Melania's State of Union Guests Highlight Impact

Sierra Burns and Everest Nevraumont represent the spirit of Mrs. Trump's BE BEST Fostering the Future initiative.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Sierra Burns, a participant in the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Program, and Everest Nevraumont, a 10-year-old Alpha School student, AI-advocate, and TedX speaker, joined First Lady Melania Trump in the First Lady's Box for the 2026 State of the Union. Together, they represent the spirit of Mrs. Trump's BE BEST Fostering the Future initiative: advancing opportunity and empowering young Americans through technology and education.

Why it matters

Melania Trump's Fostering the Future platform aims to uplift America's foster youth and expand opportunity for the next generation through education and technology. Sierra and Everest's presence at the State of the Union highlights the impact of these initiatives.

The details

Over the last year, Mrs. Trump led a Presidential Executive Order on Fostering the Future, secured $30 million for foster youth housing, and successfully launched both the Presidential Artificial Intelligence (AI) Challenge, and Fostering the Future Together-a global coalition to empower children through education and technology. Melania Trump's Fostering the Future platform includes top schools across the nation, such as Vanderbilt University, Villanova University, University of Texas, University of Alabama, University of Miami, University of Georgia, the Ohio State University, University of Florida, and several other notable academic institutions. The First Lady's recent K-12 AI Workshop with Zoom included approximately 2,600 schools across America.

  • Sierra and Everest joined First Lady Melania Trump in the First Lady's Box for the 2026 State of the Union.

The players

Sierra A. Burns

Sierra is a recipient of the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Program. She is a dedicated advocate for children in foster care after having experienced the foster-care system firsthand. A graduate of Winthrop University, she is currently pursuing her Master's in Advocacy and Social Policy at Furman University while also working as a Referral Specialist at Prisma Health. Sierra testified in support of extending foster care in South Carolina and later became a Jim Casey Fellow, where she helped develop training resources for caseworkers statewide.

Everest Nevraumont

Everest is a 10-year-old student at the Alpha School in Austin, Texas, where she participates in AI-powered, personalized learning. She is a public speaker, AI-education advocate, three-time Texas State Champion in History, and was on a winning International History Bowl team. She also delivered a TedX speech about how she uses AI in her education.

Melania Trump

The First Lady of the United States, who led the Fostering the Future initiative to uplift America's foster youth and expand opportunity for the next generation through education and technology.

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What they’re saying

“Sierra and Everest embody my ongoing mission to uplift America's foster youth and expand opportunity for our next generation through education and technology. I am proud to have them join me at this historic event. Sierra and Everest represent the young people across America whose personal experience, drive, and self-motivation reflect the goals of my BE BEST Fostering the Future initiatives.”

— Melania Trump, First Lady of the United States (Mirage News)

The takeaway

Melania Trump's Fostering the Future initiative is making a tangible impact on the lives of young Americans, empowering foster youth and championing the use of technology in education to create new opportunities for the next generation.