By Krystal Moralee

The skills Troy Distelrath developed as a member of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) have stuck with him in a big way, helping him to not only achieve excellence in his own life but also to assist others in their own quest for success.

Distelrath was a YAC member from 2014-2018, when he graduated from St. Clair High School, and his younger brothers also found value in participating during all four years of high school.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to get involved in philanthropy and give back in a substantial way as a young person,” he said. “Young people aren’t often given the opportunity to deliberately and collectively handle that many philanthropic dollars.”

YAC is a grantmaking committee made up of high schoolers from across the county. During his time with YAC, Distelrath said the group focused on projects that touched the Blue Water area communities in a variety of ways, including addressing hunger, providing recreational opportunities, and promoting fitness and wellness for area youth.

Graduation wasn’t goodbye, though.

“The Community Foundation has been a consistent part of my life for the last decade,” he said.

Distelrath is a 2022 graduate from Michigan State University, and he taught in Lansing Public Schools for a while. He also served with AmeriCorps as a college advisor working with Port Huron High School students – and the Community Foundation – to help the students prepare for college and complete applications.

Distelrath himself is a 4-year recipient of the John F. & Rose Marie Wismer scholarship, and he was honored to referee for a recent recipient of the same scholarship.

“It was a full-circle moment,” he said.

He keeps up with what’s happening at the Community Foundation and still attends YAC alumni events when he’s in town.

For Distelrath, YAC taught him a lot about self-governance, being part of a group, considering the perspectives of other and coming to a consensus over limited resources – skills he continues to find beneficial in several areas of his life.

He moved to Washington, D.C. in June, and in July he proposed to Nora Teagan. The couple has not yet set a wedding date, as they are actively furthering their education. Distelrath is pursuing his PhD in sociology at the University of Maryland, while Teagan is pursuing her master’s degree.

Distelrath encourages area high school students to get involved with the Community Foundation and apply to be part of YAC. Applications open in the spring, and more information including this year’s focus points can be found at stclairfoundation.org/yac.

“I love being involved with the Community Foundation whenever possible,” he said. “It definitely made me feel a lot closer to my community.”