Shivum is a student at the University of California- Los Angeles studying Computational & Applied Mathematics, Data Science, and Linguistics. Originally from the Northern California Coastal Region, he began his Red Cross journey at the start of high school with his Red Cross Club, which he later became the president of. After installing his first set of many smoke alarms during NCCR's Sound the Alarm campaign alongside his Club, Shivum sought additional ways to engage with the organization and has never looked back since. He continued to turn his passion for inspiring youth to engage in community service as NCCR's Youth Engagement Lead and a Volunteer Services Specialist on their VYS team for the last 3 years, developing the region's Youth Program and creating programming for the thousands of volunteers and hundreds of Clubs. Shivum has also sat on ARCBA's Board of Directors as a voting member, frequently collaborating with board members and donors on Youth Services projects and engagement. Shivum hopes to use his story and the Red Cross Mission to inspire rising youth leaders across the country, creating the next generation of changemakers. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, he received the Gold and Medallion Presidential Volunteer Service Awards and was the 2021 recipient of the Navin Narayan Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership at the National Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. Aside from the Red Cross, Shivum enjoys swimming, making pancakes, and experimenting with different coffee flavors. Contact Shivum at shivum.kapoor@redcross.org.
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Hamid is a student at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), where he is pursuing a concentration in Public Health. He began volunteering with the American Red Cross when he joined the Long Beach Polytechnic High School Red Cross Club in 2018. Since then, he has served as President of Poly’s Red Cross Club, and explored his interests in public health, community preparedness, and humanitarian work as a Member on the Blood, Health, and Safety Committee for the Long Beach Youth Corps; Summer Intern for LA Region Disaster Cycle Services; Member of Youth First Aid Stations (YFAST); and Vice President for the Long Beach-South Bay Youth Corps (T4). He has also led the LA Region READYteens Program, coordinating disaster preparedness, response, and recovery programming and currently serves as Advisory Board Chair. At a national level, Hamid served as Field Ambassador working with the NYC and leading projects focused on improving YAYA engagement in the Red Cross Lines of Service, ranging from Leadership Development Camp to Sound the Alarm to Diversity and Inclusion in Blood Drives. Along his Red Cross journey, he has received the Betty Seal Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award, President’s Volunteer Service Award, Daily Point of Light Award Award, and 2022 American Red Cross Navin Narayan College Scholarship. Hamid joined the National Youth Council in 2022 and is very excited to leverage the voice, talents, and passion of youth and young adults to meaningfully serve the Red Cross mission. Contact Hamid at hamid.torabzadeh2@redcross.org.
Bryson is a committed student at The Medical University of South Carolina and Spartanburg Community College, working towards a Pre-Medical Healthcare Studies degree. Their genuine passion for healthcare and community service led them to become a member of the Red Cross in 2022 as part of the Youth and Young Adult Engagement Team. Through their dedication and capabilities, Bryson assumed the lead role within the team. They were entrusted with the responsibility of Internship Coordinator for the Greater Carolinas, where they facilitate valuable internship opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals and offer guidance throughout the process. Bryson also serves as a Blood Donor Ambassador, actively engaging with individuals, organizations, and local communities to raise awareness about the importance of regular blood donations. Their commitment to education and community empowerment shines through their various endeavors, positively impacting the lives of others. In addition to their involvement with the Red Cross, Bryson has achieved recognition as an author with the publication of "Sam May Is Gay," a children's book released in 2022 exclusively to schools. This book promotes inclusivity and acceptance among young readers, fostering important conversations about diversity and LGBTQ+ representation. Bryson has won several literary, public service, and animal activism awards. Apart from their academic pursuits and writing, Bryson finds fulfillment in teaching CPR, rescuing animals, and engaging with medical simulators. Their diverse interests and unwavering dedication set them apart as an aspiring healthcare professional driven by a profound sense of purpose. Contact Bryson at bryson.eastpuckett@redcross.org.
Cissy is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is studying Finance and Healthcare Management & Policy. Her Red Cross journey began in 2018 when she joined her high school’s club in the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region. She went on to serve two terms as her club’s Event Coordinator and a term as President. She has also been involved in various other roles: Blood Donor Ambassador, NCGCR Youth Advisory Board member, Field Ambassador (2020-2021), and IHL YAC Coordinator and Lead Advocate. Through her success with the YAC, Cissy has advised aspiring Coordinators and Advocates, attended the IHL Summit as a Central Atlantic Division Representative, presented to Red Cross leadership and staff, and joined the NHQ IHL team as a panelist in an IHL in Pop Culture webinar with over 500 attendees. Her team, Peake of IHL, has been featured on the Rules of War YAC blog for its innovative and effective advocacy practices. Cissy is excited to both continue her work with the NCGCR and join the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region as she begins her new role as the YAC Deputy Coordinator. As a NYC member, Cissy hopes to introduce volunteers across the nation to the countless opportunities the organization has to offer for youth and young adults. Outside of the Red Cross, Cissy loves watching K-dramas, playing violin, and getting bubble tea with friends. Contact Cissy at cissy.wang@redcross.org.
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Natasha is a rising sophomore at Stanford studying Computer Science and Public Policy on the premed track. She's been involved with both the North Texas and Northern California Coastal Regions for almost five years in all Lines of Service—leading blood services volunteers, hosting Pillowcase Presentations, participating in IHL Youth Action Campaigns, and organizing a few fundraisers. She is especially passionate about International Services, as she started up the Missing Maps MAPathon Program (now Mapswipe) in North Texas. She served as Field Ambassador in 2020, developing a sustainable Youth Recognition Program for North Texas and received the region's Youth in Action Award. She also served as Co-President of Coppell High School's Red Cross Club for two years and was appointed Line of Service Officer for the North Texas Youth Services Executive Board. For her service, Natasha earned the Navin Narayan Scholarship in 2022. She now serves as Summer Internship Supervisor and Youth Services Coordinator for the Northern California Coastal Region. In her free time, Natasha loves going to the gym, drinking boba, and watching Suits (sometimes all at the same time). Contact Natasha at natasha.banga2@redcross.org.
Evelyn is a senior at Bronx Health Sciences High School. She began her Red Cross journey at an IT summer internship in which she assisted Lahur, Espinosa with imaging, programming, installing and shipping new devices. She enjoyed her time at the summer internship and decided to continue her journey with the Red Cross. In August of 2022, Evelyn was accepted into the Youth Executive Board for the Greater New York Region in which she and seven other members coalesced to come up with effective events to engage New York’s several youth volunteers and improve individual communities. Her favorite memory of working with the Red Cross would be from my first Red Cross public event - Preparedness in the Park. Evelyn greatly enjoyed representing the organization and truly began to understand the work and effort behind the Red Cross. From her position as Red Cross Club president at her school to working as a youth chapter coordinator for the Greater New York Region, Evelyn has developed an intense passion for volunteering and putting in work to improve her community. Contact Evelyn at evelyn.opara@redcross.org.
Harsh is a senior at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas, with a strong commitment to community involvement and driving meaningful change. He began his journey with the American Red Cross in January 2022, joining his high school's Red Cross Club and becoming a regional Social Media Ambassador. Since then, Harsh has been actively involved in connecting young volunteers with meaningful opportunities across his region. In May 2022, he began as a Youth Placement Specialist and later earned a promotion to Youth Placement Coordinator, leading a team responsible for conducting screening interviews for hundreds of youth volunteers within the Dallas-Fort Worth area. As the DFW Philanthropy Officer, Harsh has also led large-scale fundraising initiatives, including the "Screenings Saves Lives" campaign, which raised over $4000 for health screenings and infectious disease testing in underserved areas of the world. As a National Youth Council member, Harsh hopes to lead projects that engage a larger and more diverse group of youth volunteers at a broader level. Outside of the Red Cross, Harsh enjoys listening to music, attending concerts, and playing French horn. Contact Harsh at harsh.singh@redcross.org.
Julio attends the University of South Florida as a Florida Academic Scholar. He majors in Biomedical Anthropology on the Pre-Medical track and aspires to one day become a Pediatric MD. As an immigrant from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Julio has always found it imperative to help those part of marginalized and underrepresented communities. Julio founded the American Red Cross Club at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Florida, and served as President for the entirety of his High School career. Julio has coordinated and led several events through Red Cross, including being a Pillowcase Project, Hands-Only CPR, and Be Red Cross Ready Presenter, Service to the Armed Forces Appreciation, Sound the Alarm, Artwork for Diversity, Disaster Speaks, and more. Julio has continued his Red Cross journey at the University of South Florida, serving as Disaster Services Chair his Freshmen Year, having just finished his Sophomore Year as Administrative Chair, and just recently got elected as President for the upcoming 2023/2024 school year. Throughout his Red Cross journey, Julio has also received a number of accolades, including being chosen to be featured in the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences American Red Cross Exhibit of Volunteers, receiving the “Service to the Armed Forces Appreciation” Award from the Red Cross, being voted “Presenter of the Year” as well as the Red Cross being named “Volunteer Organization of the Year” by the University of South Florida, receiving the 2023 Susan D. Greenbaum Diversity and Leadership Award, the and winning the “Volunteer of the Year” Award from Volusia County for dedicating thousands of community service hours to the American Red Cross. Outside of Red Cross, Julio is Founding-President of USF’s “Minorities In Medicine” Organization and works as a Lift Technician at Moffitt Cancer Center. In his free time, he enjoys working with his Pre-K students back home, watching movies, going out, taking pictures, exercising, and spending time with family and friends. Contact Julio at julio.blanco@redcross.org.
Katie is a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar at Vanderbilt University majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society as well as Environmental Sociology. She began volunteering with the Red Cross in 2019 at her local high school club after being involved in the Eagle Creek fires. Since then, she has served in various leadership roles such as president of the Southwest Washington Youth Council, SWWA Board of Directors representative, Youth Preparedness Coordinator, and Cascades Field Ambassador. As a Red Cross volunteer, Katie has led multiple Leadership Development Conferences in her region to support and supplement youth engagement, as well as coordinated many events for Sound the Alarm. As a member of the National Youth Council, Katie hopes to create accessible opportunities for youth of all demographics to educate volunteers about the various branches of the Red Cross. She has received the Regional Volunteer Award, FY22 Humanitarian Services Presidential Award for Excellence, and the President’s Volunteer Award in recognition of her service. Outside of the Red Cross, Katie works to educate teens around the nation about financial, environmental, and emergency preparedness. In her free time, Katie loves to try new recipes, paint, and hike the PNW. Contact Katie at kate.clark2@redcross.org.
Nicolette Bennett is a freshman at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor majoring in Psychology with a minor in Writing. She began her Red Cross journey in 2019 when she became a Red Cross certified babysitter. She went on to become a registered Blood Donor Ambassador with the Illinois Region of the American Red Cross in January 2021. As a Donor Ambassador, she tends to the donors to make sure their needs are taken care of by greeting donors, offering refreshments, acting as a bridge between donors and medical professionals, and answering any questions or concerns mentioned. In January 2021, she attended the ABC7 Annual Great Chicago Blood Drive. In May 2022, she attended the Badger Hawkeye, Heart of America Biomedical Region Blood Drive. Nicolette joined the National Youth Council in July 2022. In January 2023, she joined the Illinois Region Disaster Cycle Services team as a Home Fire Campaign Team member. She installs fire and smoke alarms in homes and educates community members on fire prevention and safety. Nicolette hopes to strengthen the relationship between young adults and the Red Cross, while maintaining a commitment to in-person service. Outside of the Red Cross, Nicolette loves to read, listen to music and podcasts, online shop, and volunteer. Contact Nicolette at nicolette.bennett@redcross.org.
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Owen is from Houston, Texas, and is currently a sophomore at Yale University studying Economics and Computer Science. His Red Cross volunteering experiences can be traced back to his middle school years when he first attended a "Pass the Bucket" event at a Harlem Globetrotter game. Since then, Owen has served as the Texas Gulf Coast Region (TGCR) Youth Service Council Executive Chair where he planned and coordinated youth opportunities for the entire region, including blood drives, STA campaigns, and disaster preparedness trainings (RedCrossReady). Additionally, as the region's IHL Lead Coordinator, Owen oversaw regional IHL outreach events and directed several teams with the mission of spreading awareness about IHL in the community. His favorite events are Sound the Alarm campaigns and Missing Map-A-Thons which he has trained hundreds of Red Cross volunteers on. Owen has received the President's Volunteer Service Gold Award, Points of Light Inspiration National Honoree, and the TGCR Clara Barton Volunteer of the Year Award, International Service Award, and Most Exceptional Youth Volunteer Award for his work in ARC. In his free time, he loves to play sports and watch Netflix shows. Contact Owen at owen.zhang@redcross.org.
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Roma is a college student studying environmental health in Syracuse, New York. Her Red Cross Journey started in the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region when she joined her high school’s club in 9th grade. She went on to serve two terms as her club’s historian and one term as president. During her term as president, her high school’s Red Cross club was named “Club of the Year” in the chapter. Roma has also served as the Chair for the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake’s Youth Advisory Executive Board for two terms. In this role, Roma has led 4 youth conferences, helped to manage 60+ clubs, aided in collecting almost 2,000 comfort kits for kids regionally, established numerous initiatives with her team like the “Chapter Town Hall” and “Professional Development Sessions” to promote DEI, and facilitated high regional youth engagement. Roma also recently joined the NCGC Green Team to explore her passion for sustainability within the Red Cross. Through these experiences, she has learned the true power youth can have. Along her Red Cross Journey, Roma has received the Young Humanitarian of the Year award and the President’s Volunteer Service award. As a member of the National Youth Council, Roma hopes to strengthen youth volunteerism to create a new generation of changemakers and strives to spread the well-known motto in the NCGC region,“yes youth can”, across the country. Outside of the Red Cross, Roma is involved in EMS, environmental health advocacy through her organization “The Community Check-Up”, and more; she also loves going to concerts, wellness, gardening, and fashion. Contact Roma at roma.arora@redcross.org.
Sanjana is a freshman at Pennsylvania State University, where she is majoring in Premedicine and minoring in Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Development. She began volunteering with the American Red Cross her freshman year of high school when she founded her high school's Red Cross Club. Since then, she's served as Co-President of the club, served a Field Ambassador for the Central and Southern Ohio Region, and currently serves as Co-Lead of the Central and Southern Ohio Youth Leadership Team. Through her various roles within the American Red Cross, Sanjana has involved in a multitude of events and projects including blood drives, fundraisers, advocacy campaigns, and more. Some of these include hosting Measles and Rubella Initiative fundraisers, annual preparedness fairs, food and hygiene item drives, blood donor and first responder card-making activities, making Totes of Hope for veterans, developing a California Wildfire awareness campaign, and more. She has been recognized for her service as a two-time recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award. As a member of the 2023-2024 National Youth Council, she hopes to continue to expand her service and inspire youth volunteers to contribute to the American Red Cross's mission. In her free time, Sanjana enjoys baking, reading, running, and traveling to new places. Contact Sanjana at sanjana.velu@redcross.org.
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Sydney is a senior studying at the University of Central Florida pursuing a major in Health Sciences on the Pre-Clinical track. Seeking out avenues to volunteer, she began her Red Cross journey during the height of the pandemic in 2020 upon graduating high school she was heavily involved in re-establishing the presence of the Red Cross at her university. By reaching out to adult leaders in the Central Florida & USVI region, Sydney was able to successfully re-register the club and was then elected to be Vice President of her chapter. Since then, she has maintained this leadership position and led a plethora of initiatives such as IHL, Vaccinate a Village, Sound the Alarm, Totes for Hope, and Measles & Rubella Awareness to name a few. With being well acquainted with increasing volunteer turn-out in a virtual setting, Sydney is committed to encouraging this momentum as events continue to return to in-person volunteering opportunities. She also hopes to bridge the gap between high school and collegiate clubs. In her spare time, Sydney enjoys kayaking, hiking, and working out with her friends. Contact Sydney at sydney.martinez@redcross.org.
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Vybhavi is a student at the University of Georgia, where she is majoring in Biology with a Neuroscience concentration and minoring in Health Policy and Management. Vybhavi began her Red Cross journey as a freshman when she volunteered at her first blood drive at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium. Since then, she has served in various local and regional roles. She has served as the vice president of her high school Red Cross club and as a member of the Greater Atlanta Youth Club, during which she enjoyed coordinating blood drives and hosting Holiday Cards for Heroes. She also initiated and led the Georgia Youth Advisory Council with a team, where she was able to help facilitate statewide youth communications and host leadership trainings for Georgia youth. Her role as a Field Ambassador during her senior year has allowed her to recently launch a Disaster Preparedness program in her region, with the aim to help people of various age groups in practicing safety and prevention. Whether promoting virtual campaigns, hosting drives, or focusing on special projects like disaster preparedness and International Humanitarian Law, Vybhavi finds her experiences memorable because of the people and the diversity of ideas. Vybhavi’s passion towards encouraging increased Red Cross involvement has drawn her to also serve as a Volunteer Recruitment Team member. Outside of the Red Cross, Vybhavi enjoys taking long walks, painting, hanging out with friends, and exploring the world of wellness. Contact Vybhavi at vybhavi.kotireddy@redcross.org.
After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2015, Allie joined the Red Cross as an AmeriCorps member serving as the Youth Services Coordinator in Oakland, CA. where she spent most of her service year integrating youth and young adult volunteers into disaster preparedness programs across the region. Allie continued on in her service as a Volunteer Services Sr. Specialist in Northern California Coastal Region based out of San Francisco, responsible for supporting and engaging the region’s youth and young adult volunteers. Her focus was growing and expanding the region’s Youth Executive Board leadership opportunities, engaging youth and young adult volunteers in the more rural areas of the region, and growing youth participation and leadership in departments such as Disaster Services and International Services. Having left the Red Cross as a paid staff, Allie continues to volunteer as the advisor of the National Youth Council and has a passion for youth engagement and volunteerism. She is thrilled to continue that journey with the National Youth Council and watch youth involvement grow within the organization. In her spare time, you will find Allie reading classic books, attempting to master new hobbies, or binge-watching reality TV shows. Contact Allie at allie.parker@redcross.org.
Halle joined the Red Cross as an Engagement Specialist with the Greater New York Region (GNY) in 2021. In the fall of 2022, Halle led a virtual Youth Climate Summit weekend, incorporating guest speakers from throughout the organization to talk about climate change and the actions youth volunteers can take. In 2023, she transitioned to a fully volunteer role and has loved continuing to support the organization in this new way. Outside of work, she enjoys reading at the park and hanging out with her cat Archie. She is incredibly excited to be a part of the National Youth Council, particularly as it tackles climate action and sustainability. Contact Halle at halle.bradshaw2@redcross.org.
Marisa's Red Cross journey began in 2012 when she joined the Red Cross Youth Group in Macau S.A.R., where she had the opportunity to establish a network of fellow Red Cross volunteers across the globe who continue to inspire and guide her in her personal and professional endeavors. Marisa began volunteering with the American Red Cross Youth & Young Adults team in 2018 as a Volunteer Partner. She enjoys helping volunteers to discover their passion and purpose within the Red Cross, and to continue cultivating relationships with volunteers across the globe. Contact Marisa at marisa.leong2@redcross.org.
Rachel sits on the NHQ Volunteer Services team as an Engagement and Client Support Associate where a generous portion of her work is to support the Youth and Young Adult Volunteers of the Red Cross. She serves alongside the National Youth Council and her main goal is to assist with moving the Council’s initiatives across the finish line. Rachel joined the NHQ Volunteer Services team after starting her Red Cross career within Training Services. As she entrenched herself into the Red Cross mission, Rachel sat in on the revitalized Diversity and Inclusion Task Team (National Capital Region) and continues to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of her NHQ duties. Outside of her Red Cross resume, Rachel has supported her local youth and young adults in many facets including Junior Achievement’s Finance Park as well as the Urban League. She brings her passion for the emerging adult community in her daily Red Cross role as a liaison within the National Youth Engagement team. Contact Rachel at Rachel.oni@redcross.org.