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:

1. Birk Albert, 17, Athabascan – Lake Placid, New York
2. Caitlin Bordeaux, 24, Rosebud Sioux – St. Francis, South Dakota
3. Seth Cooper, 19, Walker River Paiute/Assiniboine/Muscogee Creek – Glendale, Arizona
4. Michele Danner, 18, Inupiaq – Anchorage, Alaska
5. Sarah DeHerrera, 21, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma – Santa Clarita, California
6. Cierra Fields, 16, Cherokee Nation – Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
7. Anissa Garcia, 21, Akimel O’odham – Sacaton, Arizona
8. Mariah Gladstone, 22, Blackfeet – Kalispell, Montana
9. Shandiin Gorman, 17, Navajo – Mesa, Arizona
10. Vance Home Gun, 22, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes – Arlee, Montana
11. Sarah Jones, 22, Chickasaw Nation – Ada, Oklahoma
12. Rebecca Kirk, 24, Klamath – Seattle, Washington
13. JoRee LaFrance, 20, Crow Nation – Crow Agency, Montana
14. William Lucero, 19, Lummi – Ferndale, Washington
15. Jessica McCool, 18, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians – Solvang, California
16. Lakota Pochedley, 24, Citizen Potawatomi – Shawnee, Oklahoma
17. Hamilton Seymour, 16, Nooksack – Bellingham, Washington
18. Dyami Thomas, 22, Klamath/Leech Lake Ojibway – Seattle, Washington
19. Tatiana Ticknor, 17, Dena’ina/Tlingit – Anchorage, Alaska
20. Claullen Tillman, 20, Eastern Shoshone – Lander, Wyoming
21. DeLesslin George-Warren, 24, Catawba – Washington, DC
22. Rory Wheeler, 18, Seneca Nation – Irving, New York
23. Brayden White, 21, St. Regis Mohawk – Hogansburg, New York
24. Christie Wildcat, 17, Northern Arapaho – Riverton, Wyoming
25. 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.

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