Finalists

Elizabeth Harvey, 17

A senior at The Westminster Schools, Elizabeth started her own philanthropic initiative, Power of the Pencil Project (POPP), an organization that spreads awareness about education inequality. POPP creates and sells homemade soy candles to fund local education projects, such as the Children’s Restoration Network’s New Hope Scholarship Fund and providing supplies for afternoon art classes hosted by the Salvation Army.

Ryan Jackson, 18

The freshman at Howard University participated in the Atlanta Community Food Bank Summit, volunteered as a ServeHaiti delegate (where she delivered a baby), worked as an intern at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and devoted over 500 hours to community service throughout her high school career.

Johnna Gadomski, 18

Johnna’s focus is on helping vulnerable children around the world, and she tutors at-risk kids at Sandy Springs Mission. She also founded the UNICEF Club at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School this past year.

Austin Evans, 18

The Texas A&M freshman and New Schools at Carver graduate was an ambassador for L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct), where he helped guide at-risk youth in Atlanta Public Schools. He plans to return to Atlanta to continue his work after graduation and has aspirations to be a senator.

Paige Overmyer, 17

The North Atlanta High School student has done volunteer work to rehab houses in low-income neighborhoods and is an active member of the North Atlanta Women’s Filmmakers Club.