Meet Our 2025 Snow Ambassador
Each year, the Children’s Museum of Richmond awards a $1,000 college scholarship to a local high school junior who exemplifies what it means to be a Snow Ambassador—someone who leads with compassion, celebrates creativity, and inspires all children to dream big, no matter their age, ability, or background. This year, we are honored to present…
Published on March 28, 2025
Each year, the Children’s Museum of Richmond awards a $1,000 college scholarship to a local high school junior who exemplifies what it means to be a Snow Ambassador—someone who leads with compassion, celebrates creativity, and inspires all children to dream big, no matter their age, ability, or background.
This year, we are honored to present our 2025 Snow Ambassador: Mayla Lemu.
Mayla is a junior at Douglas S. Freeman High School, and she left a lasting impression on our Nominating Committee with her poise and passion for building a more inclusive world.
Mayla is a remarkable student leader with a 4.1 GPA, a fierce 300-meter hurdler on her school’s varsity track team, and the founder of a service project called “Kulukila-Ana”—which means “crochet for the children” in Chichewa. Inspired by her grandmother, Mayla organized a community yarn drive and used the donated skeins to create hats, blankets, and clothing for families in Malawi.
She’s also president of her school’s African Student Alliance, vice president of the History and Human Rights Club, and a writing tutor who’s made it her mission to ensure more students feel seen and supported. She’s also an Equity Ambassador, a National Honor Society member, and a volunteer at our Sensory Friendly Nights and at events like the Folk Festival and 2nd Street Festival, and even the Fawn Shop.
But what sets Mayla apart isn’t just how much she’s done—which is a lot!—it’s how she shows up in everything she does. Her teachers describe her as thoughtful, quietly confident, and endlessly hardworking. Her English teacher said reading Mayla’s writing made him learn something new, and called her humility and drive a rare combination. Her school counselor described her as kind-hearted, generous, and clear in who she is—a young woman who puts others first and carries herself with grace.
When we asked Mayla why the Children’s Museum’s mission mattered to her, she shared this story:
“When I immigrated from Malawi, one of the biggest challenges I faced was establishing my sense of self in a new environment. I remember the Children’s Museum being the first place I put on a stethoscope and a white coat—and discovered my passion for helping people. The variety of activities, careers, and resources the museum provided, enhanced my creativity and allowed me to step out of my shell and experiment with unfamiliar things.”
As our 2025 Snow Ambassador, Mayla will help us inspire the next generation to grow through play, creativity, and connection—just as she once did here at the museum.
Mayla, we are proud to stand beside you on your journey and cannot wait to see the future you’ll help build.