2021 College Award Winners
$5000 Award Winner
Ibrahim Ramazani
University of Utah
Ibrahim Ramazani is a refugee from Malawi. His family arrived in Utah in 2013. He is currently in his third year of college at the University of Utah studying Political science with an emphasis on International Politics. Some of his hobbies are soccer, videography, and photography. He is passionate about giving back to the community in every way he can. Currently he is an intern with Real Life in which he helps refugee students by tutoring and helping them apply for college and scholarships. His career goals are to get a BA in Internal Politics and continue to graduate school to study international law.
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$3000 Award Winner
Mimi Reeder
Western Washington University
Mimi Reeder is a virtual freshman at Western Washington University. She strives to incorporate service into every aspect of her life, which is why she plans on majoring in Human Services with a minor in Education and Social Justice. Nothing makes her happier than making meaningful connections, hiking with her dogs, and being outside. Utah has been her home for the past 18 years, but she can’t wait to travel and help people all over the world, which is her main goal in life. Engaging in local service has made her grateful for the past and eager for the future!
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$1000 Award Winner
Kaila Balch
University of Utah
Kaila Balch is a senior at the University of Utah double majoring in Environmental & Sustainability Studies and International studies. During her time at the University of Utah she has volunteered with refugee, immigrant and marginalized populations in the Salt Lake Valley to help provide education and increase food security. On campus she works with several food security initiatives from the Feed U Food pantry to the Edible Campus Gardens. Off-campus, she teaches ESL at the Refugee and Immigration Center and is currently a Food Accessibility and Garden Engagement intern with the International Rescue Committee. After graduating from the University of Utah she will attend Duke University in fall 2021 to work towards a Masters of Science in Global Health. After graduating, she wants to pursue a career with the U.S. government or a non-profit organization focused on promoting environmental and human health. Growing from her experience as a Youthlinc Guatemala volunteer in high school, Kaila knows the importance of empowering local communities and has made it her mission to be a lifelong humanitarian.
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$1000 Award Winner
Megan Bianucci
Westminster College
Meg Bianucci is a Senior at Westminster College graduating in Sociology with a concentration on Social Work. Although she enjoys school, she would much rather be running barefoot somewhere around the world. She loves traveling, reading and spending time with her husband. She loves to meet new people and enjoy life, each day as it is.
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$1000 Award Winner
Samuel Nelson
University of Utah
Sam Nelson is a student at the University of Utah studying biomedical engineering. He was born and raised in Utah as the oldest of three siblings. He started doing service in middle school with the junior honors society. Since then, his service has taken me all over from Peru, Nepal, and even Cambodia, but his favorite service has been at his local sites of Shriners Hospital and the Maliheh Clinic. When not in school or helping with a service project, he likes to go running or play golf. In the next few years, he plans on continuing to serve as he graduates and continues on to medical school.
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2021 High School Award Winners
$5000 Award Winner
Clara Tandar
West High School
Clara believes in providing long term educational mentorship and support for underrepresented students. One way she has worked to do this is through the Shropshire Music Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to provide free music education to refugee children around the world. In collaboration with the Gifted Music School, she worked with the foundation to put on a benefit concert that raised over $50,000 to purchase instruments for refugee children. She also used this money to start the very first U.S. chapter of the Shropshire Music Foundation. Her goal is to continue to provide mentorship and support for young children, working to give back to the community. In her free time, Clara also loves to bake and hike.
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$3000 Award Winner
Ashis Dhakal
East High School
Ashis Dhakal is a refugee who fled from Bhutan to Nepal due to ethnic cleansing. Coming to America he learned to seek opportunities, and always help those in need who are in unfortunate situations. Ashis writes, “As a child growing up in poverty was very harsh. I didn’t have the right resources in front of me and I went through deep struggles during my time in the refugee camp, before coming to the United States with God’s help and the people around me. I’m inspired by leaders like my parents, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Bill Gates, and my community back home in the refugee camp. These people have taught me the core values of leadership and have inspired me to work hard in life and to always give back to those who are in need. I did not become the person that I am today without stepping on stairs laid by others and by personally climbing over the obstacles of poverty, discrimination, lack of education, and lack of medical care. I will take advantage of the opportunities before me to better my future, family, and community. I know that with education, impossibilities become realities. I am determined to persevere through adversities, succeed, and be the person my Baba would be proud of.”
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$1000 Award Winner
Andrew Kimble
Olympus High School
Andrew Kimble is a senior at Olympus High School and is eager to attend the University of Utah as an Eccles Business Scholar. Andrew has been drawn to service throughout his life because it provides connection, collaboration, and community improvement. Volunteering has helped Andrew become a value-driven citizen with a broadened perspective. Through his service, Andrew strives to build understanding and support for vulnerable and marginalized populations including refugee families, individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth, displaced families, and the elderly. Through his college studies and future career, Andrew plans to focus on social entrepreneurship and hopes to create lasting change as a humanitarian and business leader. Andrew enjoys hands-on service while also creating opportunities for peers and younger students to become engaged in humanitarian work as well. Andrew is honored to represent YouthLinc and its mission to create lifelong humanitarians.
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$1000 Award Winner
Angela Layton
West High School
Angela Layton is a senior at West High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Angela hopes to pursue a career in Computer Science and Cybersecurity. She is passionate about encouraging other young women to pursue STEM careers as she works closely with the Women Tech Council SheTech Student Board. Angela has dedicated much of her time to community service and serves in multiple positions that allow her to make a direct impact on her community. She founded the Tutor Council at West High School that provides free after-school tutoring to the students of West. She is also the co-president of the West High Hope Squad and has served as a Referred Youth Mentor for Salt Lake City Peer Court for 3 years. Angela will continue to serve her community in every possible way, as she recognizes the value and importance of community service.
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$1000 Award Winner
Dallin Christensen
Leadership Academy of Utah
Dallin Christensen is a senior at Leadership Academy of Utah. Dallin serves as the Senior Vice President over Technology at Layton Youth Court. He’s an avid mock trial competitor and when COVID-19 canceled mock trial competitions around the nation he helped found Online Mock Trial (OMT) to help the national mock trial community take the program online. He volunteers with Family Promise of Ogden, a homeless shelter that keeps families together. Dallin was the 2020 VFW Utah Eagle Scout of the year for his project preserving Veteran stories for local seniors. He plans to study business and law and hopes to pay forward the great blessings he’s been given.
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Meet our 2021 Young Humanitarian Award Winners