The Humane Youth Award recognizes inspiring youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are making a positive impact on the lives of animals in their community.

The award is a recognized honor for a young person who has both personally, and through the inspired efforts of others, raised awareness for and helped create a more peaceful life for people, animals and the environment.

Meet the 2024 winners

Clara at HSHV, holding a gray kitten

Clara Peikert, 17, is the winner of the 2024 Humane Youth Award!  Clara is an animal advocate who has dedicated over 100 hours of volunteer service to HSHV.  As a Junior Volunteer she has spent time enriching the lives of the cats, dogs, and small mammals that temporarily call HSHV home.  Additionally, Clara has been a top fundraiser for HSHV’s Walk and Wag event and acted as a leader in our Camp Paws program.  But Clara’s care for animals doesn’t stop with cuddly mammals!  She also helped rescue a garter snake trapped in garden netting and transported an injured duck to a bird sanctuary.  HSHV is very proud to name Clara as the winner of the Humane Youth Award!

Sydney

Sydney Bennett, 15, is the Humane Youth Award 1st runner up.  Sydney started as a Junior Volunteer three years ago and has already volunteered over 200 hours with HSHV!  In her time as a JV, she has helped all kinds of animals, from large dogs to small guinea pigs.  Sydney has also contributed many hours helping in HSHV’s youth programs like Camp Paws and Pets and PJs.  Perhaps most impressively, Sydney independently planned and executed a successful bake sale to raise money for Walk and Wag.  We commend Sydney for her dedication to improving the lives of animals!

Davina

Davina Seth, 17, is the Humane Youth Award 2nd runner up.  Davina has been volunteering at HSHV since the age of 12 and has contributed over 90 hours of volunteer service.  During the pandemic, when in-shelter volunteering was limited, Davina still wanted to find a way to help animals in need.  She convinced her family to become foster parents and has since been dedicated to fostering litters of orphaned kittens who require bottle feeding.  Davina also thinks about the welfare of animals while eating; she has been a vegetarian for over 5 years!  We thank Davina for her devotion to animals!

Honorable Mention:

  • Kyle Grant
  • Dusk Boyle
  • Tristan Hewitt
  • Adelina Harris

Award Information

One Humane Youth Award winner as well as a first and second runner-up will be selected. Awards are as follows:

Winner

  • Complimentary attendance for the winner and a guest and formal recognition at HSHV’s annual Compassionate Feast gala on October 19th.
  • Humane Youth Award trophy
  • Inclusion in marketing opportunities and press releases

First and Second Runners-Up

  • Humane Youth Award plaque
  • Inclusion in marketing opportunities and press releases