― Glide to Growth (NFP)
Founder and President
Hi! My name is Amy Ji, and I am a current senior at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. My dedication towards creating a more inclusive environment was inspired by my personal experiences working with children with special needs. It is for this reason that I initiated this organization aimed at providing accessible and affordable skating opportunities while also offering mental and physical benefits. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring my interests in baking, reading, and traveling
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Hi, I’m Olivia Gin! I’ve grown up in Chicago and am the youngest of three. I attend highschool at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. I love tennis and am on our school’s Varsity Tennis Team. My favorite subject is chemistry and one of my favorite classes is Food Chemistry, where we learn the science behind cooking.
Communication Director
Hey, my name is Emmanuelle Bal and I am a student at the University of Chicago Lab Schools Class of 2024. I love both biology and art and I partake in internships in both fields. In my free time, I like to read, paint, and swim!
Social Media Manager
Hi! My name is Audrey Park and I am a member of the Class of 2024 at the U of C Lab Schools. My passions are journalism and traveling. Some of my hobbies include cooking, eating, reading a good book, and spending time with my cat and dogs.
Fundraising Director
Hi, my name is Brooke Stephens and I am a senior at New Trier High School. Outside of school, I enjoy participating in outdoor activities, traveling, and cooking. I enjoy being part of my school’s rowing team as well as being on our Social Service Board, which gives me a platform to pursue my passion for service.
The instructors listed at the far bottom are affiliated with the Chicago branch, and we cover a wide area within the Chicago suburbs, offering lessons in various locations, including Bolingbrook, Wilmette, Glenview, and Hyde Park in Chicago.
Head Director
Hi, my name is Grace Chung, and I am a freshman at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign! I have been skating for 12 years and skated for Team USA in the 2022-2023 season for synchronized skating. I am a USFS triple gold medalist in moves, ice dance, and solo free dance. I have also been coaching for about two years!
Head Director
Head Director
Hi! My name is Sophie Ryan and I am a senior in high school who’s on Team Image Junior. I have been on Team USA for the past 4 years and we have won titles internationally and nationally. I am a USFS gold medalist in moves in the field and solo free dance.
Hi! I’m Melody Xu and I am a senior at Magnet High School. I’m 17 and have been doing synchronized skating for about seven years. I have been on Team USA for the past two years! I am also a Moves in the Field gold medalist and Ice Dance gold medalist.
Hi, I am Adela Seltzer, and I am a junior at Hunter College High School. I skated on Team Image Junior as part of Team USA last year. This is my seventh year of synchro, and I am a Moves in the Field gold medalist.
Head Director
Hey! My name is Liza Babkina. At the age of 3, I first got on skates, now I am 16 years old. Until the age of 11, I skated in a single form, at the moment I am an athlete on the Junost team, representing Russia. I am a bronze medalist of the Russian Championship 23 and winner and prize-winner of various All-Russian competitions.
Head Director
Hi, my name is Lauren Ahn! I’m currently a senior in high school. I’ve been skating for 11 years now and this is my eighth year of synchro. I’m also a 4x national synchro competitor and a gold MIF medalist!
Head Director
Hi everyone! My name is Alana Cadoff and I am currently a senior at Battlefield High School. I have been competing in synchronized skating for 8 years and have had the honor of being a part of Team USA for the last 2 years. I am also a triple USFS Gold Medalist in Moves in the Field, Ice Dance, and Solo Free Dance.
Head Director
G’day! My name is Sienna Cai and I am 16 years old. I started figure skating from an early age, and have been skating competitively in synchro for over 9 years. I am a skater in Team Unity. My team has earned multiple national titles and I am proud to have represented Australia in two World Championships!
Head Director
Hello! My name is Sara Piaugeard. I’m 17 years old and I studying at Flaubert High School in Rouen. I love ice skating! I’ve been skating for 11 years and for 2 years, I have joined the synchronized team Jeanne D’Arc in France. With them, I discovered international competition and I’m learning to surpass myself.
Head Director
Hi! My name is Lindsay Vickell and I am 15 years old! I started figure skating when I was 3 years old and have been competing in synchro since I was 8 years old! I am currently skating my second-year jn junior with Team Seaside from Sweden and have been presenting Team Sweden together with my team at worlds! I have one Swedish championship title from last year.
Head Director
Hi! My name is Elvira Sjölander. I am 18 years old and live in Sweden. I started figure skating when I was 5 years old and have since then never been able to leave the ice rink. I am currently skating my third year in a Swedish junior team and I have had the privilege to represent Sweden two times at the junior world championships together with my team.
Head Director
Hi! I am Ladina from Switzerland. I am currently studying at ETH Zurich and am skating with Starlight Elite. Over the past 10 years, I‘ve also skated with Starlight Juniors and Novice. I have represented Switzerland 3 times at Worlds with Starlight Juniors and Elite and many times at international competitions throughout Europe where we won some medals. For the last three years, I have also been coaching and am looking forward to continuing that in the future!
Head Director
My passion lies in figure skating and I’ve skated for over 10 years. I’m proud to be a part of a synchronized skating team that represents Team USA. I’ve achieved a national gold medal in novice and international medals in junior. Additionally, I’m a USFS double gold medalist in Freestyle and MIF and have been certified as a USFS Learn-to-Skate instructor.
Hi everyone! My name is Amanda Lee. I am 16 years old and currently a senior at Glenbrook South High School. I am a competitive synchronized skater whose team competes on behalf of Team USA in a number of international competitions. During the 2021-2022 season, my team won a World bronze medal at Junior Worlds in Austria.
Hello, my name is Maddie Ortiz! I am a freshman at East Leyden High School. I enjoy figure skating and have been skating for almost my whole life. I represent Team USA with my teammates on a synchronized skating team. We have traveled to Europe on multiple occasions. I am a national gold medalist in the novice division as well as an international medalist in the junior division.
Hi, my name is Grace Chung, and I am a freshman at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign! I have been skating for 12 years and skated for Team USA in the 2022-2023 season for synchronized skating. I am a USFS triple gold medalist in moves, ice dance, and solo free dance. I have also been coaching for about two years!
Hey! My name is Ava Meltser and I attend Glenbrook North High school as a junior. I live in Northbrook and have two siblings. I have been a competitive synchronized figure skater for 8 years and the last two years I have been proud to represent Team USA. Last season my team won a worlds bronze medal at Junior Worlds in Austria.
Hi, I am Evie Stuckey! I am 16 years old and I attend Prospect Highschool. I have been figure skating since I was 3 and have competed both in synchronized skating and freestyle. Currently, I am a competitive synchronized skater who represents Team USA internationally. I’m also a 2 time national medalist in both the juvenile and novice division; and am a gold medalist in moves in the field.
Hi everyone! I’m Abbi Nelson and I’m 18 years old. I am currently a freshman at North Central College and a synchronized skater for Team USA. Through synchro I’ve earned a World bronze medal and a national title. I’ve also medaled at four other national championships and earned six other international medals.
Hi! My name is Giuliana Rodrigues and I’m a freshman at Northwestern University this fall. I do synchronized skating and have represented the US in international competitions with my team. Outside of that, I have passed all eight US Figure Skating (USFS) Moves in the Field tests, making me a USFS Gold Medalist.
Hi! I’m Kassie Olejniczak. I am currently a senior at John Hersey High School. I have been skating for 13 years. I am a multiple-time regional medalist, and national competitor, and was selected to be part of the National High-Performance Development Team individually and have been a national medalist in synchro. I also have been teaching skating for multiple years.
I have been skating for 12 years. I am a USFSA gold medalist in moves in the field and a novice national gold medalist in synchronized skating. I am also a certified USFS Learn-to-skate instructor.
Hi, I’m Paige! I’m 16 and a senior in high school. I have been skating for 12 years and have been on Team USA for the past two seasons! I also compete in solo ice dance and am a 3-time national competitor! I also have a gold medal in moves in the field and am currently on my gold ice dances and intermediate free skate.
Hello! My name is Zsofia Katona and I’m a junior at Rolling Meadows High School. I started figure skating at the age of 5 and have been skating for 11 years. I’ve been a competitive freestyle skater for 5 years and a synchronized skater for 8 years. I’m also a 2-time National gold medalist in both the Intermediate and Novice division, as well as a USFS gold medalist.
I’m Quinn McCormick, I’ve been skating for 12 years, I’m a three-time national gold medalist, my favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate, I love diamonds and shiny things, and I love working with kids.
Hi, my name is Sophia Bayraktarov and I am currently a junior at Maine South High School. I have been figure skating for 12 years and have been a synchronized figure skater for 7. I’m also a two-time national gold medalist in both the intermediate and novice divisions. This year I will be competing in the junior division.
Hi, my name is Emma Chung, I am currently 15 years old and a sophomore at Bolingbrook High School
. I have been figure skating for 12 years and am a 3-time national champion in the juvenile, intermediate, and novice division and also a 3-time Midwestern medalist. I have also been coaching Learn To Skate for about 1 year.
Glide to Growth empowers disabled children through figure skating. Tailoring lessons to each child’s needs, our instructors provide physical, mental, and emotional benefits to improve their overall quality of life. We also foster a supportive community for disabled children and families as figure skating can help children reach their full potential.
