22 SEPTEMBER 2026 By Mark Hays …for Junior Achievement of Arizona, it can look like a student building a sustainability movement on his high school campus, or another exploring how artificial intelligence might contribute to research aimed at making schools safer. Those are among the stories behind the organization’s 2026 JA 18 Under 18 Awards, which recognize 18 Arizona students for leadership, community involvement, innovation and other accomplishments. The annual program is designed to spotlight young people who are already making an impact rather than waiting until adulthood to get started. Two of this year’s honorees are Brophy Prep student Adam Shamoun and BASIS Scottsdale student Umar Amer. Adam’s passion for sustainability began during an immersion trip to the Navajo Nation, where he saw the impact of environmental degradation on families. After a waste audit at Brophy revealed compost contamination rates as high as 50 percent, he and a team developed WasteCam, an AI-powered camera that identifies and analyzes waste in real time to improve sorting. Educational initiatives and better signage have already reduced contamination to about 10 percent, and Adam hopes WasteCam can eventually bring rates down to five percent and expand to schools nationwide. Adam believes meaningful change starts with collaboration, compassion and an openness to learn from others. In addition to his sustainability work, he has collected and redistributed clothing, led immersion trips to the Navajo Nation and helped provide books to Native American, refugee and Title 1 students through the DEAL Club. He is a member of the cross-country team, sings with the Pueri Cantores choir and interns at Circular Earth. “I felt honored to be nominated,” Adam said. “It felt rewarding to be recognized for service, late nights working, and leading clubs at school.” His interest in the environment also extends beyond school. Adam enjoys running with his family, and he credits his love of the outdoors with helping spark his interest in sustainability. He is also an avid reader, naming Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass as his favorite book. Adam hopes to attend college on the East Coast, giving him a chance to experience another part of the country. He has not yet settled on a particular university. His advice to other young people interested in making a difference is straightforward: start – just start. “Whether small or big, all projects can transform into something impactful for the people you serve and for yourself,” he said. Umar was nominated by his teachers and recognized in part for research the BASIS Scottsdale junior is conducting at ASU, where he developed what he describes as the first AI-based machine- learning model designed to analyze U.S. high school gun violence dating back to 1999. His research focuses on identifying patterns in that data, with the broader goal of exploring whether artificial intelligence and machine learning can contribute to prevention and safer schools. For Umar, the project is part of a larger interest in public health, civic engagement and using research to address issues affecting young people. Umar is the co-founder of SPARKHope, a health-equity nonprofit that has donated 200,000 pounds of food and hosted 105 free health clinics since its inception. He describes himself as an activist citizen focused on the intersection of public health and disability rights. Most recently, Umar addressed the United Nations General Assembly. His paper, “Human Rights and Assistive Technologies: Analyzing Policy, Training, and Innovation for Enhanced Accessibility and Equity,” was presented and incorporated into the official case report for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ final report on Resolution 55/8. Being selected as one of the 18 honorees was meaningful because of the recognition itself, and also because it gave him an opportunity to represent young people across Arizona. “Ultimately, youth are the engine to social success,” Umar said, describing the award as an opportunity to represent Arizona as a young changemaker while inspiring other students to become more civically engaged. The recognition has not changed the direction of Umar’s work so much as reinforced where he wants to go next. He hopes to work with policymakers and school districts to explore implementing his AI-based school-violence prediction model. At the awards ceremony, the honorees and their families gathered to celebrate. Each recipient had the opportunity to share their personal mission and what motivates them. jaaz.org UMAR AMER ADAM SHAMOUN PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT What does tomorrow’s leadership look like? Whether small or big, all projects can transform into something impactful for the people you serve and for yourself.

23 SEPTEMBER 2026 By Madalyn Paltzik About a year ago, my mom and little brother moved across the country. Like anyone adjusting to a new reality, I struggled with the distance. Before they left, my little brother gave me a stuffed bear. I sprayed it with my mom’s perfume, and every night it became a small source of comfort – a familiar reminder of home when I needed it most. As I began researching why something so simple could have such a profound effect, I discovered the science behind it. Familiar scents are closely tied to memory and emotion, warmth can promote relaxation, and gentle weight has been shown to create a calming, grounded feeling for many people. That experience inspired me to create Nonny’s. I wanted to design more than just another stuffed animal. I wanted to create something intentionally built to comfort people through life’s hardest moments, whether they’re missing someone they love, navigating anxiety, grieving a loss, or simply in need of a hug. Every Nonny’s bear combines soothing weight (they each weigh around four pounds), optional warmth or cooling, and calming scents to create a comforting experience inspired by personal experience and research. This fall, we’ll launch our very first Nonny’s: Benny the Bear. Named after my little brother, Benny was inspired by the bear that brought me comfort during one of the hardest seasons of my life. Benny is more than a stuffed animal – he’s a hug that lasts forever. We’ll be launching with our signature Vanilla scent insert, chosen for its warm, familiar, and comforting aroma, with additional scents like lavender, floral mixes, citrus and more planned for future releases. Eventually we plan on launching new animals as the company grows. We are also seeking partnerships with different organizations – like Phoenix Children’s Hospital – to donate bears to those who might be going through a tough time. If my little goodbye bear could help me through one of the hardest transitions of my life, I hope Nonny’s can do the same for someone else. Benny is available for pre-sale September 2026. nonnys.co Once upon a goodbye: The inspiration behind Nonny’s By Michael P. Murphy Who remembers when PGA Tour history was made in 1963? It was when Arizona Country Club took its turn hosting the Phoenix Open. The great Arnold Palmer held up the winner’s trophy with a score of 273, 15 under par. Gary Player was runner-up after shooting a 274, and right behind him was Jack Nicklaus at 275. Palmer pocketed the winner’s purse, a whopping $35,000. It was the first time golf’s Big Three came in 1-2-3 in the history of the PGA Tour. It was also the greatest professional golf moment in the history of the Arizona Country Club, which alternated hosting the Open with the Phoenix Country Club from 1955-1973. The club was founded in 1946, with the parkland golf course opening two years later. In viewing aerial photos of the time, the only familiar landmark is Camelback Mountain to the north. It’s a virtual snapshot of the Arcadia district in its infancy. The course may be its crown jewel, but the Arizona Country Club is much more than golf. It’s a full-service, member-only organization that includes a spa for body treatments and facials, plus a hair salon. There’s dry cleaning and a shoe service, and a car wash in the parking lot. “It’s a great neighborhood club,” President Jeff Donnell said. “We have a wonderful membership with about a thousand members. It’s a terrific place to spend time. We try to provide services that members appreciate and use. We think those amenities are valuable; in many cases they save time.” The club is sensitive to overcrowding, so there is a wait list for new members. Even with the obvious beauty of the property, it’s the people who make it special. There are many multi-generational families here – each with a wealth of stories to tell. “Just about everything the club has to offer, we offer for kids as well,” Member Services Director Brett Martin said. “We have a kids’ club, where they can order breakfast, lunch and dinner, and summer camps in June. The parents need somewhere for the kids to go, so if we can provide that at the club, we will.” As the Arizona Country Club observes its 80 th year, significant renovations are underway on the campus. They are renovating the on-site restaurant, which will open near Christmas, and refurbishing the men’s locker room and tennis court. They’re also expanding pickleball courts, which will be open in September. After eight decades, Arizona Country Club has figured out the secret to staying relevant: keep the traditions, keep the people and keep making the place better. There’s just one small catch for those hoping to join – they’ll have to wait their turn. azcountryclub.com A legacy written on the fairways Arizona Country Club, a storied Arcadia institution with deep roots in PGA Tour history, is celebrating 80 years in 2026. (inset) Arizona Country Club circa 1948. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARIZONA COUNTRY CLUB