The next generation is ready to step up, step out, and get things done. Nominated by our readers, these eight Rising Stars are advocates, musicians, entrepreneurs, and leaders under 21 who are making a difference in our community and taking confident steps toward their bright futures. Meet the locals you should look out for.
MAKALA CORBIN
Philanthropist
Ten-year-old Makala Corbin is a powerhouse of philanthropic work. Though she has now organized and run more than ten fundraisers and even recently launched an official non-profit – The Makala Corbin Foundation – her story of giving started out with a fairly casual thought during the Christmas season of 2015. Her family had a tradition of giving holiday gifts to children in need, and seven-year-old Makala thought to herself, “What about all the animals in need? They need things too.” From that moment, she began saving her own money and reaching out to friends for monetary donations or donations of supplies. This fundraiser for the St. Johns County Pet Center was a huge success and sparked in Makala a passion for charitable work.
Since that first fundraiser (which she has continued for the past three years), Makala has kept up a serious momentum. For three years, she has organized a Summer Fun Campaign to benefit homeless children in St. Johns County. She has made blessing bags for Hurricane Irma victims and brought food to St. Francis House on more than one occasion. Makala made duct tape bookmarks and sold them to raise money for Dreams Come True of Northeast Florida. She has filled twelve Angel Tree tags at Christmas and made monetary donations to Team Keegan, a foundation for children battling cancer. This past July, she began a new fundraiser called Fly High with School Supplies that gives school supplies to local students who might not be able to afford them.
As she begins a new chapter of her philanthropic work with an official non-profit, Makala hopes to reach and help more children and homeless in the area, as this is where her heart really lies. “My goal,” she says, “is to continue to help as many homeless people as I can. I owe a huge thank you to everyone in the community that has continued supporting my fundraising efforts. This journey would not be possible without you guys.”
SUSANNA MATZA
Actress
Don’t be surprised not long from now if you see St. Augustine’s very own Susanna Matza on the silver screen. At only 17-years-old, the actor/model/writer has an enviable resume and repertoire. Though her dreams of being an actor started when she was just a little girl, it wasn’t until a few years ago that she really began to pursue the career seriously. Her mother, the owner of Retail Therapy of St. Augustine, was able to give her modeling opportunities at St. Augustine Fashion Week, and Mike Beaman, the drama teacher at St. Augustine High School, really began to hone her craft on the stage.
Since St. Augustine Fashion Week’s inception, Susanna has been involved each year as a model and has made an appearance at the Love Your Mother Eco Fashion Show as well. Though most of her appearances in film have been in Tampa and Orlando, Susanna is currently working on a project right here in St. Augustine.
The film – called Being Golden – explores the struggles of being religious and a part of the LGBTQ community. The audience gets a glimpse into the lives of two girls in love under a deeply religious roof. Having written the story herself and acting in the starring role, Susanna is excited to release the film. “I loved writing Being Golden,” she says. “It’s a very wonderful experience being able to share a story so dear to my heart.”
She’s certainly got plenty on her plate right now, but Susanna also has definite plans for the future. In order to pursue acting and modeling professionally, she hopes to move to Los Angeles or New York City where the opportunities on the runway and the screen are more frequent and numerous. “Hopefully,” says Susanna, “you’ll see me on the big screen with Morgan Freeman in the near future!”
JACKSON CARNAGHI
Advocate
In 2012, John “Denny” Carnaghi was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away only eighty-one days later. In the wake of the loss, John’s 14-year-old grandson, Jackson Carnaghi, felt like he needed to help, but he didn’t know where to begin. When his mother began volunteering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Jacksonville, Jackson knew this was his opportunity. He attended meetings with his mother, meeting cancer survivors and listening to their stories. In 2013, Jackson and his family joined the Network in Washington, D.C. for an advocacy day.
He has since continued to lobby Congress for funding and regularly participated in the Jacksonville PurpleStride 5K. Every November, Jackson organizes a group called “Team Denny” for the race, and in their five years of fundraising, they have raised over $75,000.
“My inspiration to get into advocating for pancreatic cancer,” says Jackson, “was to not see anyone, any kid, or any friend have to go through what my family and I went through. It is hard and painful to see someone I loved so much be in so much pain. So my ultimate goal would be to continue to encourage our state and national legislators to fund pancreatic cancer research. It is there that I think we can really make a difference. The cure is out there, we just have to find it.”
In the future, Jackson plans on attending law school, but pancreatic cancer research will always be something he advocates for.
“Don’t think,” says Jackson, “that because you’re a kid that your voice is not important. Speak up. Your voice is really powerful. You can make just as much of an impact as an adult can. You can be the difference.”
DAVIS LOOSE
Musician
In sixth grade, Davis Loose found his calling. He picked up a guitar, enrolled in some lessons, and fell in love with the sounds and music that he could make. He continually pushed himself beyond what they taught him in class, determined to learn all of his favorite country songs. And once he began to learn them, he took up his pick and a pen and wrote his own music. Then he mounted the stage. And now at only 16, Davis is regularly performing with his band “Davis and the Loose Cannons” at venues throughout St. Augustine and surrounding cities.
The music that Davis plays isn’t what kids his age would typically be drawn to – bluegrass, classic country, Western swing, and honky tonk. “This is the music known best as the ‘working man’s music,’” he says. “Songs that tell true stories about hard times, hard work, trains, mamas, and honky tonk Saturday nights.”
Though his musical repertoire is already impressive, there’s one performing memory that stands out among the others. Before the show began, Davis attended a meet and greet with his hero, Marty Stuart. While playing one of his biggest hits “Western Girls,” Marty paused, having forgotten the second verse. “He pointed his guitar at me,” says Davis, “and asked if I knew it. I began singing it and he told me to stand up and finish the song out with him. After that, he asked if I would be interested in getting up on stage and playing a few songs with him. I answered yes, and that’s all she wrote!”
Even if being a touring musician doesn’t work out, Davis intends to always be a part of the industry in some way. He plans to attend a university in Tennessee for Music Business then try his hand at performing. Quite simply, he says, “Music is my passion.”
CASSIUS & ELIJAH D’ELENA
Artists
The fantastical, the whimsical, and the utterly unusual are what brothers Cassius and Elijah D’Elena do best. About a year and a half ago, their parents noticed the boys’ talent in art and design and realized that they could do more with it. With their mother being an artist herself, the boys were always drawing, painting, and creating new projects, and by then their colorful designs were nearly second nature. So Cassius and Elijah’s parents began printing the boys’ art on t-shirts and bags. And thus, Yo Dog Designs was born.
Each creation at Yo Dog Designs is off-the-wall and imaginative, but if you look closely, the brothers have really distinct styles. 12-year-old Cassius’s art is highly geometric. He creates pyramids and buildings, cubes and cones winding in and out of each other in psychedelic patterns. The designs are very technical and always full of intricate detail. Much of Cassius’s inspiration comes from the movies that he watches and the artwork in the video games that he plays. This style of art has always been his forte, and someday he hopes to shape it into a career in architecture. Art, however, will always be a hobby.
Elijah, on the other hand, favors the more fantastical. You’ll most often find the 10-year-old drawing unusual animals, mythical beasts, and crazy creatures. His designs tend to have more than their fair share of eyes or hands growing out of strange places or antlers that twist and turn. He also finds a lot of his inspiration from movies and other artists that he admires. As drawing is his favorite thing to do, he hopes to become a cartoonist.
The printing process on all of their products is done at home so that the boys can be a part of every side of their business. They love most being able to create custom orders. Through Yo Dog Designs, they’ve found a way to share their art with the world.
AARALYN SHIELDS
Volunteer
At a very young age, Aaralyn Shields has been able to accomplish something that many of us only dream of doing – finding a way to use our passion to give back to those around us. Aaralyn’s passion for theatre and helping other children have made her an indispensable part of the team at Limelight Theatre. In late 2016, Aaralyn and her best friend were in the market for an after-school activity and happened upon the auditions for Elf, Jr.
Being a part of this play sparked a love for theatre in Aaralyn. She has now been part of multiple shows at Limelight and worked beyond just being in the spotlight. She has helped with costumes, assisted backstage, acted as stage manager, directed theatre games, and volunteered with younger children. “I just love being at the theatre,” says Aaralyn, “and all of my experiences have been so positive! I really enjoy helping out as much as I enjoy being on stage.”
“Aaralyn is one of my go-to students when I need assistance with my program,” says Kristin Pidcock, Director at Limelight’s KidzfACTory. “She is gentle and patient with our youngest students. I have watched Aaralyn grow over the last couple of years and admire her kindness, compassion, and dedication to her family and friends. Most of all, I have seen and experienced Aaralyn’s passion for service. She gives wholeheartedly to her community, which is a gift at such a young age.”
In the future, Aaralyn hopes to continue to explore both her love of theatre and her love of service. “I really want to do something that will make a difference,” she says, “and I’d love to be a teacher at the school I went to for elementary, Moultrie Montessori. That is where I first discovered that I was a good leader and also how much I love to volunteer and help other children.”
BLAKE MCCLURE
Achiever
It isn’t easy for an 18-year-old to practically be a Renaissance man, but Blake McClure isn’t here to take the easy path. He’s found his passions in life and is ready to pursue a career that allows him to dabble in all of them. For high school, Blake attended the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville – an institution that allowed him to explore his passion for the performing arts while still maintaining the academic rigor that would best prepare him for college. While there, he was a part of the musical theatre program, performing in numerous plays, musicals, and showcases. This specialized education encouraged him down an artistic path.
During high school, however, he maintained a job that allowed him to enjoy a very different – but just as artistic – side of his interests. At A. Chef’s Cooking Studio in Ponte Vedra Beach, he works alongside Chef Andrea Rosenblatt to practice his cooking skills and pass them along to students. “It’s kind of a win-win,” says Blake, “in the sense that I help the customers to learn knife skills and become familiar with decadent recipes, while also learning myself!”
Having now graduated high school, Blake will be attending the University of Central Florida to major in Entertainment Management. “I am beyond excited,” he says, “to work with some of the best professors in the industry, make great connections to industry professionals, and also complete internships all around the world that will hopefully expose me to the entertainment industry and build connections with professionals to further my career after college.”
His exceptionally hard work and cultivation of multiple skill sets have perfectly prepared Blake for his chosen path in life. With talent on his side and a staggering work ethic in tow, this Renaissance man will be one to watch out for.
Photography by Brian Miller. Shot on location at Art N’ Motion – the beautiful new building on San Marco Avenue. This stunning venue is home to Art N’ Motion, a luxury antique car showroom, and the Scott Lagasse, Jr. NASCAR team.
