Breanna Burkhead receives $5,000 scholarship and will serve as 4-H’s national youth spokesperson for Civic Engagement 

Chevy Chase, MD -- National 4-H Council last week announced that Breanna Burkhead, 17, of Lancaster, is the winner of the 2020 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Award for Civic Engagement. Burkhead will be recognized nationally for her commitment to use her voice and her leadership to revitalize the art center in her community.  The 4-H Youth in Action Awards began in 2010 to recognize 4-H’ers who have used the knowledge they gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their communities.

Burkhead became passionate about art as a means of expression and communication as a member of the 4-H Art Club at her local art center. When the Art Council lost use of the art center building, the future of art in the community was in jeopardy. Instead of passively waiting for a resolution, Burkhead felt it was her civic duty to choose to be part of the solution.

The research, leadership and communication skills she gained through the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service proved invaluable as she sought to provide a viable solution for a new art center. She attended a public meeting to present a solution to the Art Council for a new building that would not only provide space for artist studios and exhibits, but also for revenue-generating classes, a gift shop, and more.  By purchasing a space that could also provide a source of income, the art center could now become a self-sustaining non-profit. The Council voted to purchase the building and elected Burkhead as the youngest ever executive board member.

Burkhead spearheaded efforts to renovate the newly purchased space by collaborating with community leaders to write and receive a grant that would provide funding for the renovations. She then recruited and mobilized youth and adult volunteers to complete the renovation plans. Additionally, she planned for art classes and camps that would be housed at the art center after its opening.

Since its opening in June 2019, the art center has housed more than 30 art classes, 2 art camps and homeschool art courses, in addition to providing in-school support for elementary art programs. Burkhead is especially proud of the veterans’ art program. “Art really helped my grandfather move forward in his life after he served, so I really wanted this program to grow. We surveyed our local veterans to better understand their interests and needs and will soon provide classes for veterans on leather working and wood working,” Burkhead said.

Burkhead will receive a $5,000 scholarship for higher education and will serve as an advocate and spokesperson for 4-H Civic Engagement programming. She will be officially recognized as the 2020 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Winner for Civic Engagement at the 11th Annual 4-H Legacy Awards in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

She is joined by three other 2020 Youth in Action Pillar Winners: Janya Green of Georgia (Agriculture Pillar Winner); Micah Palacios of Texas (Healthy Living Pillar Winner); and Joseph Huff of Utah (STEM Pillar Winner).  

To learn more about 4-H Youth in Action and to view the other pillar winners from around the country, please visit: www.4-h.org/youthinaction.

ABOUT 4-H
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.

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