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The National 4-H Council recently announced the winners of the 2025 4-H Youth in Action Awards, honoring four outstanding young leaders who have demonstrated remarkable achievements and positive impacts on their communities.
Each winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support their future educational endeavors and will serve as 4-H spokespeople throughout the year, showcasing their contributions to 4-H and beyond.
- Kaitlyn (Katie) Culbert, an 18-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey, has made significant strides in environmental advocacy through her involvement in her local 4-H Busy Bees Beekeeping Club. Her research on native plants and honeybee survival was published in Harvard’s Journal of Emerging Investigators. Culbert has worked to advance pro-pollinator legislation in New Jersey, served as a National 4-H Pollinator Week Ambassador, and received multiple environmental awards, including the 2023 President’s Environmental Youth Award. Now a freshman at Harvard University, she aims to become an environmental lawyer.
- Kaycie Hollrah, a 16-year-old from St. Charles, Missouri, helped launch the Extension Council Youth Leadership program, where she represents young voices at local University of Missouri Extension Council meetings. Her leadership work has opened doors for more youth to engage in decision-making processes that impact their communities. Hollrah’s experiences have shaped her goal of continuing to work with 4-H after college, helping young people develop leadership skills and grow as servant-leaders.
- Kingston Ryals, a 16-year-old from Vidalia, Georgia, initially joined 4-H with reservations due to a speech impediment. However, he overcame his fears and is now the President of the Georgia 4-H State Board of Directors. Ryals founded The Rock Project, a non-profit focused on addressing educational disparities in his community. The organization has grown to serve 40 local African American youth and boasts a 100% college enrollment rate for its graduates. Ryals plans to pursue a career in law and political science.
- Ronak Suchindra, 17, from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, began his 4-H journey as a shy child but has since emerged as a passionate advocate for STEM education. He created an online learning platform called Kids Connect, offering over 50 STEM workshops that have reached more than 3,000 students worldwide. Suchindra plans to study business and engineering, aiming to launch a start-up in the future.
“We are deeply proud of all that Katie, Kaycie, Kingston, and Ronak have achieved in 4-H,” said Jill Bramble, President & CEO of the National 4-H Council. “We are excited to see them continue to engage and inspire their fellow 4-H’ers, making an impact in their communities and becoming Beyond Ready for college and life.”
The 4-H Youth in Action Awards have been presented annually since 2010 to recognize 4-H members who have applied their knowledge to create lasting community impact and prepare for future careers. The 2025 winners will spend the year sharing their stories nationally and engaging with prominent 4-H alumni.
