2012 Outstanding Young Leaders

At 22, and as the Vice President for the Humanitarian Club at Lonestar Kingwood College, Donna J feels she is finally in position to be able to bring greater effect to others. She has helped to coordinate and participate in a book drive for under-priveledged kids in South America and... Read more

Kendra Beckum knows that life in foster care isn’t easy. Her experience-six placements—had its “ups and downs,” as she describes them, but her perspective is that when doors close on you, you don’t wait for other opportunities—you “push,” because that’s when “two more will open.” This is the point of... Read more

Christopher H wants to be a lawyer, and maybe even a judge one day. If the following is any indication, he’s got the mind for it: “If I only spoke English (which I do), why would my ob send me to, say, France to handle something? I’ve never been there,... Read more

Chris is a big guy. And powerful. In foster care at age 14 after an accusation of violence towards his mom, he became the kind of kid that prospective foster parents avoid. Not surprising after living in shelters and group homes, medicated and underestimated, enrolled in below-grade schools, Chris ended... Read more

Adrienne White is 19, and a student at Clackamas High School, in Oregon, holding a 3.4 GPA. She has high aspirations to obtain her Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Pediatric Nursing, at Western Oregon University and also simultaneously at Oregon Health and Science University. She desires to work with Oregon... Read more

With 18 years of foster care under his belt, Tobias is certainly ready to speak about the trials of the foster care system as it pertains to his story. Currently engaged with Oregon Foster Youth Council, Tobias Naddy is working to write and distribute Rights of Foster Kids so that... Read more

Ricki has a gut feeling about leadership. He feels that his peers often look to him as a leader and so he wants to develop those skills. He volunteers at Community Garden, Winter Rage (helping community members during the holidays), Better Futures (a pilot program to assist youth in the... Read more

The Pacific Northwest and Portland, Oregon are home to Kelsey Collins. She has been in four foster homes over the past five years. Her nominator credits Kelsey with “a great sense of humor and a strong sense of duty and community.” She presents a positive attitude and a sense of... Read more

You never know where true strength is going to come from. For many, it comes from the stability of their traditional families—for others, it can come from transcending the limits those families impose. For Tiffany Bennett-Kaeo, it was foster care that helped her understand what a powerful person she could... Read more

Fushkte V doesn’t spend much time sitting around. Fushkte has worked with Y.I.A. (Youth in Action) to help elders in the community with chores around the house. He placed ribbons around courthouses to focus attention on Child Abuse Awareness Month. Fushkte has volunteered to work with homeless pets, made signs... Read more