PHOTOS: 2026 Delta Community Captain - Mark Putnam

Nichol Ellis was recognized as a Delta Community Captain at Seahawks Training Camp on July 31st. Nichol serves as the Community Engagement Manager for Camp Korey, bringing decades of dedicated camp and volunteer experience to her role as a storyteller and advocate for the camp's magic. In her position, she connects with service clubs, assists at various events, and coordinates large corporate volunteer projects to share the transformative impact camp has on children with medical conditions, their families, and volunteers. Deeply passionate about building community, she thrives on bringing people together and spreading joy both on and off the campgrounds.

LA Kendall LaBree ("Kendall") was recognized as a Delta Community Captain on stage at PrideFest on June 28, 2026. Kendall is a longtime Pacific Northwest event producer, mentor and activist. Wearing many hats, she's the Founder and COO of Kendall's DJ & Event, Director of Operations for Do Something Already (an LGBTQ+ advocacy non-profit), and Deputy Director of Seattle PrideFest, an organization she's served for nearly twenty years.

Sonya and Eric Vraves were recognized as Delta Community Captains on June 23, 2026 for their contributions as first responders in Kittitas County. Sonya and Eric were nominated through Quiet Cadence, a non-profit focused on serving first responders in Eastern Washington.

Dr. Nora Disis, Director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute at UW Medicine, has been honored with a Delta Community Captain Award for her groundbreaking work developing cancer vaccines that harness the body's immune system to fight disease. Known as the "mother of cancer vaccines," Dr. Disis leads the largest academic group in the world dedicated solely to advancing cancer vaccine research, and her pioneering efforts have helped patients not only survive but truly reclaim their lives. To date, Delta Air Lines has raised $33 million for breast cancer research, funding 132 BCRF-supported projects.

Matthew Austin has been honored with the Delta Community Captain award in recognition of his outstanding work as the Parks Superintendent for the City of Tukwila. In recognition of his dedication, Seahawks and Delta employees volunteered at a KABOOM! playground build in the Tukwila community on September 27, 2025.

The Seahawks and Delta Air Lines presented Josh Porter with the Delta Community Captain award on September 3, 2025. Porter was recognized for his outstanding work as a Social Studies teacher, ASB advisor, and Culture Team leader at Raisbeck Aviation High School.

Jennifer Baker, CLS, has been recognized with a Delta Community Captain award in honor of her work as a Clinical Supervisor for inpatient Child Life Specialist teams at Seattle Children's Hospital. Celebrating her 15th anniversary with SCH this year, Jennifer provides expert oversight to eleven Child Life Specialists across the Medical, Surgical, and Intensive Care Units, as well as the Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic.

At the 2025 Seahawks High School Girls Flag Championships, Delta and Seahawks honored James Neil, Athletic Director at Tacoma Public Schools, as a Delta Community Captain. As one of the first districts in Washington to adopt girls flag football in 2021, James was a huge advocate in helping get the sport sanctioned this year. Now, Tacoma Public Schools has a girls flag team at each of its five comprehensive high schools, with more than 230 students participating.

The Seahawks and Delta Air Lines honored Executive Director of Seattle PrideFest, Egan Orion, as the Delta Community Captain on June 7, 2025.

While volunteering at a Seahawks Blood Drive hosted at Lumen Field, Seahawks and Delta employees surprised long-time American Red Cross community member, Terry Liikala, with the Delta Community Captain award. As a passionate and active Red Cross volunteer, Terry has served in multiple roles including disaster responder, blood donor, and blood donor ambassador.

The Seahawks and Delta Air Lines honored Ariyah Jané, Housing Program Manager for Lavender Rights Project (LRP, as the Delta Community Captain on March 28, 2025. Jané is being recognized for her work in the LGBTQUIA+ community. Ariyah's artistry is deeply rooted in her diverse background, driving her to become the founder and CEO of Muses and Moguls. Now, using her passion for the LGBTQUIA+ community, Ariyah leverages her passion for the LGBTQUIA+ community to advance housing justice, provide critical legal advocacy, and develop supportive services that empower Black trans and gender-diverse individuals.

Seahawks and Delta employees surprised Corporal Miller with the Delta Community Captain award for his incredible work serving the military community and his role with Marine Toys for Tots, leveraging his leadership skills to make the holiday season brighter for local children in need.