2012 Outstanding Young Leaders

The youngest of three, Ashley went into the Minnesota foster care system at the age of eight years old when her mother was incarcerated. Her time in the system was made even more challenging when she was separated from her two siblings as they went from foster home to foster... Read more

Jasmine Millwood “does not let her past define her, and works tirelessly every day to make a difference in the lives of the children that need it the most,” says her nominator. Her story involves 36 different foster care placements, overcoming an experience of sexual abuse, degrees of starvation, beatings,... Read more

Taren Fales, calling on her a natural competitive instinct, is determined not to be a foster care outcomes statistic. Sadly, those statistics show that by 20 a young lady like Taren might have a criminal record or be pregnant. In Ms. Fales case, she bucks the statistics. She is a college... Read more

For a young lady who started out with the odds against her, Ashley Landry has more than made her way to a better life. In fact, by many standards, she’s now ahead of the game. Ashley joined the foster system when she was just 2 years old. The next several... Read more

Finding the good despite all odds. That’s what Chris Boucher believes in. This steadfast optimism is what’s carried Chris though the twists and turns of a tumultuous childhood, setting him on the path toward becoming quite the honorable adult. Growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts, Chris experienced five foster care... Read more

Jennifer Vidrine entered foster care during the most formative time in a girl’s life: high school. Instead of dreaming about prom dates and weekend outings, she focused on what she would be coming home to. Jennifer moved through several foster homes until aging out of the system, leaving her autistic... Read more

Bernard Ball of Kentucky is currently pursuing a degree in Social Work. At age 19, he is already laying the groundwork to accomplish his goal of achieving a Ph.D. He has served as president of the State Youth Advisory Council since 2009, a council that gives the foster youth of... Read more

Lauren H is a student at Pittsburg State University, studying for a Bachelor of Science of Nursing, with a brilliant 3.86 GPA, and a minor in Spanish. She is 21, and has her determination geared towards working in a surgical department of a hospital, and with infants in an Neonatal... Read more

No matter where you go or what you do, your family carries your past. Lucy Castillo, age 22 of Kansas, incorporates her biological culture but is anxious to learn from others, too. With skill in two languages, English and Spanish, it’s not surprising that public speaking is one of Lucy’s... Read more

Stephen Pond, at 20, is very aware of his responsibility to others. Through many tough times in the foster system, he has come out shining and has been a part of many changes on the legislative level for the child welfare system. He is a natural born leader and mentor,... Read more