Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism Presents 2022 Youth Service Awards

Annual award presentation recognizes and celebrates Maryland youth who lead their communities through service and volunteerism

ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism today announced the recipients of the 2022 Youth Service Awards, in partnership with the Maryland Civic Education Coalition, the University of Maryland College of Education, and Youth Service America. The honorees—nominated by teachers, peers, volunteer supervisors, and community members —recognize and celebrate Maryland youth who lead their communities through service and volunteerism each year.

“We are proud to celebrate the journey of service that our Youth Service Awards recipients are embarking on,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “These young Marylanders represent innovative and impactful leadership that is truly making a difference today while forging paths ahead for the leaders of tomorrow.”

Since 2019, the Governor has presented Youth Service Awards as a component of the Governor’s Service Awards. Recipients are selected via a competitive review process and are representative of multiple service areas. This year’s awards were presented during a virtual summit as part of a new participant format.

This year’s honorees made exceptional contributions to Maryland as change agents for women in STEM, for cancer patients, for seniors in technology, for civic engagement, for access to food and essential resources, and for composting in schools.

The 2022 honorees are: 

• Compostology, serving Frederick and Montgomery Counties: As the recipient of a $48,000 grant from the World Wildlife Fund to collect food waste for composting and redistribution in schools, their work resulted in 82,000 pounds of diverted carbon dioxide emissions in their first year at work—an environmental impact equivalent to 44 acres of U.S. forests.

• Roah Hassan, serving Baltimore County: A student member of the Board for Baltimore County Public Schools and founder of youth advocacy group Mic Up Maryland, Roah unites and amplifies student voices to promote civic engagement, safer learning environments, and women in STEM.

• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Students of the Year Program, serving Queen Anne’s County: Rachel and Nicole Rickabaugh, along with their peers, raised $45,000 during a seven-week campaign, contributing to more than $800,000 in total funds raised statewide.

• Ethan Li, serving Baltimore County: Ethan is the founder of Requinity, an initiative to offer free virtual technology workshops for older adults to bring the power of technology to seniors and prevent social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Arusa Malik, serving Anne Arundel County: Arusa’s passion for equity, social justice, and the environment fuels her vast volunteering experience. She is a co-author of environmental articles, co-founded Backpacks for Baltimore, and co-organized county initiatives to strengthen communities.

• Mahlet Mesfin, serving Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County: A member of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Student Service Learning Leadership Team and NASA Environmental Task Force, Mahlet led community-centered service projects and conducted research to inform climate change action.

• Kinsley Potts, serving Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Montgomery Counties: Kinsley is the founder of Art From The Heart, using her platform to highlight the different organizations with whom she volunteers and to encourage others to serve in their communities.

• Sumiya Rahaman, serving Carroll County: As a leader of Carroll County Kids for Equity, Sumiya surveyed, identified, and addressed issues of representation and safety within the school system to establish pathways towards resolution through advocacy and strategic planning. 

For more information about the Youth Service Awards and the Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism, visit gosv.maryland.gov.

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About the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism 

The Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism is dedicated to supporting the mission of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to serve our neighbors in need. This coordinating office funds AmeriCorps programs supporting disaster relief, economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, public safety, health, and the environment in Maryland. A unit of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, it has honored nearly 100,000 Maryland volunteers on behalf of Governor Hogan. Learn more by visiting our website at gosv.maryland.gov and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.