Honorees to be recognized at the 2016 National UNITY Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (better known as UNITY) has announced the second class of its “25 Under 25 Native Youth Leaders” national recognition program that honors Native American and Alaska Native youth. The program, which launched in 2014 and is awarded every other year, recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Native youth leaders under the age of 25, who embody UNITY’s core mission and exudes living a balanced life developing their spiritual, mental, physical and social well-being.
“UNITY is very excited to announce our newest members of our ’25 Under 25′ family,” said Mary Kim Titla, Executive Director for UNITY. “We had an overwhelming amount of applications this year, with so many outstanding Native youths doing phenomenal work in their communities and across the Nation,” added Titla.
The 2016 Class of “25 Under 25 Native Youth Leaders” are:
- Birk Albert, 17, Athabascan – Lake Placid, New York
- Caitlin Bordeaux, 24, Rosebud Sioux – St. Francis, South Dakota
- Seth Cooper, 19, Walker River Paiute/Assiniboine/Muscogee Creek – Glendale, Arizona
- Michele Danner, 18, Inupiaq – Anchorage, Alaska
- Sarah DeHerrera, 21, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma – Santa Clarita, California
- Cierra Fields, 16, Cherokee Nation – Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
- Anissa Garcia, 21, Akimel O’odham – Sacaton, Arizona
- Mariah Gladstone, 22, Blackfeet – Kalispell, Montana
- Shandiin Gorman, 17, Navajo – Mesa, Arizona
- Vance Home Gun, 22, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes – Arlee, Montana
- Sarah Jones, 22, Chickasaw Nation – Ada, Oklahoma
- Rebecca Kirk, 24, Klamath – Seattle, Washington
- JoRee LaFrance, 20, Crow Nation – Crow Agency, Montana
- William Lucero, 19, Lummi – Ferndale, Washington
- Jessica McCool, 18, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians – Solvang, California
- Lakota Pochedley, 24, Citizen Potawatomi – Shawnee, Oklahoma
- Hamilton Seymour, 16, Nooksack – Bellingham, Washington
- Dyami Thomas, 22, Klamath/Leech Lake Ojibway – Seattle, Washington
- Tatiana Ticknor, 17, Dena’ina/Tlingit – Anchorage, Alaska
- Claullen Tillman, 20, Eastern Shoshone – Lander, Wyoming
- DeLesslin George-Warren, 24, Catawba – Washington, DC
- Rory Wheeler, 18, Seneca Nation – Irving, New York
- Brayden White, 21, St. Regis Mohawk – Hogansburg, New York
- Christie Wildcat, 17, Northern Arapaho – Riverton, Wyoming
- Eric Woody, 17, Navajo – Kirtland, New Mexico
The honorees will receive hands-on learning experiences, provided by UNITY, over the period of nine months, designed to build on their individual achievements. Applicants were judged by an independent committee who scored applications based on strength of application, strength of nomination form, strength of resume, strength of supplemental information, and potential to impact Native America. The official recognition will take place in front of peer youth leaders at the National UNITY Conference, happening July 22-26, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The National UNITY Conference, which will also celebrate UNITY’s 40th anniversary, is expected to attract nearly 2,000 attendees from across the country, representing Tribal and urban communities. The 5-day conference will focus on Native American and Alaska Native youth leadership development, and feature renowned keynote speakers, youth trainers, more than 40 workshops, fitness activities, exhibitors and Native American vendors, a Career & College Expo, the UNITY 40th Anniversary Gala, and much more. A discounted registration rate is now offered through May 31. Click here to register now.
2016 Class of “25 Under 25 Native Youth Leaders”
|
|

Birk Albert, 17
Athabascan
Lake Placid, New York |

Caitlin Bordeaux, 24
Rosebud Sioux
St. Francis, South Dakota |
|

Seth Cooper, 19
Walker River Paiute
Glendale, Arizona |

Michele Danner, 18,
Inupiaq
Anchorage, Alaska |
|

Sarah DeHerrera, 21,
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Santa Clarita, California |

Cierra Fields, 16,
Cherokee Nation
Fort Gibson, Oklahoma |
|

Anissa Garcia, 21
Akimel O’odham
Sacaton, Arizona |

Mariah Gladstone, 22,
Blackfeet
Kalispell, Montana |
|

Shandiin Gorman, 17,
Navajo
Mesa, Arizona |

Vance Home Gun, 22
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Arlee, Montana |
|

Sarah Jones, 22
Chickasaw Nation
Ada, Oklahoma |

Rebecca Kirk, 24
Klamath
Seattle, Washington |
|

JoRee LaFrance, 20
Crow Nation
Crow Agency, Montana |

William Lucero, 19
Lummi
Ferndale, Washington |
|

Jessica McCool, 18
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Solvang, California |

Lakota Pochedley, 24
Citizen Potawatomi
Shawnee, Oklahoma |
|

Hamilton Seymour, 16
Nooksack
Bellingham, Washington |

Dyami Thomas, 22
Klamath/Leech Lake Ojibway
Seattle, Washington |
|

Tatiana Ticknor, 17
Dena’ina/Tlingit
Anchorage, Alaska |

Claullen Tillman, 20
Eastern Shoshone
Lander, Wyoming |
|

DeLesslin George-Warren, 24
Catawba
Washington, DC |

Rory Wheeler, 18
Seneca Nation
Irving, New York |
|

Brayden White, 21
St. Regis Mohawk
Hogansburg, New York |

Christie Wildcat, 17
Northern Arapaho
Riverton, Wyoming |
|

Eric Woody, 17
Navajo
Kirtland, New Mexico |
|
“25 UNDER 25” YOUTH LEADERS IN INDIAN COUNTRY ANNOUNCED
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Last Updated: February 17, 2018
Honorees to be recognized at the 2016 National UNITY Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (better known as UNITY) has announced the second class of its “25 Under 25 Native Youth Leaders” national recognition program that honors Native American and Alaska Native youth. The program, which launched in 2014 and is awarded every other year, recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Native youth leaders under the age of 25, who embody UNITY’s core mission and exudes living a balanced life developing their spiritual, mental, physical and social well-being.
“UNITY is very excited to announce our newest members of our ’25 Under 25′ family,” said Mary Kim Titla, Executive Director for UNITY. “We had an overwhelming amount of applications this year, with so many outstanding Native youths doing phenomenal work in their communities and across the Nation,” added Titla.
The 2016 Class of “25 Under 25 Native Youth Leaders” are:
The honorees will receive hands-on learning experiences, provided by UNITY, over the period of nine months, designed to build on their individual achievements. Applicants were judged by an independent committee who scored applications based on strength of application, strength of nomination form, strength of resume, strength of supplemental information, and potential to impact Native America. The official recognition will take place in front of peer youth leaders at the National UNITY Conference, happening July 22-26, 2016 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The National UNITY Conference, which will also celebrate UNITY’s 40th anniversary, is expected to attract nearly 2,000 attendees from across the country, representing Tribal and urban communities. The 5-day conference will focus on Native American and Alaska Native youth leadership development, and feature renowned keynote speakers, youth trainers, more than 40 workshops, fitness activities, exhibitors and Native American vendors, a Career & College Expo, the UNITY 40th Anniversary Gala, and much more. A discounted registration rate is now offered through May 31. Click here to register now.
2016 Class of “25 Under 25 Native Youth Leaders”
Birk Albert, 17
Athabascan
Lake Placid, New York
Caitlin Bordeaux, 24
Rosebud Sioux
St. Francis, South Dakota
Seth Cooper, 19
Walker River Paiute
Glendale, Arizona
Michele Danner, 18,
Inupiaq
Anchorage, Alaska
Sarah DeHerrera, 21,
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Santa Clarita, California
Cierra Fields, 16,
Cherokee Nation
Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
Anissa Garcia, 21
Akimel O’odham
Sacaton, Arizona
Mariah Gladstone, 22,
Blackfeet
Kalispell, Montana
Shandiin Gorman, 17,
Navajo
Mesa, Arizona
Vance Home Gun, 22
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Arlee, Montana
Sarah Jones, 22
Chickasaw Nation
Ada, Oklahoma
Rebecca Kirk, 24
Klamath
Seattle, Washington
JoRee LaFrance, 20
Crow Nation
Crow Agency, Montana
William Lucero, 19
Lummi
Ferndale, Washington
Jessica McCool, 18
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Solvang, California
Lakota Pochedley, 24
Citizen Potawatomi
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Hamilton Seymour, 16
Nooksack
Bellingham, Washington
Dyami Thomas, 22
Klamath/Leech Lake Ojibway
Seattle, Washington
Tatiana Ticknor, 17
Dena’ina/Tlingit
Anchorage, Alaska
Claullen Tillman, 20
Eastern Shoshone
Lander, Wyoming
DeLesslin George-Warren, 24
Catawba
Washington, DC
Rory Wheeler, 18
Seneca Nation
Irving, New York
Brayden White, 21
St. Regis Mohawk
Hogansburg, New York
Christie Wildcat, 17
Northern Arapaho
Riverton, Wyoming
Eric Woody, 17
Navajo
Kirtland, New Mexico
Category: 25 Under 25, 25U25 - 2016 Class, News Releases
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