For our Q2 2026 Volunteer Spotlight, we’re recognizing two students from Ardrey Kell High School whose steady involvement, reliability, and initiative have helped shape a growing youth effort at Assist ME — and beyond. Meet Anamaria Travaglino and Sana Goswami!
The journey began with Anamaria’s involvement with Assist ME through her grandfather, Henry Lander, Board Chair of the organization. Inspired by his passion for the mission, she stepped in to help with behind-the-scenes data projects at a time when Assist ME was transitioning from spreadsheets to a formal inventory management system.
As her work continued, the opportunities grew. What started with data entry expanded into data cleanup, organization, and support for grants and reporting. As those needs increased, her friend Sana joined her, bringing her own skills and becoming an important part of the effort. Together, they corrected entry errors, merged and shaped data that influences our reporting and grant content.
As the school year began and Assist ME’s equipment program continued to grow, so did the need for additional support. A group of students attended the 2025 Wheels & Walker-thon in September, and that experience helped spark even more interest in creating a larger student-led effort. Anamaria and Sana began organizing small teams for cleaning sessions at Assist ME. What began as a small group quickly grew as more students became involved.
Sana was also interested in helping with social media, especially TikTok, and received a crash course in best practices from Community Outreach and Development Chair Jolyn Sloan to capture both their activities and Assist ME’s mission. During this journey, Assist ME Founder & President Jack Sheehan was actively guiding the team as they explored new ways to expand student involvement.
Anamaria and Sana were pursuing an official school club after months of hard work. They helped create the club description and application, along with outlining the different ways students could serve — from cleaning equipment and data analysis to research and marketing.
When the school denied the club because it focused too narrowly on one organization, a new idea emerged. School leadership suggested a Junior Advisory Board instead — one that could be open to students from other area high schools as well.
That suggestion opened the door to something even bigger.
Assist ME has been supervising the planning, but Anamaria and Sana have taken real ownership of the work by leading their peers and helping shape an opportunity that can grow across the greater Charlotte region for students age 13-17.
What began with a need for data help has become a student-led initiative with more than 60 students involved and rapidly expanding. In addition to creating an application, the team is developing a certificate and award system based on hours and objectives achieved. The intent is to give students the opportunity to build community service for college resumes while exposing them to philanthropic work in the community, a clear benefit for Assist ME as the organization continues to grow – doubling recipients roughly every 19 months.
We are proud to recognize Anamaria and Sana as our Q2 2026 Volunteers of the Quarter and thankful for the team effort from all the Ardrey Kell volunteers who have helped Assist ME advance our mission.
Read the related information below to learn how students age 13-17 can be a part of efforts – onsite and remotely. You can also watch the video below which features this dynamic duo’s inspiration, mission, testimonials and vision!
Related Stories:
Lead the Change: Join the Junior Advisory Board
Lead the Change: Apply to Join the Junior Advisory Board
Watch Video: High School Duo Builds Charlotte Metro Student Volunteerism
