The Young Humanitarian Award 2009-2010
An award that celebrates outstanding humanitarian service among Utah's youth!
Though our society recognizes young people for their accomplishments in sports and academics, this is an award that celebrates outstanding humanitarian service among youth.Many thanks to Chase, Deseret News and XMission for partnering with YouthLINC to provide this annual award.
Congratulations to Emily Smoot, Utah's Young Humanitarian 2009!
Emily Smoot:
"Having been exposed at an early age to gross inequities, I was conscious to the dire need to be a part of the solution," says Emily of her volunteer work. For the past ten years Emily has worked with a range of communities providing service and solutions. She has worked with children in Make a Wish Foundation, adults learning ESL at Horizonte, the elderly at Highland Care Center, and her peers through Salt Lake City Peer Court. Emily has also gone abroad to serve through Ascend Alliance and YouthLINC. She worked with indigenous populations in Ecuador leading self-sustainability projects and microenterprise programs. She was also the Expedition Leader for a group of thirty as they traveled to Peru for a medical mission. Emily is a senior at the University of Utah and balances schoolwork with a part-time job at the Road Home in addition to serving 30-40 hours each week with ten refugee families through Catholic Community Services. Aden Batar of CCS says of Emily: "She has taken on advanced advocate roles and tackles problems that are beyond the expectations of a volunteer. She is firmly committed to a lifetime of service."
Read what the Deseret News has to say about Emily.
Catherine Lake:
Two years ago Catherine started the charitable organization, Underneath It All. After learning that there are over 1,000 children in the Utah Foster Care System, Catherine decided that one of the best ways she could serve them would be to give each child a week's worth of new underwear in a colorful knapsack. She says that her "intention was to instill a bit of confidence, dignity, and hope to each child in foster care." She solicits donations from neighbors, classmates, family friends and acquaintances. Last year Catherine collected over 3,000 pieces and donated 150 knapsacks to the Utah Foster Care program. She continues the program today with aspirations to service all 1,000 children in the foster care system. In addition to running Underneath It All, Catherine also serves as Senior Class Vice President at Juan Diego Catholic High School and is a member of the Human Rights International Club. She has worked with the Salvation Army, Doctors for Global Health, and various service projects throughout high school. Shirlayne Quayle, Director of the James Sorenson Center for Discovery and Innovation Studies at the University of Utah says of Catherine, "she is motivated by the generosity of others and her own passion to make a difference."
Caleb Larkin:
By the time he turned eighteen-years-old, Caleb had already been on two international humanitarian missions – one to India and the other to Ecuador. During his junior year, Caleb worked most weekends to save money in order to travel to Kayathar, India where he taught English to over 100 children for ten weeks. Though many of his fellow volunteers only taught three days a week, Caleb devoted all of his time to teaching and getting to know the people in the village. As one of the parents in India wrote "I like your friendship with the kids. You played with them, taught them and learned from them. You are a three-in-one." Just before starting his sophomore year at Northridge High School, Caleb spent two weeks in Ecuador with the Orphanage Support Service Organization providing physical and emotional care for children in Quito. He has also gathered supplies for the orphanages in Ecuador, volunteered as a Teacher's Assistant in the Head Start Program and tutored in Clearfield Elementary School's After School Program. Caleb says that through his volunteering he has learned "that all of us are capable of becoming more, and only when we decide to act will things ever change."
Elham Nazzal:
Elham, affectionately known as Miss Ellie by two fourth grade classes at Mountain View Elementary School, fills her week with service to the community. On Mondays and Wednesdays she is an ESL tutor for a Burmese refugee mother of six. On Tuesdays and Thursdays she works in the IRC Youth Mentor Program where she mentors refugee youth who are transitioning into American culture. On Thursday afternoon Ellie can be found teaching art to fourth graders at Mountain View Elementary School. Mrs. Moleni, a teacher at the school says "were it not for Miss Ellie, the students would not be able to enjoy a quality art experience." In addition to these weekly activities, Ellie also serves as an IRC Family Mentor and works with a refugee family from Nepal whether teaching them to pay bills or helping the parents find work. A sophomore at Salt Lake Community College, Ellie has also worked with traveled on a humanitarian mission to Kenya with YouthLINC and volunteered at the Neighborhood House, U of U Rehab Center, and Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp, to name a few. Ellie says "being a humanitarian means setting aside time dedicated to enhancing lives."
Billy Rutter:
Billy is a key leader in several service organizations at Weber State University including Campus Chapter President for Habitat for Humanity International, Founder and Organizer of Homeless Awareness Week, and President and Founder of Freedom Riders, an organization that assists children with cerebral palsy through therapeutic horseback riding. A senior at Weber State, Billy has worked with Habitat for Humanity for five years participating in everything from fundraising to construction to volunteer supervision. While at Weber State Billy saw the need for education about homelessness and organized Homeless Awareness Week and Cardboard Campout which give students the opportunity to understand the issues surrounding homelessness on local, national, and global levels. Last year Billy founded Freedom Riders and has since recruited 30 dedicated volunteers to keep the program operating. Billy believes that a "humanitarian is motivated by an insatiable desire to improve society." Lynn Kelley of Habitat says "Billy's passion for a cause is contagious and he inspires others to action."
YHA Year in Review
We received 87 amazing applications from across the state. Here were some comments from the judges:
"All of the applications were very strong and I was impressed with the commitment and depth of service of the applicants."
"Wow! What a great group of humanitarians. Thanks for including me in this experience, truly inspiring!"
"Great applications, Thanks for the opportunity to read about theses amazing young humanitarians."
The twelve finalists were interviewed on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Westminster College and the top five students were then selected. Utah's Young Humanitarian 2009 was announced at the YouthLINC Annual Benefit on Saturday, April 18 at the Salt Lake Convention Center. Please apply in January 2010 for the 2010 Award process