The Young Humanitarian Award 2007-2008
An award that celebrates outstanding humanitarian service among Utah's youth!
George S. & Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation and Chase partnered with the Utah-based non-profit YouthLINC (Youth serving the Local and International Needs Community) to provide this annual tribute. Additional funding for Award promotion was provided by the Deseret Morning News.
The Award recognizes Utah high school and undergraduate college or university students who excel in their efforts to give back to their communities.
Chelsea Gould, Orem High School senior was named this year's winner and received a $5000 award to be used for tuition to an undergraduate or graduate college or university. The four "runners-up," Shonti Breisch, Kimberly Gallegos, Nathan Jarrett, and Peter Reichman received $1000 awards to be used for the same purpose. Read more about these young humanitarians below and in our In the News page.
Chelsea Gould is Utah's Young Humanitarian 2007
Orem High School senior, Chelsea Gould loves to make people smile, whether through her work with Operation Smile or her amazing sense of humor.
Chelsea says "Finding the positives through difficult situations always makes the problem seem smaller and easier to handle".
Chelsea has traveled to Guadalajara to assist Operation Smile and also served a humanitarian mission to Nairobi, Kenya. Chelsea also works with disabled children through Kids on the Move.
Katherine Howe of Operation Smile says, "Chelsea is one of those people who have the rare, special combination of qualities: selflessness, compassion, kindness, intelligence, determination and genuine heart.
2007-2008 Finalists
Shonti Breisch, Westminster College sophomore
Shonti has taken life tragedies and turned them into selfless service. Shonti helps children adjust to life following the death of someone they love at the Sharing Place. She wanted to give back the support given to her when her mother died of cancer when Shonti was only six years old.
After the loss of her sister, Kali in the 2004 Tsunami, Shonti went back to the village of Khoa Lak Thailand to help rebuild.
Shonti has done extensive work on the Support a Child program which helps children orphaned by the Thailand Tsunami through sponsorships.
Shonti is the proud sponsor of a two year old orphan, Gigi. "I think Shonti has grown with each experience because of her leadership strengths, compassion for others, creativity, service to others and love of life" says Cecilie Mattison of the Sharing Place.
Kimberly Gallegos, University of Utah senior
"My goal in life is to help spread the fragrance of love everywhere I go. Flood everyone's soul with life and success" says University of Utah senior Kimberly Gallegos.
Kim accomplishes her goal by helping to establish the House of Hope in Salt Lake City where children get support and encouragement while their mothers receive addiction treatment.
Kim has also traveled to Kenya, Africa to give solar powered hearing aids to deaf students and build a computer lab for Kenyan students. She will return to Kenya this year as a "YouthLINC Alum-leader."
Nathan Jarrett, Lone Peak High School senior
Nathan Jarrett says "changing lives one smile at a time is my passion." As the president of his school's chapter of Operations Smile, Nathan brings his passion to life.
He has raised over $80,000 in the past three years, enough for 300 surgeries. He also served a medical mission to Amman Jordan where he taught lessons to the children and their parents about nutrition, burn care, rehydration therapy, dental hygiene and after care.
Peter Reichman, Brigham Young University senior
Peter is the founder of the non-profit organization, Vaccines for the Philippines. In the past four years Vaccines for the Philippines has organized over 100 volunteers to build homes, distribute medical kits to over 500 indigent families, and gave anti-rabies vaccines to doctors.
Peter's group has also constructed 48 restrooms in households, held medical clinics and even built a chicken farm for families in Bohol. Governor Enirico Aumentado of the Island of Bohol has awarded Peter the City Key of Bohol.
Peter's friend, Aaron Darais says "Peter cares so much about the welfare of others that he will spend countless hours each year to make sure the needs of others are fulfilled".