Nominees for the Green Valley Project Youth of the Year

The Youth of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding Green Valley Project member who embodies the values of dedication, teamwork, and leadership. This award celebrates a candidate who has shown unwavering commitment to their role, consistently contributing to the success of their group or project.

Ideal candidates demonstrate exceptional collaboration, supporting and encouraging their peers while fostering an inclusive and positive environment. They are team players who prioritize the collective good and inspire others through their actions.

Leadership and communication are key criteria for this honor. Nominees should have displayed the ability to guide others effectively, articulate ideas clearly, and contribute to decision-making processes that reflect the input of the entire team. This award highlights youth who have made a meaningful impact through their dedication, integrity, and passion for making a difference in their community.

Here are our nominees for the 2024 Green Valley Project Youth of the Year!

David R. - Thousand Oaks Youth Council

David has consistently stepped up when needed, taking on responsibilities with enthusiasm and reliability. His dedication to the project is unwavering, and he always goes the extra mile to ensure it’s success. David’s “can do” attitude inspires those around him, creating a positive and proactive environment for the team. His commitment and work ethic make him an invaluable asset, and he exemplifies the qualities of a true leader.

Diana V. - Oxnard Youth Council

Throughout her journey, Diana has demonstrated exceptional personal growth, building confidence in her leadership and social skills while inspiring those around her. Despite facing transportation challenges, she remained committed to the program, ensuring her attendance at meetings and fulfilling her responsibilities. Her resilience and dedication exemplify her deep connection to the mission and values of the Green Valley Project, making her a truly deserving nominee for this award.

Elle F. - Design Team

Elle joined our program late but has since made up for her missed time in her eagerness to be involved in our program. Week after week she shows initiative by going above and beyond the work required from her. She is kind to her fellow interns, and gets stuff done. Elle not only participates in meetings, but goes home and does her own work outside of our internship. She is the intern that I can always count on replying to emails quickly, or even reaching out to me with ideas. Elle has been vital in creating our song and producing our music video, and I am so happy that we have her. She has never been a part of the Green Valley Project before, and I am more than excited to welcome her to the team. 

Hastine S. - Ojai Youth Council

Hastine is a new Green Valley Project member, but she set the tone for her team. She has been super dedicated and done an amazing showing up and being present at each meeting, helping to lead discussions and navigate project challenges when they came up. Hastine has put in the hours! she helped to dig almost a hundred holes at Nordhoff High School to prep for native plants to be placed. She was also in charge of leading a safety demonstration at our event and led the charge in removing an invasive palm tree that had started to grow in the middle of our project area..

Josie C. - Thousand Oaks Youth Council

Josie was nominated for Youth of the Year because she is an outstanding leader, an effective public speaker, and has a unique ability to bring people together. Her influence has strengthened our group, and she consistently inspires others with her vision and dedication.

Maple W. - Ojai Youth Council

Maple has served as the Ojai Youth Council president for two sessions. She has helped to build raptor boxes, as well as, designed and planted a garden at MESA farm and Nordhoff High School. She is inclusive and supportive of her team and creates a welcoming space for all. Maple has gone above and beyond writing a press release about our Nordhoff Garden project that was published in the newspaper. She also supported our communications team and helped to write, film and edit a music video about tree conservation. Maple is an outstanding team member, leader and communicator!

Melissa M. - Ojai Youth Council

Melissa was nominated because she has been dedicated to Green Valley Project for the past 3 years. She has supported numerous projects planting trees, removing invasive plants, designing gardens, and building raptor boxes. She has demonstrated leadership through her attendance, showing new GVP members the ropes, and taking the time to dive deeper into the background of each of her projects through reading articles and news statements and bringing that knowledge back to the Youth Council group. This year Melissa stood out because she has grown so much in her public speaking. She was the sole representative when we shared our project with Supervisor LaVere’s office. That kind of dedication and bravery was definitely noticed.

Valeria A. - Oxnard Youth Council

We nominated Valeria for Youth of the Year because of her exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to fostering community growth and environmental stewardship. As the president of the Oxnard Green Valley Project, she has gone above and beyond her role, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the program and its members. She led by example, ensuring every voice was heard, empowering quieter members to participate, and fostering a sense of teamwork and collaboration.