Chevy Chase, MD (February 22, 2017) — National 4-H Council today announced that Bryanne Sanchez, 18, of Imperial, Calif., was selected as winner of the 2017 4-H Youth In Action Award for Healthy Living. Sanchez will be recognized nationally for the true leadership she has demonstrated as an advocate for healthy lifestyles in her community and across the state.
In an effort to address the 62 percent obesity rate in her county, Sanchez annually hosts the Imperial County 4-H Color Me Green run. The race, which also includes a local business health fair, gave away more than 90 boxes of fresh produce to runners and their families in 2017.
As a California 4-H State Ambassador, Sanchez organized a “Text Talk Act” campaign to bring awareness to mental health issues. She also organized the educational component of the California State Leadership Conference’s All 4-H Health Fair, working with organizations to present about various healthy living topics.
“I believe I am a 4-H true leader because I am empowering youth throughout California to make healthy lifestyle decisions,” Sanchez said. “It started with recognizing the need in my own county – a drastic 62 percent obesity rate – and developing ways to combat the problem. I recognized that I have the power to enact change by educating others, and I plan to do so for the rest of my life. I want everyone to realize there is no better time than now to start living healthy.”
Sanchez will receive a $5,000 scholarship for higher education and will serve as spokesperson for 4-H Healthy Living programming. She will be officially recognized as the 2017 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Winner for Healthy Living, sponsored by Molina Healthcare, at the National 4-H Council Legacy Awards in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, March 21, 2017.
Sanchez is joined in her role as a 2017 4‑H Youth In Action Pillar Winner by Samuel Sugarman, California 4-H’er and Agriculture pillar winner; Ava Lonneman, Ohio 4-H’er and STEM pillar winner; and Amelia Day , Georgia 4-H’er and Citizenship pillar winner.
The 4-H Youth In Action Awards, sponsored in part by Molina Healthcare, began in 2010 to recognize 4-H’ers who have overcome challenges and used the knowledge they gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their community. This award highlights youth in each of our core areas of Agriculture, Citizenship, Healthy Living and STEM. These four pillars represent the fields in which 4-H youth excel on a national level and align with the mission mandates of National 4-H Council.
To learn more about Youth In Action or to see the other pillar winners from around the country, please visit https://4-h.org/parents/4-h-youth-in-action/.
To contact the local 4-H office for Youth In Action interviews:
Shanna Abatti, California 4-H Educator smabatti@ucanr.edu
Suzanne Morikawa, California State 4-H Staff morikawa@ucanr.edu
As the nation’s largest youth development organization, 4-H grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. In the U.S., 4-H serves every county and parish through our network of 110 universities and more than 3,000 local offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries.
The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs. 4-H is led by a unique private-public partnership of universities, federal and local government agencies, foundations and professional associations. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Learn more about 4-H at www.4‑H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/4-H
Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Through their locally operated health plans in 12 states across the nation and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Molina currently serves approximately 4.2 million members. Dr. C. David Molina founded the company in 1980 as a provider organization serving low-income families in Southern California. Today, they continue his mission of providing high quality and cost-effective health care to those who need it most.
For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit their website at www.molinahealthcare.com.
