The Columbia Kicks Cancer team led by Alexandra Donnelly ’25, Maggie Dyer ’25, and Hailey Koshykar ’25 won the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year by raising $206,178. The money will be donated to LLS for blood cancer research, treatment and care.
This marks the fifth year in a row that Columbia students have raised money for LLS.
Ms. Donnelly, Ms. Dyer and Ms. Koshykar led a team of other students and their parents to organize fundraisers such as raffles, dine to donate events, a Valentine’s Day flower sale, and a district-wide Wear Red Day. Preston O’Neil ’25 was the top individual fundraiser, raising more than $33,000.
The Columbia Kicks Cancer team was recognized at the LLS Student Visionaries of the Year Gala earlier this month.
“This entire campaign was such an amazing experience, and I’m so proud of everything our team was able to accomplish in such a short period of time,” said Ms. Donnelly. “The community’s continual support of Columbia Kicks Cancer and the LLS mission to end blood cancer made this possible for us, and we are all so thankful!”
Congratulations to the entire team!
- Ariana Baptista
- Connor Baumeister
- Alexandra Donnelly
- Maggie Dyer
- Madilyn Elliott
- Quinlan Finnigan
- Mia Garzone
- Ellie Keenholts
- Natalie Krisanda
- Hailey Koshykar
- Eden Ladd
- Emily Marx
- Aurora Milem
- Preston O’Neil
- Andrew Riley
- Molly Sapienza
- Kaelynn Stringer
- Mason Wagner
About the Students Visionaries of the Year
Formerly the iconic Students of the Year campaign, Student Visionaries of the Year is a groundbreaking philanthropic leadership development program for high school students. Every year, courageous young leaders embark on an exciting 7-week journey with a goal to create a world without blood cancers, striving to earn the Student Visionary of the Year title.