Julia and Scott Starkey
Co-Founders
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On December 2, 2008, following a fraternity initiation ritual at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where he was compelled to drink large quantities of alcohol during a hazing ritual, Julia and Scott's son Carson died of acute alcohol poisoning at age 18—unresponsive, unmonitored, and abandoned on a mattress. Following Carson's death and ensuing inquiries and legal cases, the Starkey family formed "With Carson"—a name coined by Carson’s brother Hayden—a non-profit organization committed to preventing others from suffering such a tragedy, which in August of 2011 become Aware Awake Alive to position the organization nationally. From its inception through 2012, both worked on day-to-day operations and closely with university administrators and students to develop the mission, message, and programs of the nonprofit.
Julia and Scott work full time on Aware Awake Alive, splitting their days between their hometown of Austin, Texas and San Luis Obispo, California—a place they consider a lab for the organization's programs. With a team of people working on the operations of Aware Awake Alive and a full board and advisory council, the Starkeys are active in stewarding the brand and ensuring for the long-term sustainability of the nonprofit. They are also very involved in cultivating institutional partnerships to bring the life-saving tools to as many people as possible.
In his short life Carson accomplished much. He looked at the world around him and saw limitless possibilities. He approached life with a practical tenacity that led him to pursue every path that caught his interest with vigor, intelligence and an uncanny intuition. Julia and Scott Starkey honor Carson's life through a perspective and tenacity that would make him proud.
Julia and Scott enjoy spending time with their son Hayden, his wife Laura and their 2 border collies.
For more information about working with Aware Awake Alive, please email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Hayden Starkey
Co-Founder
View BioHayden is Carson's older brother and a co-founder of Aware Awake Alive. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and currently serves as a Submarine Officer on the USS Nebraska. During his time at the academy, Hayden served as the Alcohol Drug and Education Officer, educating 4,500 midshipmen on responsible alcohol use. Hayden also spent time working with youth in the outdoors to instill leadership and responsible decision-making. He believes every person has the ability to recognize and take action to help save lives. Hayden is from Austin, Texas and currently lives with his wife, Laura, in Seattle, Washington.
Former Board Members
Jamie Clements
President/CEO, Museum of New Mexico Foundation
View BioJamie Clements is President/CEO of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization that provides financial support and services to one of the nation's largest state-run museum systems. He manages a 35-member staff and oversees the fundraising efforts that serve the four state museums, seven state historical sites, and the Office of Archeological Studies. Prior to the foundation, Clements had a 26-year career as a national fundraising professional at NPO Direct Marketing, an award-winning agency that he founded in 1987. He and his wife Diana live in Santa Fe and have five daughters: Ashley, 29; Madison, 26; Austen, 23; Noe 18 and Carolina, 18. Clements is a graduate of Princeton University.
Jeffrey D. Armstrong
President California Polytechnic State University
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Jeffrey D. Armstrong has served as president of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo since February 2011. He brings to his role a deep passion for helping young people achieve personal and professional success.
Raised on a farm in Kentucky, Dr. Armstrong attended Murray State University and North Carolina State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in physiology and endocrinology. He began his academic career at North Carolina State in 1986, earning numerous honors for excellence in teaching. He was named head of the Animal Sciences Department at Purdue University in 1997 and dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University in 2001.
Dr. Armstrong enjoys serving his community and country to foster positive change. He has served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Committee, as well as on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Seventh District Advisory Council. Today he participates on several California State University committees and is on the executive committee of the Business Higher Education Forum, the nation’s oldest organization of senior business and higher education executives dedicated to solving U.S. education and workforce challenges.
Dr. Armstrong and his wife, Sharon, have two children; Jessica is a physician, and Zack is a recent finance graduate from Michigan State University.
Nicole Covert
Parent Advocate and Community Outreach
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Nicole Nugent Covert has been a professional volunteer since she attended her first board meeting in a basket at age 2 weeks. As the granddaughter of Lady Bird and Lyndon Johnson public service is in her genes- and the causes of the environment, education and health care are so important to her family and have been her primary interests. Born and raised in Austin, Texas Nicole realizes the importance of “giving back” and “doing” for her community.
Nicole currently serves on or has served on the Foundation Boards of Seton Medical Center, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Trinity Episcopal School , The University of Texas College of Education and Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity and successfully chaired fundraisers that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for these life lines in our community. However her greatest priorities are her husband Brent and children John and Claudia who share her love of community service and her passion for academic and athletic excellence.
Derry Swanger
Attorney , Giordani Swanger Ripp and Phillips LLP
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Derry Swanger has extensive experience in assisting clients with the design and implementation of traditional and more sophisticated estate planning and asset protection strategies. This includes the preparation and implementation of wills, trusts, disability documents, and marital property agreements, as well as beneficiary designations necessary to coordinate a client’s life insurance and retirement assets with the overall plan. Mr. Swanger has worked extensively with individual and corporate executors and trustees, advising them with respect to the tax and non-tax issues associated with the administration of estates and trusts, and is experienced in the judicial construction, reformation, modification, and termination of trusts.
Mr. Swanger also has experience in advising clients about charitable giving issues and about the creation of tax-exempt organizations, including public charities, private foundations, and private operating foundations. Mr. Swanger is board certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Council, and serves as a legal advisor to the Ballet Austin Foundation. Mr. Swanger graduated from SMU School of Law in 1984 after receiving his B.B.A. in Accounting, with highest honors, from The University of Texas at Austin in 1981.
Mark Williams
Past Austin ISD Board President
View BioMark Williams joined the board of Aware Awake Alive in 2012, and has known the Starkey family for many years. Mark is a graduate of the University of Texas, and worked in finance, audit and consulting capacities at Dell Inc and Arthur Andersen. He served on the Austin ISD board from 2004-2012, including as President of the board from 2006-2012. Mark is active in the Austin community, currently serving on the board of Austin Partners in Education, Austin Public Education Foundation, Communities in Schools, United Ways of Texas, Capital Area Food Bank, Texas Exes, Longhorn Village and the KDK Harman Foundation, and is a past board member of the Community Action Network, Center for Child Protection, West Austin Youth Association, Envision Central Texas, Prevent Child Abuse Texas, and a former advisory board member of Any Baby Can. Mark and his wife Linda McCalla Williams are parents of two college students, and one high school senior, and are passionate about young people being informed about the risks of binge drinking and the dangers of alcohol poisoning.
David Wyatt
Wyatt Brand, Inc. public relations, branding, design, social media
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David Wyatt—co-founder and business director of Wyatt Brand— has 14 years of direction and strategy for the dozens upon dozens of causes, corporations, and nations including dozens of smaller and medium sized nonprofit endeavors. With an early career nurtured in the arts and educated in printmaking, David launched Wyatt Brand alongside his wife and partner Rachel in 2006 when they saw a need for the kind of quality public relations, design and branding services that they had spent the last several years developing within prominent institutions and nationally recognized publications. Also, he loves a good cup of coffee.