with empathy and high expectations. As Department Chair and advisor to the Key Club and Black Student Union, she empowers students to lead, serve, and advocate for equity. Her leadership in developing African American History and AP African American Studies courses amplifies historically underrepresented voices. Through restorative practices, mentorship, and advocacy, Dr. Harvey-Flowers fosters a culture of belonging for every student.

The Vision Award

The RAPSA Vision Award honors a legislator or policymaker whose leadership and foresight have opened new pathways for At-Promise and Opportunity Youth. This award recognizes those who move beyond traditional approaches, championing creative policies and innovative programs that reengage young people who might otherwise be left behind. By advancing policies that prioritize equity, access, and opportunity, recipients of the Vision Award help transform educational systems into spaces where every student has the chance to succeed.

Josh Friday

As a member of the Governor Gavin Newsom’s Cabinet, Josh Fryday leads the newly created Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement. He also serves in a leadership position with the California Governor’s Council for Career Education.

He oversaw the creation of the largest service force in the country—including the nation’s first statewide California Climate Action Corps.

Fryday is the former Mayor of Novato, his hometown. Fryday led the COVID-19 Task Force to support food insecure communities and food banks across the state. He also served as President of Golden State Opportunity (GSO), leading the expansion and implementation of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). Prior to GSO, he served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for NextGen Climate, a leading national organization focused on climate change.

Fryday served in the military as an Officer in the United States Navy (‘09-‘13) as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). He worked on the Military Commissions in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. He also served in Japan, where he augmented the Navy’s 7th Fleet’s Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief efforts during ‘Operation Tomodachi’ following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima nuclear disaster. Fryday received his law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law, and clerked in the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, as well as the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for then District Attorney Kamala Harris.

He is a founding Board Member of Amazon Frontlines, an emeritus board chair for Demos, a national think-tank focused on issues of economic, racial and political inequality. He is married to Mollye Fryday, an educator, and they have three energetic young boys, Shay, Calvin and Tam.

David Frank

David Frank is the Executive Director of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Charter School Office, where he authorizes 81 charter schools across the state and guides the creation of new schools. In this role, he champions innovative educational models and ensures that schools serving at-risk populations and students with disabilities have the support they need to thrive. Previously, David served as Director of Charter Policy and Analytics at the New York City Department of Education and as Director of School Supports at the NYC Charter Schools Center, providing oversight, regulatory guidance, operational and financial support, professional development, and teacher certification assistance to schools across the city.

Throughout his career, David has been a tireless advocate for authentic school improvement and equity in education. He has a particular talent for amplifying the voices of educators and practitioners in the field, ensuring that the insights of those doing the “live work” of teaching and learning shape policy and accountability systems. His work supporting New Dawn Charter High School, for example, demonstrated his commitment to alternative accountability models, helping schools tell their story and validate their impact, even in challenging contexts.

As Assistant Commissioner, David continues to advance innovative practices through New York’s Portrait of a Graduate initiative, emphasizing holistic student growth and learning outcomes. His approach reflects a deep belief in collaboration, capacity-building, and the power of strong school-community partnerships to improve student experiences across the state.

David holds a Master’s in Developmental Psychology and has dedicated his career to ensuring that schools are not only compliant with regulations but truly empowered to make a difference. Colleagues and school leaders alike describe him as a pillar of the education community—passionate, professional, and unwavering in his commitment to student learning and equitable opportunities.

The Passion Award

The RAPSA Passion Award recognizes an exceptional Career and Technical Education (CTE) or workforce development instructor or administrator who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to student success. This award honors leaders who not only teach skills but also inspire futures and are champions of career readiness who bridge the gap between education and industry to ensure students are equipped for meaningful career pathways.

Kris Georgeson, MS

Kris Georgeson is a dynamic education leader with over 17 years of experience advancing programs that empower youth and strengthen communities. Inspired by growing up with a sibling with Down Syndrome and experiencing the challenges of scarcity, Kris developed a lifelong commitment to using education—especially financial education—as a tool for empowerment for both individuals and families.

As Director of Education at Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern California, Kris creates equitable opportunities for at-promise students to thrive academically and personally. Supporting more than 1,000 students across five trades at any given time, Kris ensures graduates are well-prepared for careers while helping families gain access to education, financial literacy, and pathways that uplift communities.

With extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, workforce training, and staff development, Kris drives innovation, builds strong partnerships, and leads high-performing teams to meaningful impact. Guided by a deep belief in the transformative power of education, Kris champions initiatives that foster resilience, equity, and lifelong success for students and their families, serving as a true model of dedication, vision, and leadership in career and technical education.