AWARE Presenters:

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Albert Garibay

AWARE Coordinator

My name is Alberto Garibay and I am the AWARE Coordinator. I was born and raised in Sunnyside, WA in the beautiful Yakima Valley. I have played soccer my entire life and also enjoy hiking and camping in our unique PNW landscape. I studied at Walla Walla University where I received my B.S. in Psychology. I am passionate when it comes to working with the youth. Additionally, I have been fortunate enough to have always been in and volunteered in youth groups throughout my life. As AWARE’s new Program Coordinator, I believe my education and the interpersonal skills I have developed while working with youth can help me make a positive impact in our communities, which I call home.

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Melanie Smeenk

Life Options' CEO

Melanie Smeenk is the CEO of Life Options, where she has worked in various capacities since 2010. As CEO, she is involved in overseeing the AWARE program, and also does AWARE presentations. She has lived in Sunnyside her whole life and graduated from Sunnyside Christian High School in 2000. She has been married to Scott Smeenk for over 15 years and they have two sons. She helps with the office work at their dairy which they began in 2002. Melanie enjoys attending sporting events with her two boys, camping, watching movies and visiting with family.

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Dwight Cover

AWARE Presenter

Dwight Cover is a presenter of Life Options’ series, “Greater Than: Equipping Parents to Help Their Children Live with Sexual Integrity.” A graduate of Biola University and Dallas Theological Seminary, he has served as a pastor for 38 years (33 years in the Lower Yakima Valley). Since 2009, he has served as Teaching Pastor at Household of Faith Church in Grandview. He and Sherrill, his wife of 35 years, have eight children and twelve grandchildren. Dwight has a passion to see families—including his own—set free by the truth of God’s Word and work through Christ to live purposeful lives of integrity. In his “down time,” he enjoys reading to and talking with his family, camping, gardening, and bucking wood.

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Andrea Leask

Andrea Leask is an AWARE presenter for the Greater Than presentations. She’s served at Life Options in various capacities since she was 18, but equipping and empowering youth has always been one of her biggest passions. Andrea married her husband Erik in 2020 and is now living her own “happily ever after” with him and their two children (so far!). She loves homemaking, babies, and working alongside her husband in their resale/consignment business.

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Chloe Flory

My name is Chloe Flory. I rank third in the line of seven siblings. Six out of 7 of us are adopted.
My favorite pass-time is photography and the mountains. I love crisp weather and cold icy drinks.
Something I am passionate about is creating connections with people.

180 Facilitators:

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Elijah Gomez

Elijah is our newest Club 180 leader. He is the oldest sibling, and has two sisters and two brothers. He graduated from Grandview High School recently, and loves serving people. In his spare time he enjoys playing electric and acoustic guitar, and helping to lead worship at his church.

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