Congratulations Austen Janssen
Greater Omaha Council Bluffs Area Council on Youth Leadership
2022 Youth Salute
This year, 200 high school youth leaders representing 78 schools in the metro area were recognized at this year's "Youth Salute" Awards Virtual Ceremony hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Austen, senior at Ponca High School is the son of Alan and Cheri Janssen. Austen is scheduled to graduate with honors from Ponca Public School on Saturday, May 7, 2021.
A few of his activities are cross country, basketball, choir and band. Austen is interested in health science careers and is making plans to attend college in the Midwest.
A "Top Youth Leader" was named from each high school. Awards were provided to two "Youth Leaders of the Year" and Four "Top Youth Leaders" as National Youth Salute Ambassadors and were awarded the Online National Leadership Conference. Participating Universities/Colleges provided the opportunity for students to be awarded up to $988,000.00 in scholarships and other awards. This year, Bellevue University, Nebraska Wesleyan University and Clarkson College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska-Omaha provided scholarships. Corporate sponsor was Arnold Clark Photography. Debbie DeBolt Senior Key Account Manager, Corporate Learning Solutions Bellevue University, Leadership Omaha Graduate and Youth Salute Board Member and Bill Motzer Vice President for Enrollment Nebraska Wesleyan University, 2021 Host University Sponsor and Youth Salute Board Member were the Masters of Ceremony for the award presentations. Ryan Avery was the Leadership Youth guest speaker. Ryan Avery is one of the Millennial generation's most profound speakers on generational leadership and strategic communication. At age 25, Ryan became the youngest World Champion of Public Speaking in history, competing against more than 30,000 contestants from 116 countries to claim the 2012 World Championship for Toastmasters International.
The Greater Omaha-Council Bluffs Area Council on Youth Leadership was formed in 2018 to conduct the "Youth Salute" in nearby counties in cooperation with the National Council on Youth Leadership, a non-profit organization. Teachers, guidance counselors and principals nominate students to apply to attend the Youth Salute" event. In order to qualify, the student had to be a junior (senior class of 2022), have a 3.0 G.P .A. or greater and have held at least two (2) leadership roles to which they were chosen by their peers or an adult leader within the past two years in school, religious or community sponsored organizations.
Arnold Clark Photography in Omaha photographed each student nominated. Each student will be featured on a banner and displayed at their high school.
* Applications for the upcoming 2022-2023 Youth Salute event will be accepted beginning in November. To apply or for additional information, visit www.greateromaha.youthsalute.com/ or call #402-733-1333.
Youth Salute Recipients
Top Youth Leaders of the Year
- Anvitha Boosani -Millard North High School
- Lucas Lunzmann- Auburn High School
National Youth Salute Ambassadors
- Mitchel Beeson -Clarkson Public Schools
- Reese Pekny -Saint Albert High School
- Hannah Ajogbeje- Burke High School
- Makayla Kennedy -Mercy High School
University of Nebraska-Omaha:
- Kiera Brack- Weeping Water High School
- Siena Fox- Underwood High School
- Sophia Birch- Milford High School
- Charli Fischer- Norfolk Catholic High School
- Regan Gant- Thomas Jefferson High School
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Hannah Ajogbeje- Burke High School
- Bavishya Bachu- Brownell Talbot College Preparatory High School
- Gisell Duarte Rosas -Norfolk Senior High School
- Katy Duong- Malcom Public School
- "G" Gatnoor -Lincoln Northeast High School
- Pareena Ponniah- Norfolk Senior High School
- Jazmin Regalado Manzo- Bryan High School
- Caleb Sntith -Columbus High School
- Maryam Sule -Bellevue West High School
- Layna Blankenship- Bryan High School
Clarkson College:
- Jaydyn Jorgensen- Wayne High School
- Erin Exley- Thomas Jefferson High School
- Madelyn Sortino- Bennington High School
Bellevue University:
- Macy Stock- Lakeview High School
- Austen Janssen -Ponca High School
Nebraska Wesleyan University: ALL Youth Salute Pa1iicipants are receiving a scholarship offering when enrolling at Nebraska Wesleyan University
* Participation varies in each school