By Leticia Fehling,
ALDINE – What began as a student-led effort to make healthcare visits less overwhelming for neurodiverse patients has now earned Blanson Career and Technical Education High School student Farmata Lo statewide recognition.
Farmata, a senior, has been selected as a 2026 Student Heroes Award recipient for State Board of Education District 4, making her one of only 15 students across Texas to receive the honor. The Texas Education Agency and the State Board of Education present the annual award to Texas public school students who demoonstrate exceptional kindness, selfless service, and volunteerism in their schools and communities.
“Being selected as one of only 15 students in the entire state is an incredible achievement,” said Principal Joshua Van Donsel. “Farmata represents the heart of service and leadership that we strive to build in our students.”
She was nominated by business education instructor Kimberly Kiser for creating Ether Initiative, a vision Farmata had as a sophomore that focuses on advocating for more inclusive healthcare experiences and improved access for neurodiverse patients through thoughtfully designed care kits.
The care kits are designed to support neurodiverse patients in healthcare settings, where unfamiliar routines, bright lights, loud sounds, communication barriers, and sensory experiences can often feel overwhelming. They include grounding cards, deep relaxation cards, wipeable noise-reducing headphones, sanitizable fidget tools, communication support cards, visual breathing cards, comfort regulation tools, and visual schedule cards.
Each item was intentionally selected to help patients regulate emotions, communicate needs, understand what to expect, and feel a greater sense of safety and control during medical visits.
“Farmata’s project is not just thoughtful — it is meaningful in a way that is difficult to fully express unless you have lived it,” Kiser said. “She has identified a group of people whose needs are often overlooked and chosen to advocate for them in a practical, compassionate way. Through the Ether Initiative, she is helping create more dignity and support for neurodiverse patients and their families.”
Kiser, who is also the parent of a child with severe autism, said the project’s attention to detail stood out, particularly the use of communication cards, visual breathing tools, and visual schedule cards that can help ease fear and create predictability during stressful healthcare experiences.
Farmata has also taken steps to move the project from idea to action. She is currently self-funding prototype care kits to test what works best, and she has already begun exploring ways to expand the initiative through fundraising, business donations, and broader community support. At Blanson CTE High School, Farmata also serves as a campus ambassador, representing her school and demonstrating leadership among her peers.
The Student Heroes Award recognizes students in prekindergarten through high school whose volunteer efforts are entirely self-initiated and not connected to coursework or required service projects. Each year, one student from each of the state’s 15 SBOE districts is selected for the honor.
Farmata will be recognized during the State Board of Education’s general meeting on June 26 in Austin, where she will receive a commemorative plaque and have a resolution read in her honor.
Farmata’s recognition adds another powerful example of the #AldineStory — one shaped by students whose actions inspire others and show the power of leading with heart.
“Farmata’s kindness and selflessness have made a lasting impact on our campus and beyond,” said Kiser. “She leads by example, serves with heart, and reminds all of us that true leadership is found in how we care for others. I am honored to have nominated her for this well-deserved recognition.”
To learn more about the Student Heroes Award or submit a nomination for next year’s recognition cycle, visit the State Board of Education’s Student Heroes Award webpage.
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