Want to know who selects the Young Humanitarian Award winner? Find out here.

Have you ever wondered how the Young Humanitarian Winner is chosen?  We have an incredible team of judges who help to select our finalists. The judging process for this Award begins with 28 application judges who spend hundreds of hours reviewing applications. Each application is read by two separate judges in two randomized groups using a standardized rubric. The scores from these judges are reviewed and the top applications are reviewed by two additional judges. The composite score of all four judges are used to determine the top 5 high school students and the top 5 college students who will move to the interview round of the application process.

Our interview panel. comprised of community leaders from various fields, review these top 10 finalists applications prior to the interview day and select the winners after the interview have been conducted.

On Saturday, April 13th, the top-10 finalists for the 2019 Youthlinc Utah Young Humanitarian Award will be interviewed at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah Salt Lake Office.

Our 2019 Interview Judges are listed below: 

Erin Armstrong, Assistant to the President & COO, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation

Erin Armstrong is a Utah native and a graduate of the University of Utah in Behavioral Science & Health and Gerontology.  Her experience at the University grounded her interest in serving within the community. Currently she is serving as a board member at Red Butte Garden.  Erin  was a board member for the United States National Committee for the United Nation Women Utah Chapter.  She also has been involved in scholarship fundraising and other projects with the Young Alumni Association at the University of Utah, serving as Vice President.  Erin is the assistant to the President & COO at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. She enjoys the many engaging associations and activities that stem from her involvement with the Foundation and its varied projects. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking throughout the state, cooking good food, and spending time with family and friends.

Bill Low, Founder, Low Family Foundation

Bill Low is an accomplished executive with proven leadership experience. For the past 18 years he’s been a leader at Medical Review Institute of America (MRIoA). He’s held a variety of positions with the company including National Sales, President, and now Chairman of the Board. He’s been responsible for growing the company from a relatively small business into an industry leader that works with most major health plans and pharmacy benefit managers. Bill has an Executive MBA and Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, both from the University of Utah. In addition to serving as Chairman of the board at MRIoA he founded and leads the Low Family Foundation which focuses on bettering the lives of others. He resides in Bountiful, UT with his wife of 26 years, Shirley. Together they have 5 children.

 

Branden Dailey, Director of Development, A Ray Olpin University Union Building 

Branden works as the Director of Development at the University of Utah, where he is finishing his PhD in Education, Leadership, and Policy. His research is in the higher education finance arena with a focus on student loan debt and how debt can impact various student populations differently. He is the founder of the Student Union Leadership Scholarship fund which has seen over $300,000 in scholarships awarded to over 80 students in need. Through programs such as the scholarship fund, Branden strives to create awareness of the importance of community on campus. He hopes to endow several scholarships in the future that will help students in perpetuity.

 

Roderic Land, Assistant to the President, Salt Lake Community College

Dr. Roderic R. Land is the Special Assistant to the President and Chief Diversity Officer at Salt Lake Community College. In this role he focuses on inclusivity initiatives, leadership succession training and development, K-16 partnerships, and other strategic initiatives as they evolve at the College.

Dr. Land did all of his postgraduate work at the University of Illinois, where he earned his PhD in Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership. He has committed his “life and work” to higher education. Dr. Land’s past experience includes working in the Salt Lake County Mayor’s office as the Associate Director for Human Services. He also taught in the Dept. of Education, Culture, and Society at the University of Utah and serves as an Associate Minister at Calvary Baptist Church. Additionally, Dr. Land served as the state representative on the national board of the ACLU. His ultimate goal is nothing short of a global impact that will resituate the perception of inclusivity and equity in education and society at large.

Danielle Stamos, Communications Director, Catholic Community Services of Utah

Danielle Stamos is the Communications Directory for Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS) which is the only organization in Utah whose programs focus on refugees and immigrants, and those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Utah and a Masters of International Affairs and Global Enterprise from the same institution. She has lived in Russia and England and enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures. Danielle was one of the first volunteers for Youthlinc’s Real Life program and has seen firsthand how their focus on local and international service is changing lives for the better.

 

Taelor Gass, 2018 Young Humanitarian Award finalist

Taelor Gass is the 2018 Young Humanitarian Award runner up and has always been concerned with making the world a better place.  She loves to focus on helping individuals and knows that even small acts of service make big impacts. She has made a habit to find opportunities to brighten lives every day. She organized Piute’s All in Hope Squad to prevent suicide, improve self-esteem and restore hope one individual at a time. She plans to continue to make the world a better place and knows her work will never be finished, because as long as there is suffering, she knows there is something she can do.

 

 

Domoina Kendell, Deputy Director, Promise South Salt Lake

Domoina Kendell has been involved in community building and social change for over a decade. She works as a Deputy Director for Promise South Salt Lake. Domoina lives her passion every day by coordinating life-changing services for underrepresented youth. Her work with Promise includes developing programs for social and intellectual skills development and motivation and support toward success in higher education. Domoina holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from the University of Utah, where she studied Recreation Management. Originally from the Island of Madagascar, Domoina’s pursuit of higher education brought her to the United States. She has fallen in love with Utah, where she enjoys the mountains, hiking nearby canyons, and exploring her interests in the diversity of food, people and culture in the community.

Nancy Bassinger, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah 

Nancy has served as the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah since January 2015. Before joining BBBSU, she spent 12 years at the University of Utah, first as an Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Administration Program and later as the Engaged Faculty Director at the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center. Nancy’s research has appeared in several journals including Nonprofit Management & Leadership, the Journal of Nonprofit Management, and the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education. Nancy serves as a Big Sister and is on the Board of Directors for University Neighborhood Partners.

 

 

 

 

Troy Bengtzen, Youthlinc Board Member

Troy Bengtzen currently serves as the Vice President of Business Development for DeltaValve, a company he co-founded in 1995 that designs and manufactures highly engineered industrial equipment. Since its founding, DeltaValve has grown into a leading global supplier of specialized products and services with customers in over 20 countries. His business endeavors have taken him all over the world and allowed him to experience many different cultures.

By the end of this summer, the Bengtzen family will have participated in a total of 11 Youthlinc service trips to 6 countries. Through these amazing experiences, their lives have been profoundly impacted and each has furthered their desire to serve within their respective communities and to always dream big and try to change the world.

Troy and his wife Keri are the grateful parents of four children and one grandchild. Their family motto, “Every Day is a Gift”, motivates them to make the most of each and every moment. Troy holds a BA in Marketing and MBA from the University of Utah. He has also served as a Board Member of the University of Utah Alumni Association.