2008 Ten Outstanding Young Americans Announced

USA (SANEPR.com) September 9, 2008 -- The 70th anniversary celebration black-tie awards ceremony will be held September 27, 2008, in San Diego, California, at the Town & country Resort. The ten individuals chosen to receive this prestigious award are:

Mark Benigni, 36, Meriden, Connecticut. As both the Mayor of the City of Meriden, and the Principal of Cromwell High School, Benigni has blended his love of children with his desire for social change. As Mayor, he led the charge to make Meriden the first community in the state to pass a resolution supporting healthcare for all, as well as inventing programs for local children. As Assistant Principal, Benigni worked to launch mentoring programs, work-study initiatives, and an in-school suspension program to help improve student participation and self esteem.

Tyler Clabaugh, 22, Hanover, Pennsylvania. As a student at York College of Pennsylvania, Clabaugh has developed two major programs designed to help turn today’s youth into “men and women of influence.” Clabaugh serves as the founder and president of the Training Leaders through Athletics program, as well as developing an international program in El Salvador, whose aim is an improvement in both economic stability and leadership capabilities in the youth of an impoverished section of El Salvador.

Chris Cooper, 37, Memphis Tennessee. As director of the Global Goods Fair Trade Store, Dr. Cooper strives to promote the idea of the brotherhood of man by providing a place for artisans, farmers, and craftsmen from developing countries to show and sell their work. He has devised exhibits and lectures to remind Americans post-9/11 that the men and women of Middle Eastern countries are not the enemy. Much of Dr. Cooper’s work is designed to transcend country boundaries and connect people as a whole.

Adam Edelen, 33, Lexington, Kentucky. Adam Edelen’s appointment as Governor Steve Beshear’s Chief of Staff marks the culmination of an impressive range of experience in both the public and private sectors. At 21, Edelen began his career as one of the youngest aides ever to serve a Kentucky Governor. He has since served as a senior executive with both a metropolitan chamber of commerce and a large corporate citizen and, most recently, as Director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. A significant civic leader, Edelen has chaired the board of Kentucky Educational Television, where he was the driving force in establishing KET’s “Be Well Kentucky” intitative—an acclaimed approach to addressing Kentucky’s public health crisis.

Brenda Jo Gillund, 39, Grand Forks, North Dakota. As an Oncology Nurse at the Altru Cancer Center, Gillund co-founded Filling the Gap, a grant program designed to help lower income families with the financial and travel difficulties of their stay at the Altru Cancer Center. She helped raise over $200,000 for the program, and trained her staff in using the program. Gillund has been on the American Cancer Society’s Community Board since 1992, and has helped co-chair Relay for Life.

Erin Gruwell, 39, Long Beach, California. Gruwell has earned an award-winning reputation for her steadfast commitment to the future of education. Her story attracted Hollywood’s attention in January 2007, when Paramount Pictures released Freedom Writers, starring Oscar winner Hilary Swank as Gruwell. The film is based on The Freedom Writers Diary, the New York Times bestseller that chronicled Gruwell’s extraordinary journey with 150 high school students who chose to forego teenage pregnancy, drugs, and violence to become high school graduates, published writers, and citizens for change.

Stephen Lee, 39, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As the Senior Scientist in the Director’s Office of the U.S. Army Research Office, Dr. Lee has been working to develop new tools and capabilities to save lives of both civilians and soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Lee’s motivation and management skills have initiated a 98-percent growth in the U.S. Army’s technical program he manages. Dr. Lee also regularly volunteers with the local schools and Cub scouts, as well as working directly with undergraduate and graduate students at the University of North Carolina.

Lauren Paige Nelson, 21, Lawton, Oklahoma. Currently a student at University of Central Oklahoma, as Miss Oklahoma and Miss America, Nelson is a spokesperson for Internet Safety for Children, drawing on her own experiences with Internet predators. Nelson uses her status to be a role model for young adults and Christians everywhere, through her effort to do what’s “right” rather than what’s “cool.”

Andrew Ortiz, 39, Tempe, Arizona. Despite working full time as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ortiz Leadership Systems, a management consulting and public speaking company, Ortiz has completed more than 1,000 community service hours a year since 1993, including founding several organizations such as a civil rights group, a youth mentorship program, and a professional service fraternity. Both President George H.W. Bush, and Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, have recognized Ortiz for his commitment to service.

Lieutenant Colonel William E. Young Jr., 39, Oak Harbor, Washington. Young is a combat squadron commander and master navigator in the Air Force. A decorated combat veteran, he has 2,200 flying hours in B-52 and EA-6B aircraft. Colonel Young deployed to the Middle East following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and has since devised Information Age warfighting strategies and led combat missions over Afghanistan. He has been honored internationally for his military leadership and community service. He is also a published author and speaker on cyberwarfare and systems thinking.

The Ten Outstanding Young Americans program (TOYA) is one of the oldest and most prestigious recognition programs in America. Annually since 1938, The United States Jaycees has sought out the ten young men and women who best exemplify the finest attributes of America’s youthful achievers.

The TOYA selection process begins in the spring of each year. Following the submission deadline, all nominations are forwarded to a panel of screening judges who, working independently, select and rank their top twenty choices. The top twenty point getters become the finalists. The finalists’ nominations are forwarded to a panel of finalist judges who rank their top ten choices. The task of judging the nominations is arduous.

Each nominee’s accomplishments and contributions are also judged in relation to the Jaycee Creed: “ That earth’s great treasure lies in human personality, and that service to humanity is the best work of life” and they must meet certain qualifications: age (18-40, inclusive), American citizenship (or application therefore), and agree to attend the TOYA Awards Ceremony.