INGRID ASPLUND
WALDEN SCHOOL, PROVO

“Defending civil liberties is a core value in my life, and the driving passion behind my quest for further education. I am deeply committed to using the privilege of my education in the defense of those who are not as privileged.”

Ingrid Asplund, a self-described "crazy environmentalist hippie chick," serves as the Student Body President of the Walden School in Provo. She has started an "Eco-Team" at Walden, to make the school a greener place to learn. She also joined forces with Planned Parenthood to implement a more comprehensive sexual education for students there. Ingrid's activism extends beyond the high school campus, as well. She has participating in local and national political campaigns, and worked the Sierra Club booth at the Farmer's Market for several years. Ingrid has also been active on the international front: she has been on service trips to Mexico, Guatemala and Turkey, and spent her junior year as an exchange student in Germany.

JOEL ORGANISTA
WEST HIGH SCHOOL, SALT LAKE CITY

“When youth are efficiently involved in politics and knowing their rights they become agents for positive change in their communities.”

As a young Latino facing and witnessing mistreatment due to prejudice, Joel Organista feels compelled to do something to address the realities of racism. A defining moment was his internship working on a documentary called "Red Flags: Racism and Ethnic Stereotyping in Schools." Joel then traveled to various national conferences - including the "Free Minds, Free People" conferences in Chicago and Houston, and the American Educational Research Association conference in New York City - to present and discuss the film. The West High student was eventually named to the national advisory board of the "Education Through Liberation" Network - the board's youngest member and the only member from Utah. Through his work with the Network, Joel played a pivotal role in leading fellow students to champion a National Student Bill of Rights.

AMBER LEBARON
AMERICAN FORK HIGH SCHOOL, AMERICAN FORK

“A change can start with just one voice. As I continue to voice my views, I can make a difference; I believe that youth have an amazing potential to make a difference in the world around them.”

Amber LeBaron has an impressive resume of activism on behalf of women and youth. She served as a summer intern for the Worldwide Organization of Women - at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. She interviewed women for the U.N. and compiled their stories for the Mother's Legacy Project. Amber was also one of the few invited to represent youth from around the word at the Civil Society Development Forum, hosted by the Conferences of NGOs. She drafted sections of the Youth Civil Society Development Forum Report, emphasizing the need for youth to be engaged and acknowledged. Locally, Amber has worked with the Utah WOW program, and she is a student government leader at American Fork High School.