Fantasy Writing - Emily Tippets with Hannah Weybright & Isobel Petersen
Hannah Weybright - I’m Hannah. I was born here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am 14 and in the 9th grade at Mandela International Magnet School. I love to draw and write. My mentorship was in fictional/fantasy writing and my mentor, Emily Tippetts, is a local author. This was my first year in the Inspire program and I really enjoyed it. This mentorship has really expanded my knowledge of what an author’s world is really like. I had so much fun and I learned so much more, especially from the perspective of an author.
Isobel Petersen - Isobel Petersen was born in Utah. She is 14 years old and goes to Mandela International Magnet School. Isobel likes to write, read and talk to people in sign language. She thinks that mentorship is entertaining, beneficial, and worthwhile.
Bilingual Creative Writing - Patricia De Dios with Nuria Maiquez-Carrillo
Nuria Maiquez-Carrillo - My name is Nuria Maiquez-Carrillo. I am 14 and I am in the 9th grade. I go to MIMS, but I was born in Murcia, Spain. I moved here when I was 12. I like to read, play the violin, and I like to write. I am really excited about this program. My mentorship is creative writing and my passion is to bring the characters and ideas to the paper, and share it with people.
Film - Lynn and Richard Startzman with Estrella Ortega
Voice - Stephanie Hatfield with Lauren Rodriguez
Lauren Rodriguez - I am 16 and a junior at Santa Fe High who was born in Santa Fe. I always knew music was my vocation and I have been singing all my life. I wanted to study out of my training to understand fully the art and science of voice. I’m very grateful about my mentorship and how kids can follow their own interests.
Music Theory/Sightreading - Ross Hamlin with Larissa Aragon
Larissa Aragon - Born in Taos, New Mexico, my name is Larissa Aragon. I lived in Clearwater, Florida, Mora, New Mexico and currently in Santa Fe. I am in 11th grade and currently attend Santa Fe High. I am interested in music, choir, guitar, running and music theater. I love to sing! I really like my mentor, Ross. He is patient when it comes to teaching me. I am learning a lot, sometimes it can be frustrating, learning songs and all. I really enjoy this program.
Photography - Don Usner with Quinn Jonas
Quinn Jonas - I am in the eighth grade at the Santa Fe Waldorf school and will going to NMSA next year in visual arts. I feel that I am a cliché teenage artist who feels they are dreadfully misunderstood. I spend my time thinking about drawing in my room and only twenty percent of the time actually end up drawing there. The rest of the time I go to school and spend time with family and friends. I grew up in Santa Fe and have been surrounded by many great people and artists, including my parents, who have supported my growing interest in art and have inspired me. I also have great friends who support me and whom I support. I am excited to go to NMSA next year and proud to be part of the INSPIRE project with the great photographer, Don Usner.
Cello - Breshaun Joyner with Ally Jones
Jewelry & Goldsmithing - Marc Howard with Faith Sutton
Faith Sutton - Faith Sutton is 14 years old and is in 9th grade at the Mandela International Magnet School. She was born in Anchorage, Alaska and moved to Santa Fe at the age of one and a half. She loves to read and do anything involving art. Her dream is to be an artist and her mentorship in goldsmithing has opened up a new door. Inspire Santa Fe is a fantastic program that provides great opportunities for young people to learn and people to teach.
Painting - Less Ann with Iyanla Lopez
Bass Guitar - Alfredo Carmona with Steven Cerquera
Stephen Cerquera - Stephen Cerquera was born in rural Iowa and he migrated to New Mexico when he was two years old. He is currently 15 and a junior at The MASTERS program in Santa Fe. He is pursuing a mentorship in percussion and bass guitar. Music is a big passion for Stephen and he strives in this field. In fact, he plans to study and pursue music in college. Stephen finds great pleasure and gratitude in his Inspire mentorship.
Dance - Mary Brennecke with Jacob Hernandez
Technical Theatre - Josh McIntosh with Rowan Jansens
Rowan Jansens - Rowan Jansens (age 13) is an avid actor and singer. He started acting at age 8. He has performed in The Jungle Book, James and the Giant Peach, The Phantom Tollbooth, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Fiddler on the Roof, Something Light to Carry and A carol of Christmas, as well as in three staged readings of new musicals. Rowan attends the Mandela International Magnet School, where he is in the Theater program. He also likes photography, birding, cooking and tap dancing. Rowan has enjoyed getting to know more about what goes on behind the scenes in a theater through the Inspire mentor program.
Photography - Molly Wagner with Jasmin Chaclan
Jasmin Chaclan - Jasmin Chaclan is 16 and a junior at Santa Fe High. She was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jasmin loves art and photography. Inspire Santa Fe and her mentorship are really great, and can be taught to other aspiring artists.
Guitar - Quanah Lee with Cruz Alley
Glassblowing - Ira Lujan with Mark YQ Wheaton
Mark YQ Wheaton - My name is Mark YQ Wheaton. I am 15 years old, and a sophomore. I was born in China. I go to The Master’s Program. I am interested in basically everything. I have lived in Hawaii, London, and France. My attitude toward Inspire Santa Fe is that I like my mentorship a lot. My mentorship is in glassblowing.
Magic - David Jaramillo, Krystal Lucero with Loissel Olazabal
Loissel Olazabal - I am Loissel Olazabal, 15 years old, and a freshman at Mandela. I was born in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. My interests are playing baseball and magic. What really got me into magic was the fact that you have to have so much concentration when doing the simplest tricks and practice when you don’t get a trick right away. What makes Inspire cool is how the kids can learn from the mentors as much as the mentors can learn from the kids.
Metal Guitar - David Macias with Seth Montoya-Onsurez
Iyanla Lopez - My name is Iyanla Lopez. I am 14 years old. I was born in Las Cruces, NM. My mentorship is in Art. I first found an interest in art when watching cartoons and had practiced drawing. I got a mentorship in Art because I wanted to find my own style and learn how to paint. I think the mentorship program is very helpful in finding out more about a possible future career.
Music Composition - Vanessa Torres with Elle Knowlton
Audio Engineering - James Lutz with Michael Hernandez
Michael Hernandez - Michael Hernandez was born in Santa Fe. He has lived in Santa Fe for his whole life. He is 14 years old and attends Mandela International Magnet School. He is an 8th grader and he is planning to attend UNM to get a degree in Civil Engineering. He has a mentorship in audio production and DJing. His mentor is James Luts. He has learned so much about music in his mentorship.
Graphic Design - Kristin Carlson with Mia Dorsey
Mia Dorsey - Mia Dorsey was born in Santa Fe, moved all over the place – including Oregon – and returned for her senior year at Santa Fe High. Her passions include most everything related to art, which leads me to her mentorship. Mia participated in a graphic design mentorship with Kristin Carlson, and designed Inspire Santa Fe’s t-shirt, sticker, and booklet. She is excited to see Inspire Santa Fe grow and influence the community, but she will be off in Denver attending CU Denver next year.
Guitar - Mikey Baker with Isaiah Armijo
Isaiah Armijo - I was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but I haven’t lived here my entire life. When I was a toddler I lived in Marieta, California for a year, then moved to ABQ, then Española, and now I live in a small town between Santa Fe and Española. Somewhere in between all of the moving, I learned to play the guitar. Music has proven to be a constant in my life. Now having nearly 11 years of playing under my belt, I am trying my hand at composing music. With the help of my mentor Mikey, we create music of all genres. Overall, I have had a fantastic time with this program.
