Meet the 2013 Young Humanitarian Award Finalists!

This year 95 amazing applicants submitted application for the 2013 Utah Young Humanitarian Award. Four finalists have been selected from the original group and each will be receiving a scholarship for their commitment to service in the Utah community.  The winner of the 2013 Utah Young Humanitarian Award will be announced at the Youthlinc Annual Benefit on May 11, 2013 at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center and will receive a $5,000 college scholarship.  The 3 runner ups will receive a $1,000 college scholarship.  

We are proud to introduce the 4 finalists! 

Ruth Arevalo 

Throughout Ruth's life she has had an insatiable wanderlust and passion to not just learn about but to truly know other cultures and people of the world. Despite an evolving home and family life, she has persevered in her studies and maintained a hunger to understand the world.  She jumped feet first into the field of culinary arts at a young age and allowed her love of food and passion of culture to take her through multiple countries and life changing experiences.  Her work and ambitions led her to return to Salt Lake in 2007 with the desire to work with many communities locally.  Ranging from simple volunteer work with the Red Cross and the 4th Street Clinic to working extensively within many refugee communities, Ruth has had her hand in many worthy causes right here in Utah.   Working with and mentoring youth, teaching English, working with Women of the World, educating on domestic and sexual violence, working with immigrant populations, working on climate justice, fundraising, and doing outreach are all tasks that Ruth currently takes on with excitement and determination. 

Sena Belgard

Sena is a student at the University of Utah studying Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies. She holds multiple student leader positions in the Bennion Center, is a service-learning scholar and a member of the scholar’s leadership team. Sena is a program director for the Social Justice Gardens where she teaches underprivileged students and their parents how to grow fresh food in their community.  Sena’s service goals are to impact her community by continuing to serve the families who garden at the Social Justice Gardens, finish the service-learning scholars designation with her degree and continue to serve and make an impact in others lives.

Megan Dolle

Megan is currently a student at the University of Utah pursuing a double major in Spanish and International Studies. She is a student at the Honors College and is a part of the Bennion Center Community Engaged Learning Certificate Program. One of Megan’s most fondest service activities was her trip to Yanamono, Peru with Youthlinc in 2012. She taught lessons on public health, built bridges, painted classrooms, taught English and aided in micro-finance and vocational activities.  She will be visiting Yanamono again in 2013 with Youthlinc as a Cultural Committee Mentor. Megan has also served with the Real Life Salt Lake City (RLSLC) mentoring program for teenage refugees for the past two years. This year, she serves as the Youthlinc Local Service Intern and has been able to develop meaningful friendships with both refugees and volunteers at RLSLC.  In addition, Megan has been involved with and held leadership positions in a variety of service clubs and organizations including Salt Lake County Youth Government, ONE.org, Good in the Hood, Salt Lake City Rotaract, ASUU Community Service, and more. Megan strives to set an example for her peers and inspire them to make a difference in their community. She has learned the value of meaningful, dedicated service to communities and the profound life-changing effects it provokes. Megan has discovered what it takes to be a true humanitarian and will continue pursuing her passion for service. 

Jessie DuPre 


Jessie is a second year student at the University of Utah studying Psychology and Human Biology in the Honors Program.  This year, she has worked as a Sustainability Ambassador at the Office of Sustainability on campus and currently works with the youth at Red Butte Garden teaching kids' science classes.  Jessie remains involved on campus as she pursues and assists with research in the Psychology Department in a Health Psych and Developmental Psych lab.  She has focused her service efforts on engaging others in service at her position as the Bennion Center Service Corps Chair, and assists in a special education classroom at Bryant Middle School where she has fallen in love with her students.