The 2025 Roddy Richard Life Achievement Award

During the banquet, we give out awards to honor those that are truly living out the meaning of LYS in their own lives and are making a difference in their community and world around them. Each year we award one of our most prestigious awards to a recipient whom we find is doing just that through the Roddy Richard Award.

Roddy Richard came to LYS from Teurlings Catholic High and joined Staff in 1983. Roddy was an exceptional young man whose life was taken in a tragic accident. To celebrate his life and honor his spirit, LYS created the Roddy Richard Lifetime Achievement Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding Louisiana native whose character and purpose in life has lessened the burden of others and made this a better place for their fellow man.

The 2025 Louisiana Youth Seminar Roddy Richard Life Achievement Awardee is Kim Mulkey, head coach of LSU Women’s Basketball and someone who has used her extraordinary talent and platform to make Louisiana a better place for others. A proud Louisiana native, Coach Mulkey has spent her life inspiring those around her through leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to lifting up her community—especially the next generation.

Born and raised in Tangipahoa Parish, Mulkey made her name early as a standout at Hammond High School, where she led her team to four straight state championships and graduated valedictorian. She went on to star at Louisiana Tech, winning two national championships as a point guard and earning a gold medal with Team USA at the 1984 Olympics.

As a senior at Louisiana Tech, she was awarded the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given to the nation’s top college basketball player under 5’6”—a testament to her relentless drive, talent, and ability to rise above expectations, both literally and figuratively.

After helping lead Louisiana Tech to another national title as an assistant coach, Mulkey took over the Baylor program in 2000 and built it into a national powerhouse—winning three NCAA championships and becoming the fastest coach in Division I history to reach 600 wins. Her impact on her players extended beyond the court, with a 100% graduation rate for athletes who completed their careers under her guidance.

In 2021, Coach Mulkey returned home to Louisiana to lead the LSU Women’s Basketball team—and just two seasons later, she brought a national championship to Baton Rouge. That historic 2023 title made her the first coach in college basketball history to win NCAA championships at multiple schools.

Coach Mulkey is a member of nine halls of fame, including the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. She’s a seven-time National Coach of the Year and a symbol of what’s possible when you combine hard work, integrity, and heart.

Through every chapter of her journey—from small-town beginnings to global triumph—Kim Mulkey has stayed true to her roots, lifting up young people and setting an example of excellence for future leaders across Louisiana and beyond.

Meet your 2025 Dream State Panelists

Rob Wise | Moderator

Rob Wise is the CEO and Owner of ITinspired, a technology services company headquartered in Baton Rouge. Under Rob’s leadership, ITinspired has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge for multiple years and recognized as an LSU Top 100 Tiger-Led business.

An LSU graduate and former Mike the Tiger mascot and cheerleader, Rob brings energy and authenticity to every endeavor. He co-founded ITinspired with a mission to build a business centered on people, purpose, and service. He leads the company using the “platinum rule”—treating others how they want to be treated—and has built a team culture that emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and high performance.

Rob is an active community leader and mentor. He supports youth entrepreneurship through programs like the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge and the American Academy of Entrepreneurs.

Rob lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Michelle and their two children. As moderator of the Louisiana Youth Seminar’s Dream State panel, Rob brings his experience as a business leader, motivator, and mentor to help inspire the next generation of Louisiana changemakers.

Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord | Panelist

Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Youth Seminar and currently serves as the Interim Vice Provost at San Diego State University, where she leads initiatives in academic innovation and faculty excellence. A nationally recognized expert in speech, language, and hearing sciences, Sonja is also a tenured professor and former Program Director of the M.A. Program in Speech-Language Pathology. Her research focuses on child language acquisition and disorders in culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and she has been awarded numerous federal and local grants—including several from the National Institutes of Health—to support her groundbreaking work.

Sonja is a proud product of Louisiana and a lifelong believer in the power of youth leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, and her passion for education and mentorship has defined her career in both academic and community settings. She is a dedicated teacher and mentor, recognized with multiple Outstanding Faculty Awards and a strong publication record that spans peer-reviewed journals, national presentations, and collaborative school partnerships.

Her leadership journey began at the Louisiana Youth Seminar, where she attended as a delegate in 1995 from Riverdale High School and was named Most Outstanding Delegate. She returned to serve as a Junior Counselor, Counselor, Head Table member, and Program Director from 2000–2003. Sonja is a proud member of the LYS 5-Year Club, was inducted into the LYS Hall of Fame, and currently serves on the Board of Directors in addition to her role as Executive Director.

Whether mentoring future speech-language pathologists in San Diego or empowering high school students in Baton Rouge, Dr. Pruitt-Lord is committed to helping others find their voice, embrace their potential, and lead with empathy and purpose. Through every chapter of her life, her message remains the same: leadership starts with listening, learning, and lifting others up.

Sonja has spent the last 25-plus summers (and her Birthday!) in Baton Rouge but resides in San Diego with her husband and daughter. 

Will Warner | Panelist

Will Warner serves as the Deputy and Business Excellence Leader for Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) Quality and Lean, based in New Orleans, Louisiana. In this role, Will is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive consistent quality approaches and operational excellence across all of Boeing's global defense, space and security programs. With nearly two decades at Boeing, Will has held progressive leadership roles across Engineering, Program Management, and Quality—including extensive work on the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Launch System (SLS) programs.

A proud Louisiana native, Will earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University, where he was active in Student Government and served as President of the Engineering College Council. Will also holds a master's of Business Administration from the University of Houston - Clear Lake. He began his Boeing career in Houston as a software engineer supporting the ISS, eventually becoming a project manager responsible for integrating visiting vehicles and delivering flight hardware. Later, he returned home to Louisiana to support NASA’s SLS program at Michoud Assembly Facility, eventually becoming the Quality Program Manager for the SLS program during the historic Artemis I launch in 2022. Most recently, he oversaw a quality organization of more than 200 engineers, inspectors, and specialists across multiple NASA sites, ensuring design-to-launch quality integration for all of Boeing's human spaceflight programs. 

Will’s leadership journey began at the Louisiana Youth Seminar, where he attended as a delegate from 1999 to 2002. During his final year, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer and recognized as “Most Spirited Delegate”—a title he still wears proudly. He now serves on the LYS board and remains a passionate supporter of the program’s mission.

Will lives in New Orleans with his wife, Denelle, and their two dogs. When he’s not building rockets, fighter jets and helicopters, he enjoys traveling, cheering on LSU and the Saints, and spending time with friends—many of whom he met at LYS.

Dustin Cravins | Panelist

Born and raised in Southwest Louisiana, Dustin Cravins has devoted his life to improving the conditions of the communities he serves. This 1999 graduate of Teurlings Catholic High went on to LSU where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. Currently, Dustin serves as Vice- President and Chief Operating Officer of La Louisianne Consulting which specializes in governmental affairs, business development, and political consulting. He is also owner/ operator of Cravin’ Boudin, a critically acclaimed, Louisiana-inspired food truck and catering company. Additionally, he is the organizer of the world’s largest one day indoor zydeco festival, Zydeco Extravaganza entering its 35th year. Away from work, Dustin devotes his energy to helping others and promoting Louisiana and Creole Culture. Dustin co-hosts a weekly radio show with his father Don and Uncle Charles on Z105.9 every Sunday morning from 9am-noon where he provides cultural and social information in and around the community.

He also serves as the President of the Holy Rosary Redevelopment Board where he has help to secure over $5 million dollars in state and federal funding to assist in the redevelopment of Holy Rosary Institute, an endangered historic African American landmark. Dustin‘s other civic involvement includes being a board member of the Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce, The Opelousas Lighthouse Mission, the African American Heritage Foundation Board of Directors, and the St. Landry Sexual Assault Center Board of Directors. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Youth Seminar where he is also an inductee in the LYS Hall of Fame.He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc and a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

Dustin has co-produced and written on albums for Zydeco legends Keith Frank, Terrance Simien and others. He has been cited in numerous publications including the Rolling Stone, as an expert on Louisiana cultural matters. He was recently featured on Disney Plus and Nat Geo’s new series World of Flavor with Moe Cason. Dustin and his wife and best friend of fifteen years have a daughter Rhyan Danielle and son Justice Emmanuel. In his free time Dustin enjoys cooking, traveling the world, and visiting with his family and friends.

The 2025 No Man is an Island Award Winner

“Here’s the thing, we all want the same thing, a healthy, thriving, safe community and leaders are the ones willing to put in the fight… whatever your fight is in life, I look forward to seeing you there.” - Kaitlyn Bradford Joshua

In 2012, LYS established the "No Man is an Island" Award to honor an outstanding delegate alumnus who exemplifies the ideals of LYS.

Kaitlyn Bradford Joshua, the 2025 No Man Is An Island Award recipient.

Kaitlyn is a passionate organizer, advocate, and proud daughter of Louisiana whose work is rooted in justice, faith, and the belief that everyone deserves to be heard. Over the years, she has led community-driven efforts across the state, building power alongside those most impacted by systemic inequality. Whether she’s coordinating on-the-ground campaigns, engaging faith communities, or empowering young people, Kaitlyn brings deep empathy, strategic insight, and unwavering conviction to everything she does.

Her leadership spans a wide range of movements—from environmental and climate justice to education, workers’ rights, and civic engagement. A proud alumna of the Louisiana Youth Seminar, Kaitlyn attended as a delegate in 2008 and 2009 representing Woodlawn High School. She was honored with the “No Man Is An Island” award, a testament to her inclusive spirit and deep commitment to others. Today, she continues that legacy of servant leadership in her hometown, where she lives with her husband and daughter, working to create a more just and joyful future for Louisiana and beyond.

2025 Political Parties Speaker: Monique Blanco Boulet

The Louisiana Youth Seminar is proud to welcome Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet as our featured speaker for the 2025 Political Party Kickoff!

On January 3, 2024, Monique Blanco Boulet made history as the first female Mayor-President of Lafayette Parish. A lifelong leader and bridge-builder, she’s known for working across party lines to deliver results that make a real difference in people’s lives—from improving roads and broadband access to preparing communities for the future.

Before becoming Mayor-President, she served as CEO of the Acadiana Planning Commission, where she led major regional initiatives like the Acadiana Rural Fiber-to-the-Home Project, Watershed Management Planning, and regional transportation improvements. Her work brought together local, state, and federal partners to tackle big challenges with creative solutions that benefited families across Acadiana.

A proud Louisiana native and graduate of UL Lafayette, she also brings private-sector experience from the energy industry and holds an Executive MBA. She is deeply rooted in public service—not only through her own career, but as the daughter of former Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Louisiana’s only female governor, and Coach Raymond Blanco, a legendary educator and mentor.

She and her husband David recently celebrated 30 years of marriage and are the proud parents of four children. Mayor-President Boulet’s story is one of leadership, service, and staying true to your values—making her an incredible example for every LYS delegate learning to lead with purpose and impact.

Meet your 2025 Program Directors: Parker Stanford & Caihren Wood

Parker Stanford

Parker is a Baton Rouge, LA native and a graduate of Catholic High School where he went on to obtain his undergrad at the Louisiana State University and his Master’s in Corporate Finance and Consulting at the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder. In his non-LYS life, Parker is a Client Service Associate for the Boulder Legacy Group, a wealth management team of Morgan Stanley, in Boulder Colorado. His message to the delegates is to never be afraid to take the next step, and meet the future challenges head on. What great things could you accomplish? What amazing relationships could you make? What new joys could you find? Parker says: “Take this week on with open arms and an open mind. Take the time to learn new things about yourself, learn new things about others, and to learn new things about the world around you. Here at LYS you have the opportunity to see incredible growth, and to discover things about yourself you may have never found possible. Do not be afraid, because here at LYS you cannot fail, and the possibilities are endless.”

Caihren Wood

Caihren was born and raised in Vacherie, LA and graduated from St. James High School. He then attended Louisiana Tech University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and master’s in Business Administration. In his non-LYS life, Caihren works as an Operations Engineer at Lockheed Martin in Camden, Arkansas. His message to the delegates is to be present this week. Here at LYS there are many new doors to be opened, you just have to be willing to take the first step through. Have full confidence in yourself, and do not be afraid. Caihren says: “LYS has the opportunity to change your outlook on life, if you allow it to. There are always lessons to be learned, new experiences to have, and new relationships to build. If you allow yourself to be open minded and receptive, you will walk out of this week with many new experiences you may have never thought possible. Lean on each other, lean on yourself, and you will not be disappointed.”