Chase Awards Winners Show Courage, Compassion

Businessman Jesda Gulati’s office is one computer in the unfinished basement of his parent’s house.

Not the most glamorous digs. But Gulati’s just 17 and has already been in business for himself for two years.

The Ferris High School junior was one of five South Side and West Plains students honored with a Chase Youth Award last week for their creativity, ingenuity or compassion.

The awards were created 12 years ago, named for former Spokane Mayor Jim Chase.

Gulati was highlighted for his business skills, winning the teen division entrepreneurship award.

He started his Internet service in 1997, contracting with larger providers to sell online access to Spokane residents. But he got a quick lesson in free enterprise, getting squeezed out of the market.

“There was a lot of local growth in Internet use,” he said, explaining why he started his business. “The problem was the market. Too crowded.”

He sold his business to Icehouse Net Services, a local net provider, in 1998. A month later, he began contracting with a California company to buy personal computers at wholesale, then sell them in bulk to local stores.

The Doogie Howser of the business world? Gulati insists it’s not that hard.

“It just seems so simple to me,” he said. “It kind of came naturally. It’s like a hobby to me more than a business.”

Gulati plans to put his earnings toward a college degree in business or political science.

Other award winners include:

Megan Garcia, 14, a Gonzaga Preparatory School student, won the teen division courage award. Garcia works on a local pilot project called Youth for a SAFE (Sexual Assault Free Environment) Spokane. She spoke at a September press conference about the sexual climate in high school.

Her comments sparked several letters to the editor and a cold shoulder from some of her peers.

“Megan realizes that her activity is likely to bring around ridicule and mockery from those who don’t understand,” said Spokane Regional Health District educator Ana Matthews in her nomination letter. “But she has decided that the outcome is greater than the risks.”

Whitney Grantham-Lund, 11, a Hallett Elementary student, won the youth award for diversity. Whitney shares her Lakota Indian heritage with her peers on the Hallett playground, bringing games she’s learned at the powwows she attends with her father almost every weekend.

Hallett Principal Ralph Headlee says Whitney is a unique find during his 24 years in the Medical Lake School District. He says she never pushes her culture on others but is always open to talking about it.

“I have yet to meet any other student who has shown so much pride when promoting awareness of her Indian background,” said Headlee.

“Because of her enthusiasm and personality she has educated an entire school.”

Allison Lambert, 18, a Gonzaga Preparatory School student, won the teen division community service award. Service to others is the motto for the very busy Lambert, who organizes an annual school food drive, volunteers at Deaconess Medical Center and serves on the Manito Park Preservation committee. She is a member of the Youth Volunteer Corps.

Even with all these commitments, Lambert found time to attend Youth Leadership Spokane, a program designed to encourage students to be future community leaders. She serves on the Youth Leadership Advisory Board.

“She consistently demonstrates a genuine respect for others, regardless of their age, race, culture or life circumstances,” said Barbara Richardson, Leadership Spokane program leader. “The fact that she holds humanity in such high regard is evidenced by her unfailing commitment to the service of people in need in our community.”

Kristi Landwehr, 10, a Mullan Road Elementary student, won the youth award for leadership. Kristi organized a communitywide blood drive to support a fellow student battling cancer. Along with classmates, she became an expert on blood donation, visiting the Inland Northwest Blood Center and distributing flyers to the community to publicize the event.

She and her peers set up for the drive, escorted donors and answered their questions.

“The blood drive lasted one evening, six hours, but the legacy of caring continues,” said Shannon Little, community resource coordinator for the blood center. “Because of their diligence, but most of all their heart, a young boy will live.”