2012 Outstanding Young Leaders

Six years in California’s foster care system were enough to show Akalei that there is definitely room for improvement in the way foster youth are treated while in foster care, and the resources available to them after they leave the system. With her extensive involvement in foster youth advocacy and... Read more

A present employee for Walgreens in Arkansas, Lien Le hopes to better her environment and her community. Her goal is to become a surgeon. Living in a shelter, she has been in foster care for two years. She acknowledges facing many complications as a foster youth, and she wants to... Read more

Among the farming and timber industry in the small town he has always called home, Matthew Zinnermon can be found volunteering to better the community by picking up trash on the road or helping the elderly clean their homes and cars. His participation and dedication is strongly supported by his... Read more

Nicholas Gee spent 6 years in Vermont's foster care system. Nick Gee entered Vermont's foster care system at age 13. He experienced and endured a variety of placements that consisted of long-term residential programs, inpatient/ residential psychiatric care, detention centers, transitional living programs and group homes during his 6 years... Read more

Joshua Calcia spent 11 years in Maine's Foster Care System. Joshua Calcia is currently pursuing his Associate’s Degree and plans to work at getting his Bachelor’s Degree following completion of his current program. On top of being a full time student, Joshua works part time but still finds time to... Read more