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.
Arthi is a student at the University of Pennsylvania concentrating in finance, marketing, and operations management. She began volunteering with the American Red Cross in 2017 at the Princeton Youth Council in the New Jersey Region. Since then, she’s held multiple leadership positions across the Princeton Youth Council, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North Red Cross Club, and Volunteer Intake Processing Center. While Arthi loves working to engage youth in all lines of service, she’s particularly involved with International Services through the International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign. In addition to her divisional representation at the past three National Summits and her internship with the National Team, Arthi has briefed members of Congress and other key organizations several times on various humanitarian topics. For her efforts over the past five years, she has received multiple regional and national awards. Arthi joined the National Youth Council in 2021 as a Field Ambassador Lead and is very excited to work with youth across the nation in her current position as Vice-Chair. Apart from volunteering at the Red Cross, Arthi spends her time reading, singing, and spending time outdoors. Contact Arthi at arthi.venkatakrishna@redcross.org.
Alisha is a student at the University of Southern California, where she is studying film with a pre-medical track. She began volunteering in the New Jersey region when she joined her local county youth council in 2017. Since then, she has held the position of Vice President in her County Council, reregistered and ran her school’s Red Cross Club, and served as co- president of the New Jersey Youth Council. In these roles she has organized virtual disaster preparedness scavenger hunts, Holiday Mail for Heroes events, educated the community about CPR and fire alarms at local fairs, and organized fundraisers where she’s raised hundreds of dollars. She received the New Jersey Red Cross Youth Pacesetter Award in 2019. She’s also taken roles outside of youth clubs as a Financial Development Stewardess, writing letters for donors in New Jersey, and volunteering as a Blood Donor Ambassador. She is currently training to become a Disaster Outreach volunteer! As a member of the National Youth Council, Alisha hopes to create more accessible volunteer opportunities in a virtual space and connect volunteers across the nation. Outside of Red Cross, Alisha enjoys doing yoga, watching YouTube videos, and going on midnight drives with friends. Contact Alisha at alisha.merchant@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.
Dylan is a senior at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas. He began his Red Cross journey by volunteering at the Fort Sam Houston Hospital in both 2018 and 2019, where he began to notice the importance and need of youth volunteers in his local region. From this experience, Dylan became inspired and founded a Red Cross Chapter at his high school during his Sophomore year, where he continues to serve as President. He has led his club in a wide array of service activities, including Holiday Mail for Heroes, Totes of Hope, Helping Hands, and works as his clubs Youth Advocate Lead for the International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign. During March of 2020, Dylan created a region wide mask making initiative with his club and community, and more notably, he recently started a large-scale initiative with over 18 different elementary and middle schools in his area, where he focuses on spreading the Red Cross mission, youth activism, and humanitarianism to a younger age demographic. Dylan also currently serves as a Training Lead Youth Ambassador for the Central and South Texas Region, in order to support fellow highschoolers on their Red Cross journey, and has received his School’s 2021 Superintendent’s award and the Gold Presidential Service award for 2019 and 2020 as recognition for his community service. Outside of the Red Cross, Dylan loves playing piano and tennis, walking his dog, and blending smoothies. Contact Dylan at dylan.lim@redcross.org.
Hamid is a student at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), where he is pursuing a double concentration in Health & Human Biology and 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. Recently, he has begun volunteering as a LA Region Volunteer Services Screening Team Member, facilitating YAYA and prospective intake for potential volunteers. 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.
Ethan is a Hahn Scholar at Yale University, where he is pursuing degrees in Global Affairs along with Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. He began his Red Cross journey in 2019, co-founding Syosset Red Cross Club and presiding over one of the largest clubs in his school. Having organized a beach cleanup and a nursing home visit before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ethan shifted to all-virtual fundraisers for the American Red Cross and virtual community events aimed at raising money for local healthcare heroes in hospitals and clinics, which were both featured in the Red Cross Youth May and June newsletters. By the end of the first year of Syosset Red Cross Club, it had become the top hour-earning high school in the Greater New York region. In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, Ethan hosted fundraisers in local restaurants to raise thousands for the American Red Cross, community mapping events, local business initiatives, supply drives for the homeless, and beach cleanups. Eventually, Ethan spearheaded the Greater New York Regional Youth Executive Board, where he coordinated region-wide events and initiatives as Chair. Ultimately, Ethan hopes to get more youth involved with the American Red Cross as a National Youth Council member. Aside from the Red Cross, Ethan loves to read, debate, conduct research, and walk with friends. Contact Ethan at ethan.chiu@redcross.org.
Katie Clark is a senior at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington interested in pursuing global health and medicine. She began volunteering with the Red Cross in 2019 at her local high school club. Since then, she has served in various leadership roles such as president of the SWWA 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 and retainment, as well as coordinated many events for Sounds 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 of Credibility and the President’s Volunteer Award as recognition for her service. Outside of the Red Cross, Katie is part of the FEMA National Youth Preparedness Council creating projects to educate teens around the nation about financial, environmental, and emergency preparedness. In her free time, Katie loves to try new recipes, conduct research, paint, and listen to podcasts. Contact Katie at kate.clark2@redcross.org.
Sanjana is a senior at William Mason High School interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. 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 been elected Co-President of the club, served as a Field Ambassador for the Central and Southern Ohio Region, and serves as President of the Central and Southern Ohio Youth Council. 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 2022-2023 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.
Nicolette Bennett is a senior at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois interested in pursuing criminal psychology. 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 and hopes to strengthen the relationship between young adults and the Red Cross. Outside of the Red Cross, Nicolette loves to read fiction, listen to music and Psychology podcasts, and online shop. Contact Nicolette at nicolette.bennett@redcross.org.
Steven is a student at the University of California, Berkeley in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he pursuing a major in Molecular and Cellular Biology with an emphasis in immunology and pathogenesis. He began volunteering with the American Red Cross in the Northern California Coastal Region as at the end of his freshman year in high school. Throughout his high school career, Steven’s been involved with blood drives, fundraisers for Measles and Rubella, Sound the Alarm, Pedro the Penguin and a mask drive that gained district-wide recognition. Outside of high school, in the Northern California Coastal region, Steven led the West Bay Youth Executive Board as Chair, onboarded volunteers as the Youth Screening Lead, hosted as a staff for the Northern California Coastal Region’s annual Leadership Development Camp (LDC), and served as a youth representative for his chapter’s Board of Directors. Last year on the council, Steven served as the Crash Course Call Lead and he has transitioned to being the National Collegiate Assembly Lead this year. Steven has been recognized for his volunteerism by being awarded the 2020-2021 Youth Champion Award, the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 President’s Volunteer Service Award, and the Jefferson Volunteer Award on behalf of his high school. Outside of the Red Cross, Steven loves to practice portrait and landscape photography, work out, cook, and brew coffee. Contact Steven at steven.huang@redcross.org.
Vybhavi Kotireddy 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.
Owen is from Houston, Texas, and is currently a freshman 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.
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 has been an Engagement Specialist with the American Red Cross Greater New York Region (GNY) since 2021. Before this, she worked for environmental non-profits and the public sector. As an Engagement Specialist, Halle has focused on supporting the more than 2,000 youth volunteers in GNY. 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. Outside of work, she loves reading at the park and hanging out with her cat Archie. She is incredibly excited to be a part of the National Youth Council! Contact Halle at halle.bradshaw@redcross.org.
Marisa has been a Red Cross volunteer for over ten years. She began volunteering with the Macau
Red Cross Youth Group in 2012 when she was in high school and 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. After graduating from the University of Washington - Seattle in 2018, Marisa became a Volunteer Partner of the American Red Cross Youth & Young Adults team to support staff members at the National Headquarters and the National Youth Council in various capacities.
Marisa enjoys helping young volunteers to discover their passion and purpose within the Red Cross and is very passionate about Red Cross' International Services. She has served as the pivotal liaison to establish relationships with youth & young adult volunteers across the globe and create cross-cultural learning opportunities for volunteers in the US.
Marisa currently works as a consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP. She has served clients across multiple
industries such as Financial Services, Energy, Resources & Industrials, Consumer Products, and Life Sciences & Healthcare. Outside of work and volunteering, you will find Marisa planning her next trip or learning/trying something new! 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.