Sarah Shelke and Kyra Wagner Named 2026 Student Voice of Mental Health Award Recipients by The Jed Foundation

[June 9, 2026, NEW YORK CITY] —  The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults nationwide, announced today that Sarah Shelke of Cupertino, California and Kyra Wagner of Nashville, Tennessee are the 2026 Student Voice of Mental Health Awards recipients, honored for their exceptional advocacy on behalf of their peers and local school systems.

JED’s annual Student Voice of Mental Health Awards honor one high school student and one college student who are doing outstanding work to create communities of care in their schools and raising awareness about mental health by leading thoughtful, impactful initiatives – increasing connection and belonging, encouraging their peers to reach out for help, and building support systems for youth mental health and suicide prevention in their school or campus communities.

Sarah Shelke, 17, a recent Monta Vista High School graduate bound for the University of California, Berkeley, was drawn to mental health advocacy after seeing a family member struggle when in college — an experience deepened by her family’s financial hardships and cultural challenges in her Indian community. A published author and co-developer of an international online teen mental health curriculum, Sarah is also the founder of Mind4Youth, a nonprofit closing the emotional health and resource accessibility gap for youth of color by delivering self-care products to students in homeless shelters and foster care centers and providing free therapy sessions. She has spoken to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, advocated for health legislation on Capitol Hill, and supported a bill that was introduced in the Virginia State Legislature. Sarah was also named a finalist for the International Children’s Prize, a Princeton Prize in Race Relations recipient, and has been featured on Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation website.

“Advocacy work, talking openly about emotional well-being, and normalizing mental health challenges are all areas close to my heart,” said Sarah. “I’m incredibly grateful for this national recognition from JED –  it energizes me to continue bringing positive change to my peers and community.”

Kyra Wagner, 21, a rising senior at Spelman College, was shaped by early experiences that deepened her understanding of resilience, family, and responsibility. Growing up, she witnessed the quiet strength her mother brought to navigating family transitions and financial challenges, while also personally supporting a sibling facing mental health struggles. Rather than defining her, these experiences strengthened Kyra’s perspective and fueled her belief that mental wellness and financial stability are deeply connected. As inaugural president of the Center for Black Entrepreneurship at Spelman and co-director of events at Sisters in Sync, Kyra builds community through connection and entrepreneurship. She has been recognized for her research on the intersection of financial stress, mental health decline, and maternal mortality among Black women and serves as a youth mentor to young girls. She was also selected as a Rare Impact Ambassador through Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty brand.

“This award reaffirms that the work I am doing matters and our stories deserve to be seen and heard,” said Kyra. “I’ve always believed turning lived experiences into action is one of the most powerful ways to create change. I remain committed to building solutions that improve mental health outcomes for groups with limited access to resources or opportunities and inspire others to do the same.”

Award winners receive a $3,000 scholarship, recognition on JED’s platforms, and opportunities to collaborate with JED.

“All of us at JED are incredibly impressed by the leadership Sarah and Kyra have demonstrated in their communities to protect and promote emotional health,” said John MacPhee, JED CEO. “Their advocacy highlights how young leaders are driving vital change in suicide prevention and strengthening the mental health of their peers.”

This is the 19th annual Student Voice of Mental Health Awards. Since the program’s inception in 2008, 29 students have been recognized for their contributions to youth mental health and suicide prevention. Sarah and Kyra were honored at JED’s annual gala on June 3 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. This was JED’s first event since announcing its planned merger with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to form the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention across the lifespan. Pending regulatory approvals expected this fall, the combined organization of AFSP/JED will be a union of equals, leveraging the complementary strengths and decades of expertise of both organizations to to have even more impact on preventing suicide than either organization has the capacity to achieve independently. 

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About The Jed Foundation (JED)
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We’re partnering with high schools, colleges, school districts, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We’re equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We’re encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.

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Media Contact
Justin Barbo
Director, Public Relations
The Jed Foundation
[email protected]