- Author: Eve Dowdell
Congratulations to our California 4-H Grown Youth in Action winner, Sruthi Sudarsan!
Despite struggling with social anxiety, Sruthi found the confidence and skills to start her organization, Project C.A.R.E.
Throughout her adolescence, Sruthi Sudarsan struggled with social anxiety. With the help of her 4-H club public speaking and puppetry projects, she found the voice and confidence to rise, despite those struggles.
Sruthi hopes her outreach and efforts will motivate future generations to rise to the challenge of leadership and community development.
Unsurprisingly, Sruthi's work doesn't stop there. Using her spark of teaching traditional Indian dance to young children, she raised enough money to build and supply a preschool bathroom in Cambodia. She also used her resources to provide the preschool with educational services on the necessity of basic hygiene. Her passions for encouraging youth to overcome personal obstacles and ignite positive change led her to host a mentorship program with Project C.A.R.E. This program trains students to find their civic engagement spark and execute projects using those sparks. She hopes this program will motivate future generations to rise to the challenge of leadership and community development. Sruthi currently has trained over a hundred middle schoolers to become dynamic community leaders and activists. Sruthi also works with younger children, using her puppetry skills to create educational skits about social issues to connect with children ages five to eleven.
As both Youth in Action and State Ambassador, Sruthi cultivates her impact through events, service, and projects.
Sruthi's mentors, leaders, friends, and family both in and outside of 4-H are proud to see her conquer challenges and utilize her personal development to make a national impact. We cannot wait to see what more she accomplishes over this next year—and beyond!
/h3>/h3>/h3>/h2>- Author: Suzanne Morikawa
Volunteers play a vital role in the ongoing growth and development of those in the 4‑H Youth Development program. Our volunteers to serve as positive role models and support youth through strong youth-adult partnerships. We are grateful and honored to have their contributions to the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program.
Jaime Burroughs, 2018 Western Region Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer
Every year, each state can nominate two individual volunteers for the National 4‑H Salute to Excellence Awards, in recognition of their exemplary service to 4-H. One is an individual who has volunteered for 4-H for less than 10 years (Volunteer of the Year), and the other is an individual who has spent 10 or more years as a 4-H volunteer (Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer).
We are thrilled to announce that Jaime Burroughs of Foothill 4-H Club in Stanislaus County, has been voted the 2018 Western Region Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer! The National 4-H Selection Committee spent almost three months reviewing over 30 nominations from throughout the United States. Jaime is now eligible to be considered for the National Volunteer of the Year Award, which will be announced April 19, 2018.
A true 4-H'er
Jaime has been a lifelong member of 4-H. She joined the Tehama County 4-H program at age 7, and exited at 18. She was one of four in her county's history to be named a Diamond Star (now called State Ambassador) and served for two years. While still in college pursuing her teaching credential, she became an adult volunteer to fill the role of District Leader, then Educational Director for the California Focus conference.
"Jaime's involvement is even more impressive when you consider how her life has evolved over the almost two-decade span. She has been involved with Cal Focus while attending college, teaching high school, raising 5 children, and farming almonds."
Marcie Skelton, 4-H volunteer & alumni from Tehama County 4-H
In addition to volunteering at the state level, Jaime volunteered in her local 4-H club, Foothill 4-H, even before her own children were old enough to join. The club started with four members and has grown to almost 50 members. She has taken on the roles of co-community club leader and project leader for projects in sheep, swine, primary and outdoor activities.
Meet Jaime at California Focus
Registration is open for this year's California Focus conference! See our event page for more information.
Register online by May 21.
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