About Us
Who Are We?
The SEPTA Youth Advisory Council is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit, with a mission to make public transit the preferred method of travel among young people in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We work to achieve this goal through advocacy of affordable transit, outreach to young people, and advising SEPTA on various initiatives.
The YAC was first convened in September 2009, after a competitive application process that drew interest from college and high school students across Southeastern Pennsylvania. The youth serving on the YAC represent Philadelphia and suburban youth from a variety of universities and high schools. Membership is open to those between 18 and 25 years of age who reside or attend school in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery counties.
Executive Committee
Thomas Pyle
Executive Chair
Committee: Student Outreach
Student at The George Washington University majoring in economics with minors in statistics and data science.
Essie Haverkamp
Secretary
Committee: Government Affairs
Student at La Salle University majoring in mathematics
Christian Szalwinski
Vice Chair
Committee: Student Outreach
Traffic Checker at SEPTA and Student at Temple University majoring in marketing
Jeron Williams II
Member at Large
Committee: Online Outreach
Youth advocate and founder of Youth Voices Coalition and Independent Innovations
Greyson Forster
Member at Large
Committee: SEPTA Affairs*
Student at University of Pennsylvania and current intern with Keolis Commuter Services
Membership
Alex Colon
Member
Committee: Government Affairs
Student at Temple University Beasley School of Law
Lucy Silverman
Member
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Student at McGill University majoring in sustainability and urban studies
Ethan Simon
Member
Committee: Government Affairs*
BA in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, currently serving as Chief of Staff to a Maryland General Assembly delegate
Eliza Kollett
Member
Committee: Student Outreach
Student at Haverford College majoring in growth and structure of cities
Jaiman Kondisetty
Member
Committee: Government Affairs
Student at Temple University Fox School of Business majoring in risk management and insurance
Santiago Melendez
Member
Committee: Student Outreach*
Student at Haverford College majoring in political science
Leslie Le
Member
Committee: Online Outreach*
GIS Technician at GFT
Nile Ward
Member
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Design engineer at Regal Rexnord
Owen Hurley
Member
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Senior Analyst at Cigna Group
Hazany Polomino
Member
Committee: Government Affairs
Senior at Haverford College, first year MCP student at UPenn, and Transit Planning Intern at HNTB.
Ian Shannon
Member
Committee: Student Outreach
Student at Temple University, Fox School of Business majoring in actuarial science and Risk management & insurance
Miya Cao
Member
Committee: Online Outreach
Senior at Conestoga High School interested in urban planning and engineering
Adijared Huerta
Member
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Political Science and Environmental Studies, works with the Philadelphia Legal Assistance.
Quinnlan Burke
Member
Committee: SEPTA Affairs
Geography and Urban Studies Major at Temple University
* = Committee Chair