Teen Health Connection Awards $10,000 Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership Scholarship to Independence High School Senior
Teen Health Connection, the leading provider of integrated medical and behavioral health services for adolescents and young adults in the Charlotte region, has awarded its 2026 Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership Scholarship to Alexis Agurs, a senior at Independence High School in Charlotte. The $10,000 scholarship recognizes her exceptional leadership, advocacy, and service to underserved communities and supports Agurs’ pursuit of higher education. Agurs plans to graduate in June 2026 and attend Winston-Salem State University, where she plans to major in biology on a pre-med track.
The Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership Scholarship — Teen Health Connection’s Legacy Fund Scholarship — was expanded from $7,500 to $10,000 in 2025, reflecting Teen Health Connection’s continued investment in youth leadership across the greater Charlotte region.
Agurs was selected for her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which brought free, accessible First Aid and CPR training to families and youth in her community after she identified critical gaps in emergency preparedness following an incident at her church when a child was injured during a youth event.
Already CPR-certified herself, Agurs stepped in — and later learned that limited access, cost, and scheduling barriers prevented many families from receiving lifesaving training. She was instrumental in organizing professional and youth volunteers to successfully train more than 30 families. As a result of her advocacy and leadership, emergency preparedness curriculum has become an official part of the church’s volunteer curriculum.
“Leadership, for me has always been rooted in action, empathy, and the willingness to step forward when something in my community needs to change,” Agurs wrote in her essay. “This project did not just change my community; it changed me. It pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and become a stronger, more confident leader.”
“Alexis embodies the spirit of this scholarship and the legacy it represents,” said Dr. Jennifer Thomas, Teen Health Connection’s new executive director. “Her leadership is focused on caring for others, and driving change that benefits the broader community — exactly the kind of leadership that creates lasting change and healthier communities.”
In addition to having a tremendous impact on the health and safety of individuals in under-resourced communities, Agurs has been actively involved in mentoring young campers through a youth camp led by her travel softball team and successfully organizing an annual “Breakfast with Santa” program at a local Title I school through her involvement in one of the Charlotte area Jack and Jill of America clubs.
The Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership Scholarship celebrates the visionary leadership of three individuals who have helped shape adolescent health in the Charlotte community: Dr. John G. Johnston, Teen Health Connection’s founding medical director; Barbara R. Ziegler, founding executive director; and Libby Safrit, an adolescent psychologist who led the organization as the executive director for the past 16 years and has been instrumental in the growth of Teen Health Connection for 27 years. Safrit’s name was added to the scholarship in 2025 to recognize her tremendous contributions to the organization prior to her retirement. Since its inception in 2012, the scholarship has grown steadily — symbolizing more than a decade of commitment to empowering young leaders whose work aligns with Teen Health Connection’s mission to improve adolescent health and well-being.
Agurs plans to pursue a career in medicine, with a focus on public health and community advocacy.
“This experience taught me that real change begins with a single step… noticing a problem, caring enough to act, and believing that one person can make a difference. My project may have been about teaching lifesaving skills, but it also helped me discover who I am, who I want to become, and how I hope to leave a lasting impact on every community I serve,” she said.
About the Scholarship
The Johnston Ziegler Safrit Youth Leadership Scholarship is a $10,000 competitive scholarship that honors one high school senior who exemplifies leadership, advocacy, and service in their community.
Eligible, college-bound high school seniors may apply from October 1 to December 1 of the calendar year at www.TeenHealthConnection.org/scholarship.
ABOUT TEEN HEALTH CONNECTION
Teen Health Connection is the leading provider of integrated medical and behavioral health services for adolescents and young adults ages 11 through 25 in the Charlotte region. Through an exclusive community collaboration with Atrium Health, Teen Health Connection’s team of experts are positioned to meet the unique needs of adolescents and their families. Teen Health Connection’s team is comprised of medical providers and nurses, psychologists, behavioral health therapists, triage clinicians, community health educators, parent educators, and a research and evaluation team. For more information, visit www.TeenHealthConnection.org
Past Recipients of the scholarship include –
Johnston Ziegler Scholarship Recipients 2012-2025
- 2012 – Courtney Wakeman, William Amos Hough High School
- 2013 – Sanjana Vattigunta, Ardrey Kell High School
- 2014 – Kyle Tatich, David W. Butler High School
- 2015 – Joseph Obeid, William Amos Hough High School
- 2016 – Grant Tatich, David W. Butler High School
- 2017 – Julia Ferrante, South Mecklenburg High School
- 2018 – Ava Burgess, Mallard Creek High School
- 2019 – Khamiah Alderman, Vance High School
- 2020 – Jules Oringel, Providence High School
- 2021- Laura Saavedra, Charlotte Country Day School
- 2022- Breanna Fowler, North Mecklenburg High School
- 2023 – Jewel Wood, Hopewell High School
- 2024 – Nattelie Anderson, Cabarrus-Kannapolis Early College High School
- 2025 – Vance Johnson, East Mecklenburg High School
