Congratulations to the 2015 Navin Narayan Award Winner!
The American Red Cross recognizes its exceptional employees and volunteers at the annual National Awards and Recognition Dinner and Ceremony. The fiscal year 2015 award recipients all used their talents and passions to accomplish impressive goals and worked tirelessly to support our lifesaving work. Whitney Sutton was awarded The Navin Narayn Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership. This award is a prestigious honor presented annually to a youth volunteer who demonstrates exemplary Leadership Skills and Red Cross service.
Whitney Sutton has been involved in the American Red Cross youth services program in the Utah Region since attending our first regional Leadership Development Camp as a delegate in 2010. The following year, Whitney joined the Red Cross youth program, immediately taking on leadership roles.
When Whitney came on board the Utah Region Youth Services Programs was in its infancy. With her involvement and leadership they are now one of the strongest programs in the nation. She has grown the youth services into three successful programs across the state of Utah, increased recruitment and retention to now include 200 youth participants supporting every sector of the Red Cross and drastically increased our monthly meeting attendance rates.
Whitney recruited 10 other students to take the first all-youth CPR/AED and FA Instructor Course and then empowered each of them to teach community courses for the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter. Now over 35 youth CPR/AED and FA instructors and an additional 25 babysitter instructors have been trained. Whitney is one of only 100 youth nationwide to become fully trained as a Disaster Action Team member. She also continues to stay active in Leadership Development Camp having served in a student-staff capacity for two years moving on to be a camp administrator and last year, joining the program as a member of the adult staff.
Wednesday March 9, 2016. Washington, D.C.
The National Awards and Recognition Dinner at the Board of Governors Hall, American Red Cross National Headquarters.
The American Red Cross honored 56 of its best and brightest at the 2016 National Awards and Recognition Dinner in Washington, DC. The event recognized the achievements of those whose commitment and passion make it possible for the Red Cross to fulfill its lifesaving mission every day.
Whitney Sutton awarded the Navin Narayan Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership.
Photo by Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross
Whitney’s passion for the Red Cross and its mission has remained steadfast even her personal life as a student evolves. From high school to college, the Red Cross has always been able to count on Whitney when the organizational need is there. Her passion to transfer leadership and service skillsets to a younger generation and help them to understand how the skills obtained as a Red Cross volunteer are applicable throughout life are what makes Whitney a true trail blazer and the Red Cross lucky to know and work alongside her.
