Mayor Dave Wood Youth Advisory Council
The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) is open to high school students who live in or attend school in Mishawaka, Indiana. Students are nominated to serve on the MYAC because of their academic excellence, leadership and community involvement they exhibit in their school and community. The council is comprised of sophomore, junior and seniors, who serve out a 2-year term.
What to expect
Students learn about municipal government, area businesses and participate in Mishawaka Parks Department and other City of Mishawaka activities that take place in our community. Students participate in a large community project in October and form committees to complete a Leadership Project at the end of each school year.
The Council meets monthly. In addition, the MYAC may attend events and activities related to their initiatives and responsibilities on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
Our projects
2025 Food Drive
This November, Mishawaka showed the power of giving back.
Students from the Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood Youth Advisory Council packed and delivered food boxes to local families and veterans—turning a simple food drive into something truly meaningful.
As one student said, “this year’s food drive had the most donations, and we are helping families more than ever before!”
These young leaders didn’t wait for someone else to act—they stepped up. MYAC hand-delivered Thanksgiving boxes to Mishawaka families, veterans, and neighbors who could use a little extra help this season.
That’s the Mishawaka Way: caring, serving, and leading with a heart.
Thank you to every student, parent, donor, and partner who made it happen. We’re proud of you, MYAC!
Step Into Mishawaka’s History with Shoe City
Mayor Wood and the Mishawaka Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) recently celebrated the city’s rich industrial heritage with the unveiling of their latest project, “Shoe City.” Honoring Mishawaka’s legacy as a center for shoe manufacturing—particularly the iconic Red Ball Jet brand—the initiative highlights both the pride in the city’s past and the creativity of today’s youth. The students behind the project raised over $63,000 through generous contributions from local businesses, private donors, and organizations. These funds were then matched by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and the Patronicity Program, bringing the total to more than $98,000. Later this year, residents and visitors can look forward to seeing a series of 4 ft by 6 ft Red Ball Jet-inspired shoes installed around the city. Each installation will feature a QR code sharing the history of Ball Band and its impact on Mishawaka.
Pocket Park
Mayor Wood and the MYAC cut the ribbon of their 2022 Leadership Project, the Mishawaka Pocket Park. The Pocket Park, which was conceptually designed by the MYAC, is a beautiful signature park in the heart of Mishawaka’s historical downtown.
Planning the pocket park began last fall and was made possible from the students’ crowdfunding efforts. Within only two months, the MYAC was able to raise over $50,000 from local businesses, private donors, and local organizations. These donations were matched by the State of Indiana’s Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and Patronicity Program, totaling $100,000.
MYAC Room
The City of Mishawaka moved their City Hall location from the former Bingham School at 600 E. Third Street to the former Liberty Mutual Building at 100 Lincolnway West. This large, brick structure was remodeled by the City to combine three previous municipal locations, all into one. City of Mishawaka Departments, the Mishawaka Utilities Business Office and the Mishawaka Police Department all now share this same address. Once the announcement of the new City Hall was made, Mayor Wood challenged the MYAC to create a space within it that the MYAC could call their own. With meetings to construct their ideas, the MYAC space came to life. This is now where the MYAC holds their monthly meetings.
Heroes Park
Heroes Park, formally known as Hums Park, is located on Mishawaka’s southeast side. The MYAC revitalized this park and specifically designed it for teenagers. This significant investment of $500,000 was a combination of City funds, grants from My Community My Vision and Patronicity grants, and donations of local sponsors. Visitors to the park can experience firsthand the thoughtful input of teenagers, evident in features like the Fitcore extreme obstacle course inspired by “American Ninja Warrior” and a ga-ga ball pit. Moreover, the park pays tribute to local individuals who have made an impact and remarkable contributions to Mishawaka, fostering a sense of community pride and appreciation. As the park continues to evolve with ongoing improvement projects, it remains a symbol of youth empowerment and civic collaboration in Mishawaka.
Join the MYAC for their end of the year final leadership project!
Our officers
Parker Norris
MYAC Alumni Volunteer
Parker Norris is a former member and President of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council (2016-2018). As a longtime Mishawaka resident, Parker prides himself in maintaining connections with the local community and empowering youth to be the best versions of themselves. When not assisting the MYAC, Parker works as a videographer in the Mishawaka/South Bend region.
Andrew Rimelspach
President
Andrew Rimelspach, known to most as AJ, is a junior at Penn High School where he’s actively involved in rugby, baseball, and several student clubs. Passionate about helping others, AJ is a strong advocate for people feeling happy, confident, and comfortable in their own skin. As a member of the Executive Committee, he’s excited to help lead the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council to new heights. In his free time, AJ enjoys being with friends and family and meeting new people. Looking ahead, he plans to major in civil engineering, with potential minors in government and business.
Tobias Prince
Vice President
Tobias Prince is a senior at Penn High School and an active, creative student involved in drama club, costume design, Science Olympiad, and the Mythological Themes in History Club. He enjoys combining his love for science, history, and the arts through these activities. Tobias is also excited to serve as Vice-President of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council this year, where he looks forward to making a positive impact in his community. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, and sewing, always exploring new ways to express himself and learn more about the world around him.
Caitlyn Vantine
Secretary
Caitlyn “CJ” Vantine is a senior at Penn High School with a passion for storytelling, civic engagement, and community connection. She plans to pursue a future in journalism and political science. At Penn, CJ is an active member of the Penn News Network, Kingsmen Court (student government), Freshman Mentoring, and the Girls Cross Country team. Outside of school, CJ enjoys spending time in nature and hanging out with her two dogs, Pugsly and Izzy. She is also a dedicated member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC), where she values the real-world experience and the deeper connection it gives her to her community. CJ is especially excited to step into her new leadership role as Secretary of the MYAC, where she hopes to make a lasting impact.
Eliza Wright
Treasurer
Eliza Wright is a senior at Penn High School, involved in National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Freshman Mentoring, and Kingsmen Court. She enjoys photography, art, and spending time with her family. This past summer, she completed a two-week apprenticeship at Notre Dame’s Raclin Murphy Art Museum, deepening her passion for art. Eliza also serves as Treasurer of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, where she enjoys learning about local government and collaborating with students from other schools. She plans to major in Psychology and hopes to attend college in a big city.
Ryan McGuire
Communications Coordinator
Ryan McGuire is a senior at Marian High School and serves as the student body president. He is involved in several extracurriculars, including Latin Club, Quiz Bowl (as captain), and works as a Marian Ambassador. Ryan also plays on the Marian basketball team and juggles two part-time jobs outside of school. In addition, he runs a small business offering lawn care, leaf-raking, and power washing services. During the summer, he enjoys camping, playing club basketball, and going to the beach. Ryan is excited to take on the role of Communications Coordinator for the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council this year.
Ishita Masetty
Mayor’s Liaison
Ishita Masetty is a senior at Penn High School involved in Science Olympiad, Speech and Debate, the Technology Student Association, and Spell Bowl. A passionate learner, she enjoys reading Jane Austen, spending time with her dog, and diving into new subjects as an avid Wikipedia enthusiast. Ishita aspires to become a chemical engineer and physicist. This year, she looks forward to serving as the Mayor’s Liaison for the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council.
Mason Hedges
Intern, Mayor’s Office
Mason Hedges is a senior at the University of Notre Dame where he studies finance, real estate, and theology through the Business Honors Program. A Cincinnati native, Mason has gained hands-on experience through internships in real estate development, construction, and wealth management. He’s excited to contribute to the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council and to learn from Mayor Wood about the responsibilities and vision required to lead the city of Mishawaka.
Our current council
The current council comprises students from Mishawaka High School, Penn High School, and Marian High School.
Domenic Buysse
Allison Callan
Anderson Cannon
Brock Foster
Benjamin Galiher
Matthew Geise
Connor Geoghegan
Leah Gradeless
Stephen Haughee
Esther Kamau
Maximus LaFleur
John Loesch
Charles Madden
Millie Mammolenti
Ishita Masetty
Ryan McGuire
Joseph McQueary
Brynn Micinski
Isabella Persyn
Tobias Prince
Andrew Rimelspach
Kenadie Rodman
Marcelino Rodriguez
Dakoda Shannon
Grant Spadafore
Noah Sullivan
Reid Sutherland
Caitlyn “CJ” Vantine
Ranveer Verma
Annie Verslype
Claire Walczak
Daniel Williams
Eliza Wright
Awards
AIM Leadership Award
2022
Youth Advisory Council news
Mayor Dave Wood Youth Advisory Council
Executive Assistant: Cindy Reinoehl
Email: cindy.reinoehl@mishawaka.in.gov
Phone: 574-258-1601
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