Meet the Winners

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates outstanding young leaders who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Their leadership and courage make them true heroes—and inspirations to us all.

Each year, the Barron Prize honors twenty-five young people nationwide. Half have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings; half have focused on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment.

These young people reflect the great diversity of America. They are female and male, urban and rural, and from many backgrounds. Examples are:

• Michaella, who organized a rodeo for disabled kids
• Carter, who led the effort to conserve a local river
• Ashley, who created a scholarship fund for African girls
• Kyle, who organized a reading mentorship program
• Joying, who cleaned up South Carolina's beaches
• Ryan, who helped provide clean drinking water to more than 70 African villages
• Barbara, who created a successful oil recycling project in Texas