By Anastassia Roberts, American Red Cross intern

With 90% of its workforce being volunteers, it’s no wonder that volunteers are the lifeblood of the American Red Cross. Whether it's by dedicating time to providing food, shelter, care, and other relief supplies to those impacted by disasters, supporting military members, veterans and their families, or donating blood to help those in need, there are many impactful ways that volunteers contribute to the Red Cross mission.

As many as 25% of Red Cross volunteers are youth or young adults, age 24 and younger. The fact that these youth volunteers devote hours of their time to supporting the Red Cross all while juggling school, extracurricular activities and other commitments is truly a testament to their incredible dedication. As the school year comes to an end, let's take a moment to celebrate the contributions of graduating Red Cross youth volunteers!

Katie Liao is a graduating senior at Troy High School in Fullerton, California. As a Red Cross youth volunteer, Katie has filled a variety of roles such as ensuring a smooth check-in process at several blood drives, capturing photos and videos at various events, participating in Sound the Alarm events and sharing about her high school’s Red Cross club on social media. “Through all of these experiences, I’ve learned how to communicate effectively, take initiative, and support others,” Katie shared.

One of her most memorable projects was creating and presenting a recap video for all that her Red Cross club had accomplished in 2024. “I spent a lot of time compiling clips and photos I had taken, and we shared it with over 70 students from more than 20 schools... watching people laugh, smile, and reminisce made all the effort completely worth it,” Katie shared.

This fall, Katie is planning to attend the University of the Pacific as a pre-dental student. She feels that her time as a Red Cross volunteer has helped her develop strong leadership skills, learn the value of teamwork, and even overcome her fear of public speaking. “Volunteering with the Red Cross opens the door to so many incredible opportunities for growth and leadership,” Katie shared. “You’ll gain valuable experience, develop real-world skills, and meet inspiring people who are passionate about making a difference. Joining the Red Cross was one of the most meaningful extracurriculars I participated in, and every hour I dedicated to it was truly worthwhile.”

She may be starting a new chapter, but Katie plans to continue her journey with the Red Cross so that she can make a positive impact in the world!

Ashley Guo is a graduating senior at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, California. As a Red Cross youth volunteer, Ashley serves as the Vice Chair and Public Relations Lead on the Orange County Youth Advisory Council. In these roles, Ashley is responsible for creating promotional flyers, carrying out council meetings and service events, sharing Red Cross initiatives on social media and more. Ashley is thankful for the support of her fellow youth volunteers, as they have cultivated a community of growth, encouragement, and acceptance. “Every single person I have met through the Red Cross has quite literally changed my life for the better, and it is an honor to work with my fellow youth volunteers every day,” Ashley shared.

One of Ashley’s most memorable experiences was organizing and participating in an event called “Raid Cross,” where she facilitated the Humanitarian Aid post, which was an extensive obstacle course that was meant to highlight the challenges humanitarian workers face when in conflict zones. Because organizing the event was so much work, seeing it all come together was a very rewarding experience.

This fall, Ashley is planning to attend Brown University to study human biology and neuroscience. The time she has spent serving the Red Cross has equipped her with skills that have monumentally impacted her personal growth in high school, college and beyond. “As the spark behind my leadership journey, this community has pushed me to keep building on my skills, drawing on the public speaking and collaboration experience I’ve gained, while continuing to grow through new and unexpected challenges,” Ashley shared.

Beyond personal development, Ashley noted that her time volunteering with the Red Cross has also "been the start of a lifelong path rooted in service and passion for humanitarian aid.” In the future, she hopes to pursue a medical career as an anesthesiologist, pediatrician, or doctor in the emergency room. Ashley plans to continue her journey with the Red Cross by joining Brown University’s Red Cross club and participating in local blood drives and Sound the Alarm events.

Kaitlin Bui is a graduating senior at Garden Grove High School in Graden Grove, California. As a Red Cross youth volunteer, Kaitlin has filled a variety of roles within the Volunteer Connection Committee such as ensuring that events run smoothly, activities are logged correctly, and that she is cultivating a safe and welcoming environment for club members. “I want to genuinely help people with my volunteer service whether that be as small as brighten their day with a small conversation or provide services like installing a smoke alarm free of charge,” Kaitlin shared.

One of Kaitlin’s most memorable experiences was participating in a Sound the Alarm event in Huntington Beach. At the event, Kaitlin assigned volunteers to their respective groups, joined a group herself, and successfully installed smoke alarms in five homes. This experience was meaningful to Kaitlin because she was able to connect with each person whose home she visited and learn about their stories.

This fall, Kaitlin is planning to attend a community college. Kaitlin also used her Red Cross-stacked resume to apply for scholarships. As a result, she was awarded the Garden Grove High School Alumni scholarship in which she received $1,000 to go towards her future academic pursuits.

Most of all, Kaitlin values the connections she has built since being involved with the Red Cross. “The connections I have gained from just helping my community one small step at a time has led me to become more confident, sociable, kind, funny, and gentle,” Kaitlin shared. “It is safe to say that the Red Cross continues to have a place in my heart.”

Ronald Tran is a graduating senior at Garden Grove High School in Graden Grove, California. As a Red Cross youth volunteer, Ronald is the treasurer for his school’s Red Cross club. In addition to his fundraising efforts, Ronald is his chapter’s Volunteer Connection Lead where he manages the Volunteer Connection website and assists youth volunteers with starting their accounts. He is also the region’s Field Ambassador, where his most recent project has been to create a manual that will help assist Red Cross clubs in the region.

One of Ronald’s most memorable experiences was participating in the “yarn-me” ritual at the end of GLOW Red. “I didn’t really realize the actual impact I made until I witnessed the tears of both staffers and campers during our sentimental yarn ritual, where we commended the growth in each other,” Ronald shared.

This fall, Ronald is planning to attend the University of California, Los Angeles to study Biochemistry on a pre-health track. He feels that volunteering with the Red Cross has strengthened his communication skills and shed light on the importance of service. “Being around such amazing and determined individuals really pushed me to achieve my goals,” Ronald shared. When he graduates, Ronald plans to keep volunteering and will “continue to inspire others to carry on the legacy of the Red Cross mission."

Ryan Hwang is a graduating senior at Cypress High School in Cypress, California. As a Red Cross youth volunteer, Ryan serves on his chapter's Funds Committee, where he fundraises for youth activities and organizes monthly Get Involved Forum for Teens (GIFT) meetings. He has participated in various Sound the Alarm events, where he helped install smoke alarms in numerous neighborhoods. “The most rewarding aspect of my volunteer experience is knowing that my work genuinely impacts others. Seeing their smiles when they feel cared for reminds me that the power of helping others has no limits,” Ryan shared.

One of Ryan’s most memorable experiences was attending GLOW Red. From this experience, Ryan connected with the Red Cross community and even met some of his closest friends. “I am deeply grateful for the memories and connections I have made with my colleagues...I know that through our work, each and every one of them will go far.”

This fall, Ryan is planning to attend California State University, Long Beach to study Mechanical Engineering. Ryan intends to use the public speaking and service skills he’s gained as a Red Cross volunteer in college and beyond. Ryan’s Red Cross journey will not end here, as he plans to continue participating in his local chapter events.

Jay Qiu is a graduating senior at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. During his freshman year, Jay founded the Red Cross club at this school and has been serving as the club’s President ever since and consistently hosts local blood drives. He is also a member of the Orange County Youth Leadership Team, where he promotes the influence of youth volunteers in achieving the Red Cross mission.

One of Jay's most memorable experiences was attending GLOW Red, where he taught the significance of leadership to his peers. This was meaningful to Jay because it was the first time he was assigned to lead a project. “Being a Red Cross volunteer made me confident and brave enough to accept new challenges and opportunities,” Jay shared.

This fall, Jay is planning to attend John Hopkins University. He noted that his Red Cross experiences were at the very top of his extracurriculars for college applications, as they helped to show a side of him that wasn’t displayed from academic achievement alone.

Once he graduates, Jay plans to continue volunteering with the Red Cross. “Red Cross is a lifetime continuous journey for me, and that’s what I like about it,” Jay shared.