Youth in Action
Winners
4‑H is proud to share the diverse stories and unique perspectives of 4‑H’ers who are leaders in their communities. 4‑H Youth in Action participants come from every corner of America and are impacting their local communities in astounding ways. Check out 4‑H Youth in Action Award winners and finalists below!
2025
finalists
Ronak Suchindra,
Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
For over nine years, Ronak Suchindra has thrived in 4-H, transforming from a shy eight-year-old into a leader and passionate advocate for STEM education. Ronak's spark came during a 4-H scratch workshop where he solved a coding problem and led his peers to the solution. This pivotal moment sparked his confidence and love for STEM, propelling him to state and national successes in competitive robotics and earning prestigious awards like the Pennsylvania 4-H Diamond Clover Award. His passion for sharing knowledge led Ronak to create Kids Connect, a platform that, even during the pandemic, offered over 50 STEM workshops and reached more than 3,000 students globally, fostering a new generation of STEM enthusiasts.
Ronak strives to inspire others to dream, learn, and become more. His extensive volunteer efforts, from organizing charity events and STEM workshops to collaborating with local and global organizations, highlight Ronak’s commitment to community service and education. Through his leadership and initiatives, Ronak continues to empower young people to pursue their passions and make lasting contributions to their communities, demonstrating the true spirit of 4-H. Upon graduating high school, Ronak plans on pursuing a career in engineering, with the hopes of working for NASA in the future.
Ronak Suchindra
For over nine years, Ronak Suchindra has thrived in 4-H, transforming from a shy eight-year-old into a leader and passionate advocate for STEM education. Ronak's spark came during a 4-H scratch workshop where he solved a coding problem...
Kingston Ryals,
Vidalia, Georgia
Kingston Ryals is an inspiring leader who demonstrates the transformative power of perseverance and community involvement through his impact within 4-H. Initially hesitant to join 4-H due to a speech impediment, Kingston overcame his fears and embraced his potential, culminating in a triumphant second-place finish at the Georgia Cloverleaf Project Achievement. This achievement ignited a passion for public speaking and inspired roles such as the state’s STEM and Civic Engagement speaker, as well as a workshop facilitator at the Georgia State Fair. Kingston’s journey through 4-H not only boosted his confidence but also motivated him to help others, highlighting the profound impact 4-H had on his personal and professional development.
Inspired by the 4-H values and motivated by a desire to address educational disparities, Kingston founded the Rock Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting African American youth in becoming future leaders. As President of the Rock Project, Kingston has grown the organization from a small group of five students to a thriving community of 40 youth, providing mentorship and resources to ensure college and career readiness. The Rock Project boasts a 100% college enrollment rate among its graduates, a testament to Kingston’s commitment to bridging the gap in educational opportunities for African American students. Through initiatives such as campus tours and workshops, Kingston empowers youth to envision and achieve their potential, fostering a new generation of leaders who are ready to make a significant impact in their communities.
Kingston Ryals
Kingston Ryals is an inspiring leader who demonstrates the transformative power of perseverance and community involvement through his impact within 4-H. Initially hesitant to join 4-H due to a speech impediment, Kingston overcame his fears...
Esther Bonney,
La Plata, Maryland
In October 2021, Esther Bonney faced the unimaginable loss of her brother, a tragedy that left her grappling with grief and uncertainty at just 13 years old. Seeking solace in nature, Esther found peace and a sanctuary that began her healing journey. It was during this difficult time that 4-H entered her life, offering her a lifeline and a sense of purpose. Joining the 4-H Pollinator Ambassador Club at 14, Esther connected with a community of like-minded peers and educators who shared her passion for nature. Through her involvement in 4-H, Esther rediscovered herself, developed a deep passion for horticulture and ecology, and honed valuable skills that would shape her future goals.
Her engagement in 4-H activities, including attending the National 4-H Youth Summit on Agriscience, has allowed her to inspire thousands of youth and contribute significantly to her community. Esther's role as a Pollinator Ambassador saw her educate over 270 youth, and through a National 4-H grant, she founded Nurture Natives, a nonprofit that has gained national recognition. Most recently, Esther joined the Maryland 4-H State Council, advocating for mental health awareness and youth empowerment. Esther's journey with 4-H has been transformative, teaching her lessons in collaboration, resilience, and leadership. Through her leadership and dedication, Esther embodies the 4-H spirit, making a positive impact on those around her. Esther’s dream is for other youth to find solace and purpose in nature through her 4-H initiatives.
Esther Bonney
In October 2021, Esther Bonney faced the unimaginable loss of her brother, a tragedy that left her grappling with grief and uncertainty at just 13 years old. Seeking solace in nature, Esther found peace and a sanctuary that began her healing journey...
Katie Culbert,
Toms River, New Jersey
As the founder and Student Leader of Ocean County's first 4-H beekeeping club, Katie Culbert has made significant strides in environmental education and community outreach. Her leadership journey began with the 4-H Busy Bees Beekeeping Club, where she developed her communication and interpersonal skills. Katie's passion for bees and pollinators led her to secure a grant from the Xerces Society, resulting in the creation of a 2,500 square foot pollinator garden. This project, alongside her community presentations on pollinators and native plants, showcases her dedication to fostering environmental awareness and sustainability.
Katie's achievements also extend to the academic and legislative arenas. Her research on native plants and honeybee survival has been published in the prestigious Harvard’s Journal of Emerging Investigators. She served as the National 4-H Pollinator Week Ambassador and the 2023 NJ Honey Queen, roles in which she organized educational events and honey harvests. Katie's commitment to advocacy is highlighted by her legislative bill, “Parks, Plants, and Pollinators.” . The legislation prohibits planting of non-native species in landscaping at NJ State parks and forests and establishes a grant program to support use of native plants at local parks and forests, appropriating $250,000 for its implementation. Her efforts have been recognized with several awards, including the 2022 NJ Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence and the 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Award. Through her YouTube channel, Katie’s Adventures in Beekeeping, and her Instagram, Katie continues to educate and inspire a broader audience, promoting the importance of pollinators and environmental stewardship. Inspired by her experiences in 4-H, Katie plans to pursue a career in environmental law after graduating from Harvard University with degrees in biology and political science.
Katie Culbert
As the founder and Student Leader of Ocean County's first 4-H beekeeping club, Katie Culbert has made significant strides in environmental education and community outreach. Her leadership journey began...
Venya Gunjal,
Kennesaw, Georgia
Eight years ago, Venya discovered 4-H, an organization that has since profoundly transformed her life. As Venya navigated the complexities of advanced coursework and the balance between personal, social, and academic life at her high school, 4-H became a sanctuary of support and inspiration. It provided a much-needed break from the repetitive school schedule and helped Venya avoid a tunnel vision mindset. Most importantly, 4-H offered Venya a sense of belonging, connecting her with a diverse family of individuals from all walks of life. Through 4-H, Venya found her voice and confidence, participating in Project Achievement & Public Speaking and leading teams like the National 4-H Youth Leadership team and representing Georgia at the National Food Challenge Contest.
Venya's journey with 4-H also ignited her passion for scientific research and community engagement. Presenting environmental research at State 4-H Congress led to numerous invitations for Venya to share her findings, inspiring her to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. This passion for research extended into health, where competing in the Georgia 4-H Health project unveiled her interests in medicine and patient care. Determined to make a difference, Venya initiated the STEAM Symposium, a revived annual event at her high school, drawing over 1,100 students and 300 projects, and founded STEAMPark, Inc., a 501c3 organization aimed at increasing STEAM involvement among elementary students, especially in Title I schools. Through these initiatives, Venya has impacted countless lives, fostering early interest in STEAM fields and paving the way for future innovators and change-makers.
Venya Gunjal
Over the course of nearly ten years, Venya has perfected the art of balance. Juggling her personal life and a demanding academic schedule, she's become a master of both domains—and her time with 4-H has...
Janet Santos-Maldonado,
Ensenada, Puerto Rico
In 2020, Jafet's participation in a virtual 4-H Bug Camp sparked his amazement with insects and opened his eyes to numerous career possibilities. Through 4-H, he discovered his passion for entomology and the joy of sharing knowledge with others. The connections he made with youth and 4-H has played a crucial role in developing his leadership skills, particularly in public speaking and hands-on education, and has provided a clear vision and direction for his career.
Jafet's commitment to 4-H activities, including Bug Camp and Bee Team, revealed a critical issue in his community: the shortage of pollinators in southern Puerto Rico. Recognizing the broader implications for local agriculture and food security, Jafet took action by creating an educational project called "Bee Aware: Pollinator Protection." Using puppets as an educational tool, he and his team educated children about the importance of honeybees. His project was supported by the National 4-H Council and showcased at events like the Second National Festival of Pollinators. By training twelve peers to continue this work, Jafet established a sustainable educational chain. This initiative not only benefits children and their families but also enhances the creativity and leadership skills of the 4-H team. Jafet's efforts aim to change perceptions about bees, encouraging ethical behavior towards pollinators and securing their future. The University of Puerto Rico Cooperative Extension Service Agents helped Jafet define his career goals. Now pursuing a bachelor's degree in Crop Protection at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, Jafet plans to advance to graduate studies in entomology.
Janet Santos-Maldonado
In 2020, Jafet's participation in a virtual 4-H Bug Camp sparked his amazement with insects and opened his eyes to numerous career possibilities. Through 4-H, he discovered his passion for entomology and the joy of....
Mahi Gupta
Mahi’s path of community service and leadership began with joining 4-H’s Be the Change Club that promotes volunteering and Puppy Tails Club which trains and fosters puppies to serve as guide dogs for the seeing impaired. Through 4-H’s States International program, Mahi hosted a Japanese student. Then she decided to travel to Japan to explore the culture firsthand, experiencing cultural diversity in a safe and supportive environment. Mahi’s travels allowed her to turn her interest in global education and awareness into a passion—forming the 4-H World Exploration Club, exposing youth to different cultures and ways of life. Her desire to empower youth blossomed into English with Friends—a program designed to help Japanese girls develop English speaking skills, helping them become more confident and independent. With a broader world view and a desire to help others, Mahi looks forward to furthering her global outreach efforts and credits 4-H for sparking her sense of compassion as well as her interest and awareness of the world around her.
Mahi Gupta
Mahi’s path of community service and leadership began with joining 4-H’s Be the Change Club that promotes volunteering and Puppy Tails Club which trains and fosters puppies to serve as guide dogs for the seeing impaired. Through 4-H’s States International program...
Michaela Auyeung
As the youngest of three, Michaela didn’t always feel like she had her own voice or sense of identity. Joining 4-H was something her siblings had done, so she followed in their footsteps. Turns out, Michaela discovered a sense of self, her own amazing identity and a voice that needed to be heard.
Noticing how scarce STEM opportunities are for girls and the need for gender and education equality, Michaela created a program focused on solving those problems. Girls Who Love to Code was born and since its inception, has positively impacted over 250 girls with free coding classes and instruction. Gaining confidence in her speaking and teaching skills, Michaela connected with her students and realized an even broader community need—one tied to financial difficulties and the stress that it can put on a family. She’s now leading a program raising money to keep a pantry stocked with essentials for families in need. Her hard work and persistence have helped so many and put her on a path to a life full of purpose. As a senior in high school, Michaela plans to continue to advocate for gender and socioeconomic equality in education through her outreach and beyond.
Michaela Auyeung
As the youngest of three, Michaela didn’t always feel like she had her own voice or sense of identity. Joining 4-H was something her siblings had done, so she followed in their footsteps. Turns out, Michaela discovered a sense of self...
Jenessa Dugger
Whether she’s leading a workshop, judging a 4-H contest or assisting with a service project, Jenessa is focused on working hard and being a good listener. Having struggled with severe anxiety and heart issues as a young person, she’s using her strength in public speaking to bring awareness to the importance of a balanced lifestyle and healthy living. With her non-profit, Art for Hearts, Jenessa raises money by auctioning locally donated art to help other heart patients financially and advocate for heart health. Inspired by all she’s learned through 4-H, she’s also found a leadership role on her tribe’s reservation—honoring her heritage and centering on the real needs of her community. Focused on the future and ready for her next challenge, Jenessa found a safe place in 4-H to thrive, learn and grow skills she’ll use for a lifetime.
Jenessa Dugger
Whether she’s leading a workshop, judging a 4-H contest or assisting with a service project, Jenessa is focused on working hard and being a good listener. Having struggled with severe anxiety and heart issues as a young person...
Pranav Kalidindi
Always a very shy child, Pranav joined the 4-H Innovation Club to pursue his deep interest in STEM. Presenting his projects not only gave him confidence but excellent public speaking skills. Realizing many youth in his community were also passionate about STEM but lacked the guidance to pursue STEM opportunities, Pranav took the skills he’d learned in 4-H and created a robotics club. The success he saw in sparking other kids’ interests inspired him to get involved with community issues, implementing projects focused on recycling methods and detecting impurities in drinking water. Always researching and finding new ways to help people through STEM, Pranav has developed a stress relief app to detect, predict and reduce stress, a posture monitor to help prevent spinal issues and an air quality monitor. The current president of the 4-H Innovation Club and STEM Ambassador for Virginia, Pranav made the STEM content more engaging and promoted teamwork and collaboration, allowing members to learn from one another’s challenges and successes. Through 4-H, Pranav found a safe, supportive environment to pursue his spark, draw inspiration, grow as a leader and become an engaged 4-H mentor.
Pranav Kalidindi
Always a very shy child, Pranav joined the 4-H Innovation Club to pursue his deep interest in STEM. Presenting his projects not only gave him confidence but excellent public speaking skills. Realizing many youth in his community were also passionate about STEM but lacked the guidance...
Clara Kee
Joining 4-H in the first grade, Clara found a place to thrive, finding her spark in unexpected places like baking, sewing, art and public speaking. Clara discovered a world where she not only fit in but felt welcome and excelled. Understanding the feeling of being on the outside, Clara had a special desire to help when her extended family welcomed two foster children into their lives. With both emotional and physical trauma—love, acceptance and stability were something new for them. Learning all she could about the foster system and how she might be able to help foster kids in her community, Clara put her 4-H skills into motion and created The Snuggle Bug project. With donated and recycled material, Clara began making quilts for children to have something familiar and of their very own. With a spark to serve her community paired with confidence and compassion, Clara is poised to better herself and the world around her.
Clara Kee
Joining 4-H in the first grade, Clara found a place to thrive, finding her spark in unexpected places like baking, sewing, art and public speaking. Clara discovered a world where she not only fit in but felt welcome and excelled. Understanding the feeling of being on the outside, Clara had a special desire...
Kashvi Ramani
A born writer, Kashvi wasn’t always confident with her skills. She jumped into 4-H presenting a piece called The Power of Poetry at a Presentation Day event. Little did she know the power and influence poetry would have in her own life. Armed with a growing assurance in her writing and speaking skills, 4-H helped Kashvi find opportunities to grow in the areas that sparked her interests, specifically writing and performing arts. Running webinars and workshops to engage others and start conversations around the inequality and racism that exists in today’s world, Kashvi found a path of service to promote peace and societal growth. Transforming her interests into skills, Kashvi uses poetry and her speaking skills as tools of self-expression, amplifying her voice to reach and help others. Targeting different social issues, she joined Mending Walls, an organization focused on creating murals expressing hope, peace and self-growth. Recently elected the Youth Poet Laureate of Virginia, Kashvi continues to advocate in a wider-reaching space, amplifying voices that need to be heard and bringing recognition to the issues she believes in.
Kashvi Ramani
A born writer, Kashvi wasn’t always confident with her skills. She jumped into 4-H presenting a piece called The Power of Poetry at a Presentation Day event. Little did she know the power and influence poetry would have in her own life. Armed with a growing assurance...
2024 Winners
Amiyah Elam
A self-described “fourth grade little girl with a big voice,” Amiyah Elam learned to make a big impact with her voice through 4-H. Amiyah’s vocal “training” with 4-H began in the prestigious Georgia 4-H performing arts group, Clovers & Company. Through the performing arts group, Amiyah flourished as she used her voice in song and speech before national audiences. Clovers & Company centralized her voice and instilled in her a desire to improve her hometown of Waycross, Georgia.
Volunteering at a camp for underserved youth, Amiyah got the idea for her nonprofit—I AM. Focused on providing opportunity and skill development to underserved girls in her community, I AM equips students through lessons in emotional wellness, self-care, personal finance and workforce development. Amiyah’s resourceful partnership with local nonprofits and professionals in their monthly meetings has instilled confidence and self-worth in the girls. Planning to expand her organization by number of participants and interns, Amiyah still has big dreams for the world around her. Wrapping up high school, Amiyah plans to make those dreams a reality by pursuing a career as an international attorney. There is no doubt her big voice will continue to resonate in her community, making an even bigger impact.
Reed Marcum
Reed Marcum found his spark with his first 4-H leader by his side. Encouraged to enter a 4-H speech contest, Reed found his voice. Gaining confidence and courage as his speaking and leadership skills improved, Reed expanded his social circle, made new friends and discovered a broader and stronger sense of self.
With a newfound focus and determination combined with Reed’s insatiable generosity, he identified several needs in his community and started the first of many service projects—the 4-H Book Bag Giveaway. Providing book bags and supplies for kids in need, Reed’s project blossomed and has distributed nearly 30 thousand book bags to area youth over the course of the project. Propelled to expand his service projects, Reed successfully initiated a 4-H Toy Giveaway, a community holiday event held to provide for those same students who couldn’t afford school supplies earlier in the year. Lastly, when his community was mourning the passing of one of their youngest members to pediatric cancer, Reed started the Hudson Strong Foundation and began hosting annual silent auctions to fundraise. Boasting a total of $180,500 raised in five years, the Hudson Strong Foundation has been able to support the cost of hospital bills for families fighting pediatric cancer and provide scholarships for students pursuing cancer research careers. His next ambition is to start the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation to honor his late brother, advocating for and providing aid to support the physical and mental health of community, military and veteran families. As a State 4-H Ambassador, Reed continues his non-profit community-centered projects that have collectively raised more than an astounding $3.5 million in funds and donated items. Considering each day an opportunity, Reed is grateful for the mentorship and support that has guided him through personal challenges–with the family he calls 4-H. Now an undergrad at Oklahoma State University, Reed is majoring in criminology with plans to put his public speaking skills to the test as a criminal lawyer.
Avani Rai
Persuaded to join a public speaking project at 10 years old, Avani Rai describes the experience as feeling like her world was about to end. In reality, it had just begun. Through 4-H, Avani found her spark in using her voice and never looked back. This passion for public speaking transformed into mentoring a robotics club, leadership as a McLean County 4-H Teen Teacher and advocacy as a Healthy Living Ambassador. Through these experiences Avani developed the exceptional interpersonal and communication skills needed to pursue her passion of improving healthy living by addressing food insecurity and mental health for her neighbors.
Witnessing the shortcomings of addressing food insecurity in her community at a young age, Avani became an integral part of 4-H’s Food Advocacy Team, a youth-led initiative to improve equitable access to healthy foods and champion food security. Avani and the team organized healthy food drives, meal packaging events and educated others through community seminars. Most significantly, the team supported 30 youth-led food justice projects across Illinois, providing the youth teams with $23,000 of grant-funding to sustain their ambitions. For her work with food advocacy, Avani was invited to speak and represent 4-H as a ‘Young Changemaker’ at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health alongside Ambassador Susan Rice and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. Later, Avani expanded her service to overall healthy living, including mental and physical health through yoga. Equipped with her Teen Teachers training, Avani launched her ‘SuperYoga’ curriculum for elementary students. Avani led collaborations with local organizations and student leadership groups to create, plan, organize and implement day-long sessions for local elementary students. Reaching three elementary schools in her district, Avani’s curriculum has impacted more than 1,300 children. Avani served as the sole youth representative on the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s USDA-sponsored Local Food Purchase committee, giving her an opportunity to address food insecurity through public policy and legislation. Avani dreams of a bright future—enacting social change as a legislator in Congress. Armed with experience and optimism, her journey of advocating for healthy living has just begun. An undergraduate at Harvard, Avani is majoring in economics and public policy with the ambition of working as a prosecutor.
Katie Collins
Growing up on a dairy farm, Katie has always had an interest in animals and agriculture. She hasn’t, however, always had the confidence and sense of belonging she now possesses. Being mixed race, Katie felt immediately judged by her skin color and not who she is inside—a bright and confident young woman who one day aspires to be a lawyer. 4-H helped her discover that everyone has a diverse background, and it’s best to be yourself. With determination and a service mindset, Katie has successfully completed hundreds of hours of leadership training and volunteer work, dairy-related project work, and advocates for individuality.
Diverse programs offered through 4-H helped Katie find a space to grow outside her comfort zone, discover her spark and help her turn it into a reality. As the 4-H Honor Club President and the Representative at Large on Tennessee 4-H State Council Katie developed and honed her communication and leadership skills and worked closely with her 4-H agent to concept and develop a program called See Yourself in Ag. Designed to expose diverse youth to the many aspects of agriculture and agriculture-related careers, the program also focuses on empowering youth by highlighting the importance of hard work, resilience and individuality. The program uses a wider lens to look at agriculture and exposes participants to the breadth of the industry—not only the crops and animals but the science and economics behind it. Katie’s program reached 672 4-H’ers, through 12 project trips and introducing the students to four farmers and eight different industries. Seeing an increase in both girls and students of color attending her program, Katie is invigorated by the hope future generations will experience the diversity the Ag industry has to offer. Excited for the future and extending her program to even more youth, Katie is grateful for the platform, sense of belonging and voice 4-H has given her. Currently an undergraduate at University of Tennessee Knoxville, Katie aims to graduate with a food and agriculture business degree and minor in international agriculture and natural resources.
2023 Winners
Matias Habib
Agriculture
Matias Habib never aimed to be a leader of sustainable agriculture. However, when the invasive species Japanese Beetle devastated his family’s orchard, Matias spent his summer applying his 4‑H Entomology knowledge to study natural methods to combat the beetle. He presented his research at the Illinois State 4‑H Fair, and there the Entomologist judge gave him words of inspiration: “You’re innovating in a billion-dollar industry. Keep it up.” So he did. COVID gave Matias extra time to focus on his work, and he spent his summer building a lab, researching, running tests on a myriad of plant oils and other substances, and ultimately developing a patent-pending, all-natural formula that protects foliage from the Japanese Beetle and other pests. With the support of his 4‑H leaders, Matias launched his own business – TerraBuster – and began selling his unique bio-pesticide online and in local nurseries. Now expanding TerraBuster’s line of products to repellents for other pests that threaten crops. In line with his personal commitment to environmental sustainability, he reduces single-use plastics through refillable spray bottles, keeps carbon emissions low by local sourcing and distribution, and raises awareness of damaging toxic chemicals.
Matias’ interest in science and organic agriculture is rooted in childhood challenges. Growing up overseas, he struggled with language barriers and social anxiety. Often feeling like an outsider, he was eventually diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He now realizes those differences are vital tools to empower his passion and focus on science. Through 4‑H, Matias found the connection, inspiration, and confidence to turn his ideas into reality. A senior at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, Matias plans to pursue a career to develop innovative solutions that protect the environment.
Sruthi Sudarsan
Civic Engagement
As a child, Sruthi struggled to speak due to her social anxiety, but she found her voice and confidence through her 4‑H club’s puppetry and public speaking projects. Empowered by her 4‑H community and impassioned to civic engagement, Sruthi has in turn taken her rightful place as a leader and advocate for those without a voice.
In 2020, the year that saw millions of homeless and low-income families face unprecedented challenges to meet basic needs, Sruthi’s heart was moved to care for the 28,000 homeless individuals in the San Francisco Bay area. She founded Project C.A.R.E (Comfort and Relief Essentials) to address preventable medical conditions through basic hygiene, first aid and medical education. Since the founding of her project, Sruthi has worked diligently to alleviate the strain on her community, providing thousands of medical and hygienic supplies and hundreds of volunteer hours in community development and educational services. Her efforts to address preventable medical conditions have been felt globally as well. Sruthi expanded her work to Cambodia, raising money to provide a preschool both a fully equipped bathroom with running water and education on the importance of basic hygiene. Through her organization, Sruthi also hosts a youth mentorship program every six weeks to train students to find their civic engagement spark, fundraise, budget, recruit volunteers, execute their missions, and eventually mentor future program participants. To date, Sruthi has taught 150 middle schoolers in California to become dynamic community leaders and activists. A senior in high school, Sruthi hopes to create her own state-wide 4‑H youth leadership curriculum and continue expanding her mentorship work and medical outreach. Sruthi’s collegiate plans include a major in neuroscience, with her sights set on attending medical school.
Norah Carter
Healthy Living
Growing up with a disability saw Norah Carter consistently underestimated. When she discovered competitive therapeutic horseback riding through her local 4‑H club, Norah seized her spark and derived a world of new opportunities. She quickly developed confidence, leadership skills and a dedication to community service and advocacy that guides her present passions and future pursuits. Overcoming physical barriers routinely erected by ableist bias positioned Norah to practice and multiply her mental strength and resiliency. Through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, Norah realized other students could benefit from the coping skills and mental health practices she had harnessed. Adapting 4‑H health curricula, Norah hosted five health workshop series addressing various mental health issues for diverse audiences. She further expanded her offerings into educational workshops focused on anxiety reduction, trigger identification and stress management, all to empower previously incarcerated youth, urban kids, and suburban tweens. Her community partners and avid supporters estimate she has equipped more than 400 students in her state with these vital life and health skills.
Norah continues her workshops both virtually and in person, hoping to see students support their peers and impact communities through their resiliency. Now a student at Denison University, Norah is majoring in Global Health and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. She aims to work in public policy or law as an advocate for those with physical and mental disabilities.
Nicole Cash
STEM
Like many LGBTQ youth across the country, Nicole experienced rejection and personal loss after coming out. Through 4‑H, she found refuge – a place to belong, helping her discover her passion for nature while cultivating her exceptional leadership skills. These skills proved essential when a family approached her Robotics team, Rogue, in search of an affordable mobility device for their disabled son. Inspired by the Go Baby Go organization, Nicole took on the challenge and channeled the command and creativity she honed in 4‑H to lead her team in building a modified Power Wheels ride-on car for the boy – delegating tasks to teammates, assisting with coding, sourcing materials, and managing both legal and client communication. After witnessing the massive change and immense joy the finished product brought a family in need, Nicole and her team founded their own chapter of Go Baby Go, the first in the Midwest. Her robotics team went on to publish an online manual detailing their inventive approach toward coding, creating 3D-print files, and capturing imagery that propelled the project from start to finish. Their resource, designed with the needs of others in mind, led to the creation of an interactive map that connects families looking to build mobility devices with other Go Baby Go affiliated robotics teams. To date, Nicole’s team has built six devices, and the online manual motivated more teams to complete at least 27 more nationwide.
Nicole is working towards expanding her Go Baby Go chapter to other robotics teams across the country. Pursuing a career as a conservational naturalist, she is studying Ecology and Outdoor Recreation at Northern Michigan University, where she strives to create positive change in her community and the local ecosystem.
2022 Winners
Tashina Red Hawk
As a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Tashina grew up with a strong appreciation for all of creation and a conviction to care for the environment, animals, and those less fortunate. She grew up loving horses, and after attending her first 4‑H County Horse Show, she insisted on learning to ride. However, after finally getting the horse she dreamed of, her dad suffered a back injury, and both time and resources were devoted to his care. Tashina was devastated for her father and concerned she wouldn’t learn to ride. Then, a 4‑H friend and mentor stepped up to show her the ropes, and Tashina grew as a cowgirl and a person.
Tashina recognized at an early age that while caring for the animal nation was important to her tribe, many people living on the Reservation did not have the financial means to care for their pets. The Rosebud community faces economic hardships, and many people struggle to provide for their families, let alone their pets. Armed with the passion to invest generously in others that she had learned from her 4‑H mentor, Tashina began volunteering at the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Animal Clinic. Through this volunteer work, Tashina not only found her passion for Vet Science, but she’s also worked her way through every possible role at the clinic. Throughout her tenure at the clinic, Tashina’s leadership has impacted multiple aspects of organization – from vaccinations to surgery pre- and post-op, managing volunteers, and even training vet students. One of her proudest accomplishments at the clinic was the weekend only she and the doctor were available to work. After treating more than 300 pets in three days, he said, “As long as Tashina is available, we can get it done!” Tashina plans to continue her education, become a veterinarian, return to her community, and continue serving and inspiring others through animal sciences.
Brianna Attey Mouanjo
Although only 18 years old, Brianna’s story is one of loss, resiliency, bravery, and hope. Brianna moved to New York at age 10 after tragically losing her mother. Not only was she processing her grief and navigating life in a new city, but as the daughter of Cameroonian immigrants, she faced the difficulty of being a person of color in her majority-white community. Drawing strength from her late mother, Brianna rose above and became a voice of change and inclusivity at her high school by hosting a series of conversations during school lunch hours with students, school administration, teachers, and local law enforcement. By connecting with her local 4‑H club and the 4‑H UNITY (Urban Neighborhoods Improved Through Youth) leaders, Brianna found the support she needed to expand her program, “Race and Reconciliation”, to events outside of school including screenings of thought-provoking films, book clubs on race-related topics, and classes on antiracism and white privilege for adults.
Through the pandemic, Brianna taught virtual workshops for 4‑H educators and youth throughout her state. A dynamic leader, Brianna has spoken at youth development forums, served on the New York State’s Government Youth Council, and inspired other 4‑H counties to start their own antiracism groups. Brianna will continue her racial reconciliation efforts as she relocates to DC to study Psychology and Public Health at George Washington University.
Kristin Osika
At only six years old, Kristin Osika was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder which affects the small intestine. Her new strict gluten-, dairy-, and egg-free diet made her feel like a burden and outsider in many social situations, but Kristin’s experience with 4‑H was different. Gluten-free options were readily available, and she wasn’t constantly questioned by students about her condition or why she couldn’t eat many common foods. In 4‑H, Kristin finally found a place where she could be herself and gain the skills and confidence to speak up, and today, she’s passionate about creating similarly inclusive and influential environments for others.
Kristin’s work as an advocate for those with food allergies began with a community research project she conducted for a 4‑H leadership program. She noticed the underutilized and limited options for those with dietary-restrictions at food pantries and homeless shelters, so she began creating flyers, raising awareness, and working with local food shelters to expand allergen-free options. Once the pandemic hit and her ability to work with shelters became limited, she continued her work through advocacy and educating others. Kristin combined this passion with her love for baking by creating recipes called “Single Sweets” – single-serving, microwavable desserts that are free of the top eight food allergens. Since then, Kristin has released a cookbook, runs a blog, and gives workshops both virtually and across her state to raise awareness and educate others about baking, allergies, and dietary restrictions. Kristin is senior in high school and aspiring healthcare researcher who plans to continue using her cookbook proceeds to support food allergy research and one day develop an entire 4‑H curriculum on food safety.
Dhruv Rebba
Although always interested in robotics, coding, and engineering as a kid, Dhruv Rebba never had the opportunity to study hands-on until he joined 4‑H. After joining his 4‑H club’s robotics team in 4th grade, he was instantly hooked. Since then, Dhruv has launched two 4‑H robotics clubs in local elementary schools and has witnessed those students grow to become passionate about science, robotics, and 4‑H. He also serves as an ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) mentor helping schools around the nation contact the International Space Station with ham radio. These experiences led him to fundraise and advocate to US congressional leaders for expanded funding of after-school STEM programs like his.
When Dhruv visited his father’s home village in India, he was blown away by the lack of internet access and digital literacy. The needs for this community were vast, and Dhruv had the skills and drive to make a difference. He founded the nonprofit Universal Help to provide innovative solutions that improve the quality of life for people around the world. So far, he’s worked to digitize schools and provide access to computers, internet and textbooks, in addition to expanding solar energy access to people in rural and underdeveloped parts of India. Now a senior in high school, Dhruv is currently working on local environmental impact projects with his organization and is serving as a leader for the Illinois 4‑H in Space Program. He hopes to major in engineering or computer science next fall.
2021 Winners
Amidst a difficult move to a new school where she didn’t feel she fit in with her peers, Madelyn Zimmerman found a safe space with her cattle. That same year, an incurable disease wiped out nearly half her herd, leaving her feeling devastated, voiceless, lost, and alone. In her despair, she realized that if she felt lost, others might feel the same way. In 4‑H, she had developed her love for cattle and a desire to give back to her community, so she combined those passions and began reaching out to others who might feel different, too, to teach them about agriculture. She started with youth who were struggling in school behaviorally or whose parents couldn’t care for them after school. This program was just the first step in Madelyn’s journey to provide agriculture education and experiences to youth in her community.
While at the fair her freshman year of high school, a little girl ran up to Madelyn’s cow, pet its nose, and simply said, “I wish I could do that.” This five-year-old little girl with Down Syndrome changed Madelyn’s life and inspired her to participate in POSS-abilities, a 4‑H program for youth with disabilities. The program pairs an older 4‑H'er with a 4‑H'er with disabilities to teach them to care for and show livestock safely. Through POSS-abilities, Madelyn and fellow youth mentors have supported more than a dozen 4‑H'ers with disabilities in their journey to connect with agriculture. Madelyn is a sophomore at Kansas State University majoring in agriculture communications, with minors in animal science and mass communications; journalism. In the future, she hopes to travel the world as a journalist helping farmers tell their stories.
Elizabeth Weidner | January 2, 2004 – September 29, 2021
Elizabeth Weidner was no stranger to adversity. At age 12, she was diagnosed with stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma cancer and spent much of the next five years in and out of the hospital. Instead of letting these obstacles hold her back, they fueled her desire to become a stronger leader and advocate for childhood cancer awareness, research and funding. Through many hospital stays, Elizabeth stayed involved in 4 H, participating in meetings virtually and even working together with fellow 4 H'ers to participate in the fair from her hospital room. Her 4 H experiences equipped her to travel to Washington, DC to advocate for childhood cancer research on Capitol Hill, built her confidence to participate in an award-winning docu-series on the truth behind childhood cancer, and gave her the leadership skills to sustain a long-term effort to provide supplies for families of cancer patients at local children’s hospitals.
Elizabeth's first hospital stay was difficult. Faced with the overwhelming reality of a pediatric cancer diagnosis, her family arrived without the supplies needed to sustain a long-term hospital stay. That personal experience fueled Elizabeth’s desire to support other families by starting a supply drive for the community to donate snacks and personal care items to support families during hospital stays. She partnered with local businesses to generate donations and offer displays advertising for needed items, and she encouraged community members to donate either unused toiletries from hotels or new items purchased from local stores. She mobilized fellow 4 H'ers and through their combined efforts, the program has spread across the state of Illinois. Elizabeth donated more than 60,000 essential items to five different children’s hospitals, including St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she received treatment. She leaves behind a legacy that will live on forever.
At a young age, Mayyadah Zagelow struggled with her mental health through anxiety and selective mutism, unable to express her thoughts at school and in other environments. Combined with bullying at school by those she had once considered friends, Mayyadah felt isolated and betrayed. That’s when she joined 4‑H, and her journey to overcoming anxiety began. Through 4‑H, Mayyadah learned to turn difficult experiences into empowering opportunities as she learned to speak up and speak out for herself and for others who feel voiceless.
Passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and addressing social inequities, Mayyadah is a founding member of a grassroots youth movement in Washington state called the Equity and Inclusion Teen Taskforce. Through this taskforce, Mayyadah is working with fellow 4‑H’ers to educate adults and teens alike through workshops and grassroots efforts about gender identities, expression, orientation and biological sex, as well as the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community in hopes of creating a world of inclusion for all 4‑H youth. The task force also provides a safe space and healthy environment for youth to share their stories. Using teamwork strategies and communication skills, Mayyadah seeks to lift up the varied stories of 4‑H's diverse youth. Mayyadah recently graduated from high school and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field.
In the spring of 2013, Aidan Spencer weathered more trials than many people experience in a lifetime. A house fire, family illness and debilitating car crash left Aidan feeling alone and hopeless. That’s when his friends invited him to join their 4‑H robotics club. Within a matter of minutes, Aidan knew he’d found a home. Working with his peers to explore his passion for STEM and reach for a common goal gave him a sense of belonging and a newfound purpose – to advocate for STEM access for all kids.
After getting involved in STEM through 4‑H, Aidan noticed a discrepancy of access to STEM education for minority youth, and he wanted to help his 4‑H club grow to reach other students who needed a place to connect and learn. Working with his local 4‑H program, Aidan organized 60+ events to expose kids to STEM and co-founded three FIRST LEGO League robotics teams. Leading these efforts exposed a critical problem – lack of funding for STEM programs. To address this problem, Aidan created a business plan with a fundraising strategy that led to securing more than $7,000 to support 4‑H STEM clubs by cultivating relationships with local businesses. Aidan plans to pursue a degree in Business Administration with a focus on nonprofits and hopes to continue his work to support STEM education for young people in the future.
2020 Winners
Janya Green
Agriculture Pillar Winner - 2020
Growing up on her family's farm, Janya Green knows first-hand about agriculture and the challenges America's farmers face. Her interest in agriculture channeled into a passion for service when she met Sam, her 4‑H mentor, who not only exposed her to a budding community garden initiative but also opened her eyes to a world of opportunities through 4‑H. Through the program, Janya developed leadership skills and found her voice as she stepped up to lead the Village Community Garden in Worth County, Georgia. As the garden manager, Janya provides the community with nutritious foods to combat the obesity epidemic and other nutrition-related diseases. The garden is also a platform to educate local farmers about new technologies like aeroponic towers.
The passion for helping others that Janya developed in 4‑H became her purpose when she sensed the confusion that arose after Hurricane Michael ravaged farms across Southwest Georgia. She aims to pursue a career in agricultural law, allowing her to invest in the future of agriculture while representing farmers -- like her grandfather -- particularly when tragedies strike. Janya is a junior at Worth County High School and after graduating, she plans to begin her education at Fort Valley State University. Janya is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action Agriculture Pillar Winner, sponsored by Bayer.
Breanna Burkhead
Civic Engagement Pillar Winner - 2020
Breanna Burkhead became passionate about art through the 4‑H Art Club at her local art center. But when the art council lost use of the art center building, the future of art in the community was in jeopardy. When Breanna heard a public meeting would be held to discuss the future of the art center, she knew she wanted to be part of the solution. Using the research, planning and communication skills she developed in 4‑H, Breanna presented a solution to the council for a new building that would provide space for artist studios and exhibits, and also for revenue-generating classes, a gift shop, and more. The council voted to purchase the building and elected Breanna as an executive board member, and she quickly got to work. She wrote and received a grant, mobilized volunteers for renovations, and planned classes and camps to be housed at the new art center.
The art center opened in June 2019 and has offered more than 30 classes, 2 art camps, homeschool art courses, a veterans’ project and more. Breanna hopes to attend Western Kentucky University to study Agricultural Education and minor in International Studies, with the goal of becoming a 4‑H professional. Breanna is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action STEM Civic Engagement Winner.
Micah Palacios
Healthy Living Pillar Winner - 2020
At just nine years old, Micah Palacios was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disease that attacked her hair follicles. Before her 10th birthday, she lost 75% of her hair and, most importantly, lost her self-confidence, leading to anxiety and depression. But the older 4‑H’ers in her club built her confidence by assuring her that despite her hair loss, she was no different than anyone else. In 4‑H, Micah learned to embellish hats, scarves and bandanas that covered her hair and helped her relieve stress in a healthy way. She also learned about proper nutrition and how to eat a well-balanced diet to improve her energy. These experiences motivated Micah to lead the 4‑H food & nutrition and health projects in her community, but she sensed something was missing.
After taking a National Alliance on Mental Illness class, she started to make changes in the way she interacted with others. Now, she has launched the Navigating Your Thoughts program for Bexar County 4‑H Clubs and military base programs, with the goal of reducing mental health stigma. Micah is a senior in high school and hopes to pursue a career in public health. Micah is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action Healthy living Pillar Winner.
Joseph Huff
STEM Pillar Winner - 2020
Joseph Huff became passionate about helping people in need as he watched his father, a stroke survivor, struggle to use his stroke-affected right hand. As that passion was growing, Joseph began to get involved in 3D printing through 4‑H. Little did he know, these two seemingly disconnected events would soon come together in a powerful way when he watched his mentor print a prosthetic hand for a young boy at the fair. At that moment, Joseph realized he could help people – like his dad – by combining creativity with science to create life-changing prosthetics for those in need. Joseph launched an initiative to 3D print and assemble dozens of prosthetic hands for children in need and has mentored even more youth to teach them to do the same. Bringing the project full circle, Joseph is now in the process of creating a new device to help his dad regain some use of his weak hand.
Joseph is a senior in high school and will soon graduate with his associate’s degree. He plans to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. Joseph is the 2020 4‑H Youth in Action STEM Pillar Winner, sponsored by HughesNet.
2019 Winners
Clyde Van Dyke
National Youth in Action Award and STEM Pillar - 2019
Clyde Van Dyke was told at a young age that he likely would not graduate from high school or ever be successful. Facing many challenges, he didn’t have the support he needed and lacked the confidence to get out of his comfort zone. But when his friend brought him to the 4‑H Tech Wizards After-School program, his life changed in a drastic way. In 4‑H, he learned to communicate, collaborate and be a leader and was introduced to a geospatial program that allows him to create maps that visualize data to help spark action in the community. He has created geospatial maps to visualize costs of attending 4‑H camp for low-income families, drug overdose deaths and the factors that may contribute to their increase, and more. Clyde plans to attend the State University of New York, Delhi, and pursue a career in digital forensics.
Addy Battel
Agriculture Pillar Winner - 2019
Whether she is teaching youth with special needs to care for farm animals or fighting hunger in her hometown, Addy Battel demonstrates the leadership skills she gained in 4‑H through her passion for empowering youth to be the change they want to see. In middle school, Addy’s hometown of Cass City, Michigan, became a food desert.
At just 12 years old, Addy worked with a team of fellow 4‑H’ers to create Meating the Need for Our Village, a program designed to fight hunger through agriculture. The program received grants and overwhelming community support to begin providing high-quality protein to local food pantries. Since the program’s inception, more than 200 youth have been involved in the project by raising and donating animals to Meating the Need. Overall, the program has made a $54,000 impact on the community by providing 1,368 gallons of milk, 10,000 pounds of meat and 92 dozen eggs to families in need. Addy hopes to continue fighting hunger on a world-wide scale by attending Michigan State University and pursuing a degree in animal science.
Mason McClintock
Civic Engagement Pillar Winner - 2018
From his retro sense of style to his effervescent personality, Mason McClintock always felt different from others his age. Then, 4‑H came into the picture, and became an outlet for him to be himself, feel encouraged by his peers and adults and find the belonging he so desperately desired. Through the program, he developed strong leadership and communication skills, and is using those to make a difference in his small, rural hometown, where he saw an opportunity to help youth in his community explore new careers and expand their goals for the future.
His program, the Alma Entrepreneur Tour, teaches youth helpful business and entrepreneurial principles while connecting youth with local entrepreneurs to expose them to new fields. From financial institutions and inns to department stores and agricultural operations, Mason has exposed more than 50 youth to a variety of new fields to pursue. Upon graduating from high school, Mason plans to pursue a career in music and study business, finance and Spanish at the University of Georgia.
Elisabeth Watkins
Healthy Living Pillar Winner - 2018
Elisabeth Watkins, a California 4‑H’er, became passionate about healthy living during elementary school. After facing health challenges that forced her to stop competitive gymnastics, she found her purpose and her passion in 4‑H cooking projects. As she learned more about nutrition, living a healthy lifestyle and the impact of a balanced diet on physical and mental well-being, her interest in cooking and food production developed into life-changing opportunities and a path for her future career.
From chairing the California State Fair 4‑H Cooking Throwdown, to creating a new cooking competition in her community, to mentoring future cooking project leaders, to launching her platform Farm Girl Chef, Elisabeth has been an advocate for agriculture, cooking and good food. Elisabeth further her education at University of Nevada, Reno and dreams of one day hosting her own farm-to-table cooking show.
2018 Winners
Cassandra Ivie
National Youth in Action Award and STEM Pillar
For Cassandra Ivie, being a part of 4‑H meant developing her passion for STEM while learning the value of unity amongst diversity. Through 4‑H, she gained the confidence and experiences she needed to become a STEM leader; skills that she is putting into practice today.
From an early age, she sensed there was something different about 4‑H. Though her peers might be interested in different subjects, the celebration of their different strengths brought about an uncommon unity that she hadn’t found elsewhere. In an effort to build on that unity and to provide equal opportunities to youth of all types of backgrounds, Cassandra developed the Incredible Machine, a curriculum and activities kit that teaches five types of engineering – chemical, mechanical, software, civil and electrical. She applied for and received a $6500 grant to develop 10 Incredible Machine kits to provide STEM resources to youth in rural communities, and she has presented her curriculum for various communities and events across the nation.
A senior in high school, Cassandra is a True Leader committed to connecting youth to STEM, service, leadership and 4‑H!
Serena Woodard
Agriculture Pillar Winner - 2018
When Serena Woodard joined 4‑H and began to actively contribute to her community, she never would have guessed that one day she would need her community’s support as well. Through her 4‑H journey, Serena developed the leadership skills she needed to start an agricultural education program called “Woodard’s Workshops”.
Since the program’s inception five years ago, Serena trained nine teen teachers and six adult volunteers to help expand the program, which has reached 36 counties and more than 40,000 youth. She also started a community garden to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to 250 community members in need.
From a young age, 4‑H taught her the importance of using her time and resources to impact others. But she wasn’t quite prepared for the outpouring of support she would receive from her community and Oklahoma 4‑H when her family lost their home in an arson fire. Her 4‑H community provided necessities, clothing and other donations to her family in their time of greatest need.
Her commitment to serving others is now even stronger as she aims to keep giving back and making an impact on those around her.
Serena is a truly remarkable 4‑H'er and is a junior in high school in Canadian, Oklahoma.
Kyra-Lee Harry
Civic Engagement Pillar Winner - 2018
At just five years old, Kyra-Lee Harry’s passion for helping others was sparked when she received the unexpected and scary news that her mom’s lungs had collapsed on both sides. Though she didn’t fully understand the situation at the time, she knew that one day, she wanted to be a part of the solution and help others, just like the doctors and technology helped her mom.
In the 6th grade, Kyra-Lee joined 4‑H, and her life was forever changed. Her 4‑H leaders and mentors helped her cultivate her passion for service and STEM and encouraged her to become a powerful youth voice in her community; At 15, Kyra-Lee was sworn in as the youngest person to ever be appointed to a community board in Brooklyn, New York; Her commitment to listen to the needs of the youth in her community and her drive to meet those needs led to Community Board 9’s First Annual Forum at Medgar Evers College. The event reached more than 300 young people ages 13-24, and provided training in leadership, mentorship, and workplace skills, along with networking opportunities. Her leadership has inspired other Brooklyn community boards to collaborate with youth for the programs and workshops they create.
Kyra-Lee is a dynamic 4‑H’er and a freshman at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering.
Sophia Rodriguez
Healthy Living Pillar Winner - 2018
Sophia Rodriguez knew that she wanted to help military youth like herself. The mentorship and support she received from her family, educators, and 4‑H leaders helped her cope with the emotional toll of growing up in a military-connected family. However, she knew many other military youth didn’t have that same privilege.
After engaging a support team of her 4‑H leader, a military family life counselor, and her peers, Sophia developed a program called “Tie Dye for Troops” to creatively help military youth understand the importance of positive mental health and how to effectively deal with challenges specific to military families. Her father’s post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis provided Sophia with a personal understanding of these unique challenges.
Through her arts-based workshops, she has brought awareness to mental health in the military community and has helped military youth develop healthy relationships with their peers and adults. Sophia shares her program regularly and has trained more than 150 youth and adults across the state and country to teach it as well.
Sophia is a senior in high school and, to date, has impacted more than 500 youth nationwide.
2017 Winners
Amelia Day
National and Civic Engagement Pillar Winner - 2017
When Amelia Day escorted her father to an appointment at a veteran’s hospital in 2012, she didn’t know that the visit would spark an idea for a 4‑H service project that would reach far beyond her hometown. A 4‑H’er since elementary school, Amelia knew first-hand the transformative power of 4‑H; she’d seen the difference 4‑H opportunities made in her own life to aid her in overcoming a difficult speech impediment. At age 13, when she sensed a need for encouragement and support for our nation’s veterans, she put the leadership skills she’d learned in 4‑H into action, and Operation: Veteran Smiles was born. This service initiative provides care packages, notes of encouragement and musical therapy to veterans at the Carl Vinson Veteran’s Hospital in Dublin, Georgia. Over the past 5 years, Operation: Veteran Smiles has impacted more than 4,000 veterans and engaged more than 6,500 volunteers with the help of 4‑H clubs, volunteers and grants. Learn more about Operation: Veteran Smiles.
Samuel Sugarman
Agriculture Pillar Winner - 2017
Growing up on a farm, Samuel Sugarman realized in his teen years that youth in his San Diego suburb didn’t experience many opportunities to be outdoors. These youth were glued to cell phones, computers and television screens much of the time and had little to no understanding of where their food comes from. A 4‑H’er since the age of 9, Samuel had developed life skills like public speaking and goal setting, while learning from adult mentors who modeled servant leadership. Drawing on these skills he’d developed in 4‑H, Samuel created the free Farm Tour Program to connect youth in his community with animals and nature. Since the program’s inception, Samuel has led hundreds of Farm Tours for scout troops, youth groups and school groups. Through these tours, he taught youth about stewardship, compassion, patience and gratitude. In 2016, Samuel was honored for his service work with the Congressional Gold Medal for Service by Congressman Darrell Issa.
Bryanne Sanchez
Healthy Living Pillar Winner - 2017
Bryanne Sanchez became an advocate for healthy living in her community as her 4‑H club's first Healthy Living Officer. Using this platform, Bryanne sought to bring initiatives promoting a healthy lifestyle to her Club and community. As her 4‑H club’s Healthy Living officer, she launched the annual Color Me Green Run in Imperial County. Annually, more than 250 runners participate in this fun, three-mile race that encourages youth and adults to stay active. She was instrumental in implementing the All 4‑Health Fair at the California State Leadership Conference, working to partner with other organizations to provide healthy living activities. Realizing that a healthy lifestyle includes both physical and mental well-being, Bryanne partnered with Creating Community Solutions to organize a Text, Talk, Act forum that provided more than 200 youth with the opportunity to discuss these topics in a healthy environment.
Ava Lonneman
STEM Pillar Winner - 2017
Ava Lonneman, a 17-year-old 4‑H'er through Ohio State University Cooperative Extension, doesn't let gender stereotypes get in her way when it comes to pursuing her dreams. Though told in elementary school that STEM "isn't for girls", Ava relentlessly pursued STEM herself and sought to bring STEM programming to her peers. As founder of a STEM mentoring program and her school's 4‑H Makers Club, Ava has reached more than 1,600 youth using 4‑H curricula such as Junk Drawer Robotics and National Youth Science Day activities. She's organized a robotics competition, and is working to organize a Technology in Fashion Expo at Kent State University. When she graduates in 2018, Ava plans to attend college and pursue a career in a STEM+M field, with the ultimate goal of becoming a university president.
2016 Winners
Ruwanthi "Ru" Ekanayake
National and Healthy Living Pillar Winner - 2016
Ruwanthi “Ru” Ekanayake launched the first-ever 4‑H Healthy Living blog, allowing 4‑H’ers to share their stories, build bridges and create national discussions about health. She also organized a successful Healthy Living Summit across nine counties in California through the University of California Cooperative Extension, which led to more youth starting local healthy living programs including farm-to-table gardening and cyber-safety programs. As a member of the National 4‑H Healthy Living Ambassador Team, she is committed to helping people live their best lives by advocating a more holistic approach to healthy living that includes healthy nutritional habits as well as mental and emotional well-being.
Jacob Shuman
Agriculture and Animal Sciences Pillar Winner - 2016
Jacob Shuman became an advocate for bees through Ohio State University Cooperative Extension after finding out that Ross County was one of the unhealthiest counties in Ohio. In response to these findings he developed Teens Educating Adults and Children about Honey Bees (TEACH B) program. Through the TEACH B program, Shuman leads live bee education, demonstrations and lessons on the importance of bees to agriculture and the economy. He is an Ohio State ambassador and the recipient of the National 4‑H Council Merck Youth Agriculture Advocacy Award, and he has the honor of being recognized by Ohio Senator Bob Peterson for his work in environmental sciences.
Alexandria “Lexie” Lerblance
Civic Engagement Pillar Winner - 2016
Alexandria “Lexie” Lerblance is the co-founder of the Teresa Lane Compton (TLC) Memorial Wig Closet. The appointment-only closet is named after her grandmother, a hairstylist who recently died of cancer. The wig closet provides free high-quality wigs, head coverings, bras and prosthesis to cancer patients going through treatments. Lerblance has had the opportunity to spread the word about cancer awareness through various speaking engagements including the Pink Ribbon Luncheon and the Federal Board of Education. Utilizing the leadership skills she has gained through Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension, the TLC Wig Closet has raised over $15,000 in donations.
Thaddeus Hughes
STEM Pillar Winner - 2016
Through talks, demonstrations, workshops and interviews, Thaddeus Hughes has engaged more than 6,000 youth in the wonders of science. He has been a mentor for FIRST Lego League and the Illinois State Robotics Competition for four years. As a mentor, Thad has been responsible for organizing and demonstrating new technologies and the engineering process. Simultaneously, he developed an afterschool program through the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension called Spinning Robots in which he taught 50 middle schoolers basic circuitry and how to build simple robots. He is currently studying engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the top school in the nation for engineering.
2010-2015 Winners
Nosa Akol
2015 Youth in Action Award Winner
National 4‑H Council is pleased to announce the winner of the 2015 Youth In Action Award is Nosa Akol. Nosa is a 17 year old senior at Binghamton High School in New York. Her 4‑H experience began when she joined CITIZEN U 4‑H her freshman year of high school.
According to Nosa, CITIZEN U 4‑H helped her overcome bullying, develop self-confidence and build leadership and public speaking skills. She was a delegate at the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute. As a Wallace-Carver Fellow, Nosa received a paid internship at the Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health at Cornell University where she worked as a Biological Science Aide.
Nosa, was also invited to be a panelist at the Norman Borlaug Symposium where she had the opportunity to speak with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about how micro-farming could help women and girls in South Sudan. In addition, Nosa delivered the keynote address at the 4‑H Career Explorations at Cornell University.
Within her community, Nosa was involved in the Great Pothole Solution Project to help map the location of potholes throughout the city of Binghamton. This spring, Nosa will partner with 4‑H alum Lazarus Lynch to lead a Hunger Banquet and Poverty Simulation to educate her community about childhood hunger and how they can become “hunger champions” in the fight to end world hunger.
As Nosa says, “My experiences in CITIZEN U 4‑H undid years of painful bullying opened new doors and opportunities for me, and set me on a path to be an agent for change. 4‑H changed my life.” Congratulations Nosa!
Andres Parra
2014 Youth in Action Award Winner
Andres Parra is a remarkable Arizona 4 H’er who credits 4 H for putting him on a path to success, and empowering him to have a similarly positive impact on his peers and community.
Growing up as part of a Mexican immigrant family, Parra experienced many obstacles in life and struggled to find motivation to excel in school. He was introduced to the 4‑H/United Healthcare Eat4‑Health program and discovered a passion for nutrition and exercise that led to more productive academic and personal health habits.
These habits led to compelling personal results for Parra, who dropped from 200 to 146 pounds by his senior year. Through the program, Parra also had an opportunity to lead community events and interactive educational activities empowering other young people to pursue healthy lifestyles. As a teen ambassador, Parra taught more than 200 5th and 6th graders about nutritious eating habits and healthy choices.
His success as a youth ambassador opened the door to work for University of Arizona as an Instructional Aide at the Tucson Farm Village, where he taught nutrition to youth through the 4‑H Pima County Cooperative Extension program.
Parra is currently attending Pima Community College and plans to transfer to the University of Arizona and major in Nutritional Science.
Elisabeth D. Willis
2013 Youth in Action Award Winner
Elisabeth D. Willis is a junior in high school student, born and raised in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. She has been an Oklahoma 4 H’er since the age of five. In 2009, she applied and was selected to serve as a Oklahoma State 4 H Ambassador and is currently serving in her fourth year in this role. Her service has included travel to various places including Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia.
Elisabeth is being honored with the Youth in Action award for her service learning project which has raised $10,000 for the Therapeutic Equestrian Association of McAlester (TEAM). TEAM is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping youth and adults with disabilities access equine therapy. Many of the volunteers who make TEAM possible are present or past 4‑H members and their parents. Elisabeth helped establish a local TEAM 4‑H club to raise awareness of the program, as well as hosting an annual musical festival, all profits of which go directly to TEAM.
Elisabeth says, “4‑H has impacted my life in so many ways. It has not only provided me with leadership development but also service learning project opportunities. Being so active in 4‑H as well as other organizations has challenged my life in an abundant way. I have learned through past 4‑H experiences that with help from others, I am not alone.”
In addition to her involvement in 4‑H, Elisabeth also plays basketball and is an active church member. Her future goals are to attend a bible college for at least one year and then to attend Southwestern Christian University, majoring in Sports Therapy.
Nate Seese
2012 Youth in Action Award Winner
Nate Seese is an active 15-year-old who found a way to make a difference in his Byron Center, Michigan, community through 4 H.
When he joined the organization five years ago, he was able to combine his passion for raising livestock and his commitment to serving those in need. During his time in Byron Center Busy Workers 4‑H Club, he raised market lambs and hogs, and showed his projects at the Kent County Youth Fair.
But there was something more he wanted to do. Something that could reach beyond the applause for a profitable auction of his livestock.
Nat saw hunger was a problem in his community when he volunteered at the local food pantry. There, he says, it was “flooded with people who needed help.”
He coordinated with local businesses and found a way to donate meat from his 4‑H projects to local Byron Center’s food pantry. In two years, he’s provided 1,000 lbs of meat.
When he is not working on his 4‑H projects, the high school freshman is active in the jazz band and his local church. He also volunteers with a number of local organizations serving dinners and lending a hand at the Buist Community Assistance Center.
Nate plans to attend college after high school, and is considering studying Food Sciences or Pharmacy.
Morgan Billingslea-Walker
2011 Youth In Action Award Winner
The 2011 4‑H Youth in Action Award was given to Morgan Billingslea-Walker. While overcoming personal health issues, Morgan led the effort to make health and nutrition programs available to those in her neighborhood. She has offered them the opportunity for a better, healthier lifestyle.
Samantha Jo Ridley
2010 Youth In Action Award Winner
The 2010 4‑H Youth in Action Award was given to 4‑H’er Samantha Jo Riddley, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota, and the first to attend college. Through 4‑H, she has helped her community in many ways, and has used her involvement in archery to bring the tradition back to her tribe.
