SUU Student Amy Adams Honored as Youthlinc Young Humanitarian Award Runner-Up
Published: June 13, 2025 | Author: Jacob Carr | Read Time: 3 minutes
CEDAR CITY, UT – Southern Utah University (SUU) is proud to announce that SUU student Amy Adams has been honored as the runner-up for the prestigious 2025 Youthlinc Utah Young Humanitarian Award. This competitive statewide award recognizes exceptional college undergraduates who demonstrate a profound commitment to service and humanitarian work. As a runner-up, Adams received a scholarship, which she will use to further her education at SUU.
The Youthlinc Utah Young Humanitarian Award, sponsored by The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, is the largest service-based scholarship in Utah, celebrating young leaders who make a tangible difference in their communities through consistent, meaningful, and self-directed service. Now in its 20th year, the award recognizes a winner, a runner-up, and three honorable mentions from a pool of highly qualified applicants across the state.
“Amy Adams was selected as the 2025 Youthlinc Utah Young Humanitarian Award Runner-Up because she exemplifies the essence of a true humanitarian,” said Easton Bowring, Global Program Liaison with Youthlinc. “She is passionate about using education as a pathway to equity and social change.”
Adams is an Elementary Education major with a minor in Spanish and a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certification at SUU. Her resume of volunteer service includes roles as a storytime service leader with SUU’s Community Engagement Center, a Global Ambassador, an AmeriCorps fellow, and a member of UServe Utah’s College Community Engagement Council.
"These volunteer opportunities have catalyzed tremendous personal growth,” said Adams. “I’ve become more selfless and aware of my community, as well as my and others’ ability to engage for change.”
Through her work on the UServe Utah council, Adams identified a critical need within the Iron County School District: a lack of adequate preparation for future educators in supporting English Language Learners (ELLs). She observed that many pre-service teachers at SUU felt unprepared to effectively support ELL students. To address this gap, Adams developed and executed a professional development seminar and resource for pre-service teachers at SUU. Her project, driven by extensive research, observations, and interviews, aimed to increase awareness and provide practical strategies for teachers working with ELLs. The seminar garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback, with attendees reporting a significant increase in confidence and preparedness to support ELL students. Post-presentation confidence levels surged from an initial range of 1-3 to 3-5 on a 5-point scale. This hands-on, direct approach to bridging an educational gap was a testament to her leadership and proactive commitment to service, and served as an important part of her application for Youthlinc.
"Judges were moved by the sincerity in her writing and the authenticity expressed in her recommendation letters," said Bowring. “One judge noted that he ‘loved hearing in her recommendation letter that she is not doing this to check a box on a resume.’ Another commended her ability to foster ‘a safe and positive learning environment where even the more reserved individuals can come out of their shell.’"
Adams' diverse service work includes tutoring children, mentoring international students, supporting cancer awareness, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and even participating in graffiti removal in national parks. Despite the varied nature of her contributions, a common thread of inclusion, education, and empowerment runs through all her efforts.
About Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University (SUU) is a premier public university located in Cedar City, Utah, known for its personalized learning environment, experiential education, and stunning natural surroundings.
Tags: Student Education Community Engagement Center T-Bird Stories Community College of Education and Human Development Academic
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu