Youth in Action Awards honor outstanding Virginia 4-H members

Four exceptional teen leaders from across the state were honored at Virginia 4-H’s 2025 Evening with 4-H celebration held Jan. 23 in Richmond.

Each year, the 4-H Youth in Action program recognizes highly accomplished teens from varying backgrounds in 4-H core pillar areas: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM. 

Mary Grace Menuey of Lovettsville received the award for agriculture, Gabe Ringley of Wise received the award for civic engagement, Pranav Kalidindi of Ashburn earned the award for healthy living, and Jordan Wright of Glen Allen received the award for STEM. 

Every teen received a $500 mini-grant to develop a community project, a full scholarship to attend the Virginia State 4-H Congress on Virginia Tech Blacksburg’s campus, an opportunity to be featured as the Virginia 4-H youth spokesperson for their pillar, and support and mentorship to apply for the National 4-H Youth Leadership Awards.

“These four youth truly exemplify the 4-H motto, ‘To Make the Best Better,’ through their unwavering commitment to serving and uplifting their communities,” said Jeremy Johnson, state 4-H leader and Virginia Cooperative Extension’s associate director for youth programs. “Mary Grace, Gabe, Pranav, and Jordan are shining examples of what it means to embody the spirit of 4-H. By honoring their contributions with the Youth in Action Awards, we not only celebrate their exceptional achievements but also highlight the inspiring impact they have as role models for their peers and future generations.”

Virginia 4-H is a youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension with more than 188,000 members who are learning leadership, citizenship, and a vast array of life skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Through school-based, after-school, and community clubs as well as camp settings, 4-H members pledge to build a better community, country, and world. 

Mary Grace Menuey

Menuey first joined Loudoun County 4-H nine years ago as a shy 8-year-old. Over time, she became a confident 4-H leader and outspoken advocate for agriculture. Currently, the 17-year-old homeschooler serves as the Northeast District ambassador on the Virginia 4-H State Cabinet, representing 4-H members across 25 counties.

Through 4-H, Menuey discovered her passion for agricultural education. To promote agriculture in more urban areas of Northern Virginia, she launched a series of educational activities, visiting six schools and engaging with over 400 students. Her sessions included reading agriculture-related books, followed by discussions and hands-on activities, such as planting blueberry bushes in school gardens.

As a Virginia 4-H Youth Livestock Ambassador, Menuey works to bridge the gap between consumers and livestock producers. Her efforts earned her the title of 2023-24 National Teen Miss Agriculture USA.

“Agriculture is our state's largest industry, yet it’s often misunderstood,” she said. “I want to continue educating people about its importance.”

Her 4-H experiences have inspired her to pursue a career in agricultural education or communications. 

“4-H has given me the tools to improve myself, others, and my community,” Menuey said. “It’s made a positive impact on my life.” 

Gabe Ringley

Ringley grew up in a household with his grandparents, both of whom are deaf. He is not only proficient in American Sign Language but also understands from personal experience many of the challenges facing the deaf community.

“Learning about my family’s strength and resilience has profoundly shaped who I am today,” he said. 

During the past 11 years as a member of Wise County 4-H, Ringley found his “second family” and developed from a shy child into confident teen. 

“4-H has inspired me to use my voice not for myself but for my community and my family,” he said. “The more I engaged with the program, the more I received in return.”

Today, Ringley is a first-year student at University of Virginia’s College at Wise and an advocate for 4-H youth and the deaf community. As a member of the Virginia 4-H State Cabinet, he helps plan community outreach projects, organize the Virginia 4-H State Congress, and serve as a representative for 4-H Day at the Capitol. 

Two of his outreach efforts focus on raising awareness and representation of the deaf community. He is working to get American Sign Language added as a foreign language class within the Wise County school system and has influenced several classmates to learn it. Ringley is also working to implement a Deaf History Month to highlight different aspects of the deaf community to students and the public.

“Through 4-H, I realized that my voice can bridge gaps to foster understanding and support,” he said. “In my life, I simply strive to amplify the voices of those who feel they go unheard, showing that advocacy isn’t just about speaking, it’s about listening and connecting.”

Pranav Kalidindi

At 17, Kalidindi already has a resume that reflects his passion for promoting healthier living through technology. The junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is combining his academic interests with his innovative spirit by working on a review article exploring the effects of stress on Alzheimer’s disease progression. At the same time, he is developing StressReliefBuddy, an artificial intelligence-driven app designed to detect stress and provide personalized stress management strategies — a project for which he has successfully secured investor funding.

As president of the Loudoun County 4-H Innovation Club, Kalidindi has channeled his passion for technology into creating solutions that empower people to live healthier lives. He has created health-focused technologies, including a posture monitor to help prevent spinal issues, an air quality monitor to detect unhealthy environmental conditions, and a pH sensor to identify impurities in drinking water. 

“Through my experiences in 4-H, I've learned that I am more resilient and capable than I initially thought,” he said. “I discovered a strong passion for making a difference and a deep desire to use my skills to solve real-world problems that improve people’s health.”  

In over six years of 4-H involvement, Kalidindi has cultivated his skills in technology alongside skills in leadership, teamwork, public speaking, and community service. His leadership roles include serving as a Virginia 4-H STEM ambassador, a member of Virginia’s 4-H Teen Summit Leadership Team, and a member of the Teen Leadership Council, where he collaborated with peers to organize community programs promoting health and wellness.  

As a STEM ambassador with the Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time, Kalidindi has advocated to increase access to STEM education that addresses public health challenges. 

“4-H has taught me that with persistence and the right mindset, anyone can create meaningful change,” he said. 

Jordan Wright

Wright, a 16-year-old member of Henrico County 4-H, has always been passionate about STEM. Through her leadership in 4-H, she is spreading her passion and proficiency in STEM to other youth.

As the creator and leader of STEM Innovators, a special interest club for homeschoolers, Wright provides weekly STEM education to students between the ages of 9 and 12. Currently, 16 students are enrolled.

“Being homeschooled myself, my opportunities for STEM classes were limited,” Wright said. “Through this club, I hope that more homeschooled students in my community join 4-H and learn about how 4-H can intersect with 21st century technology skills.”

Wright singlehandedly plans and develops the club’s curriculum, advertises the program to the local homeschool community, schedules meetings, and compiles the necessary materials for participants. 

In doing so, she has introduced many of her peers to valuable skills, such as basic block coding, 3D printing, and computational thinking.

“4-H has given me the confidence and platform to express myself and inspire others,” she said.