Celebrating our New and Leaving National Youth Council Members
The National Youth Council is incredibly excited to welcome five new youth members and one new advisor to the team! The selection process was highly competitive, and it was truly inspiring to see the dedication of the American Red Cross’ amazing youth volunteers and youth leaders through the applications.
It is an absolute pleasure to introduce the new youth members and advisor of the National Youth Council.
Members:
EmmaKate Few
is a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where she is majoring in Journalism and is a Pre-Law scholar. Prior to college, she served as Co-President of the Augusta Red Cross Youth Board and was awarded the Youth Services Volunteer of the Year award for the American Red Cross of Augusta. Furthermore, EmmaKate has helped lead over 24 Leadership Development Conferences for elementary and middle school students, and hosted a “Rock the Runway for the Red Cross” Fashion Show that raised over $1,700 in one night for the Augusta Chapter 2016 Heroes Campaign.
Joanna Hu
is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania studying nursing and healthcare management. She has served as President of her high school club, as well as International Committee Coordinator, Liaison, and Co-chair of her local chapter’s Youth Executive Board. In 2014, she received the International Services award from her chapter and was named Youth of the Year. Joanna is the 2016 recipient of the Navin Narayan Scholarship.
Amy Ma
is a freshman at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois majoring in Economics with a minor in Human Rights. Prior to college, she served as President of the Clements High School Red Cross Club and Executive Chair of the Texas Gulf Coast Region Youth Service Council, in which she created the local Red Cross youth newsletter, organized blood drives, and planned two Leadership Development Conferences. As an intern with the Disaster Service Department of the Greater Houston Area Chapter, Amy has assisted with Community Partnerships in the Texas Floods Disaster Relief Operation and directed the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. Amy was awarded the Red Cross Tom Sellers Exceptional Youth Volunteer Award and recognized as the Greater Houston Service Awards’ Youth-of-the-Year.
Anna Nguyen
is a freshman at UC Berkeley, where she plans to study public health and immunology. She has served as the President of her high school club and as International Services Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, and Chair of the East Bay Area Youth Executive Board (YEB). She has been a youth staff member in the Northern California Coastal Region’s Leadership Development Center. Additionally, Anna has worked as a Red Cross certified lifeguard and water safety instructor at her local parks and recreation department.
Georgia Vasilopoulos
is a senior at the Bronx High School of Science in New York who has interests ranging from Neuroscience to International Affairs. She has served as the youth representative on the Red Cross Board of Directors for the Greater New York region and helped establish the first regional Chapter Youth Council. As chair of the Chapter Youth Council for the past three years, Georgia has led region-wide events such as Missing Maps, Raid Cross, MLK Day of Service, and Night for Nepal. She has taught disaster preparedness classes and advocated for the acceptance of youth volunteers onto Home Fire Preparedness Campaign teams. Recently, she was able to volunteer with a Red Cross center in Patra, Greece that provides free first aid treatment and delivers care packages.
Advisor:
Anna Drenning
became a high school volunteer with her local chapter in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. From there, she founded two Red Cross Clubs in high school and college and served terms on both the National Youth Council and National Young Professionals Council. Anna is currently the Regional Youth Volunteer Specialist with the Western PA Region of the American Red Cross and advocates for youth and young adult involvement through all lines of service. In her role, she works with youth-focused community partners, volunteers, Red Cross Clubs, interns and young professionals.
Thank you to the Red Cross communities of these individuals for supporting them along their Red Cross journeys, and for helping them grow and thrive as American Red Cross volunteers.
We would also like to recognize the members who have rotated off the National Youth Council:
Eddie Zitnik
Former Positions: Chair, Creator of the Youth Diversity Pledge Facilitation Guide
Dana Frayne
Former Positions: Vice Chair, Chapter Services Support Working Group Lead, National Youth Involvement Month Liaison, Creator of the “Working with Youth” Tip Sheet
Cat Reilly
Former Positions: Youth Outreach Working Group Lead, YouthWire Editor
Josh Lovett
Former Positions: National Youth Involvement Month Liaison, Connect Tour Liaison
Shannon Vance
Former Positions: Navin Award Committee Liaison
Jackie Young
Former Positions: RedCrossYouth.Org Liaison, Facebook Liaison
Logan Ferlito
Former Positions: Beloved Advisor for three years
Thank you all for your efforts and accomplishments for the National Youth Council and for the American Red Cross. You will definitely be missed, and we know that you will all continue to do amazing things as volunteers and as individuals!
