Virginia 4-H celebrates four teens making a meaningful impact in their communities

Four Virginia teens are being honored for leadership developed through 4-H and put into practice in their communities.

Virginia 4-H has named Avani Kaur, Ariana Blake, Shreyas Kalidindi, and Bhoomika Kaur as its 2026 Youth in Action Award recipients. The teens were recognized Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Evening with 4-H celebration in Richmond for leadership across the four pillars of 4-H: agriculture, civic engagement, healthy living, and STEM.

This year’s honorees also reflect the role families can play in 4-H leadership. Sisters Avani and Bhoomika Kaur were recognized in different pillars for their work in agriculture and STEM, while Shreyas Kalidindi follows his brother Pranav, who received a Virginia 4-H Youth in Action award for healthy living in 2025. Ariana Blake is the third member of her family to become a 4-H All Star, the highest recognition a 4-H’er can achieve.

Each honoree receives a $500 grant to support a community project, a scholarship to attend the Virginia State 4-H Congress at Virginia Tech, and the opportunity to serve as a statewide youth spokesperson throughout the year.

“These young people are truly Beyond Ready and prepared not just for what comes next, but for the real responsibilities of leadership,” said Jeremy Johnson, state 4-H leader and associate director for youth programs with Virginia Cooperative Extension. “They are applying what they’ve learned through 4-H to real situations by solving problems, supporting others, and leading with confidence and purpose.”

Avani Kaur — Agriculture

Many students at Kaur’s suburban high school had never encountered agriculture firsthand. In her first year as a Henrico County 4-H member, she set out to change that by leading the 4-H Embryology Laboratory Project through her school’s medical club.

Over several weeks, she guided nearly 50 students as they incubated and hatched 15 chicks, teaching lessons on embryology and candling while carefully monitoring humidity, identifying signs of stress, and tending to minor injuries. To broaden access to the experience, Kaur produced a 40-minute educational video documenting the first chick hatching in real time. 

She later co-led a 4-H chicken dissection workshop with more than 40 students, encouraging hesitant participants to engage with avian anatomy. She is now working to ensure the project continues as an annual opportunity by mentoring future students.

“4-H has inspired me to turn agriculture into a living classroom and to show that caring for life in all its forms is one of science’s greatest lessons,” Kaur said.

Ariana Blake — Civic Engagement

When she was diagnosed with a serious illness during the summer before ninth grade, Blake became intimately familiar with long stretches of waiting-room anxiety while sitting in hospitals with other kids.  

A Fairfax County 4-H’er for 10 years, Blake has turned that experience into a civic engagement project. Her “Boredom Buster Bags” provide children in hospitals with zip-top kits filled with crayons, coloring pages, stickers, and creative activities. With help from her school’s Junior Optimist club, her 4-H community club, and volunteers at a homecoming football game, Blake assembled more than 350 kits last year. 

Blake also led efforts to restart her school’s dormant Junior Optimist club, which now organizes regular bingo and trivia game visits at a local assisted living facility. On Valentine’s Day, she coordinated the delivery of 300 roses to seniors across two communities, creating opportunities for connection across generations. 

A 4-H member since age 7, Blake has led numerous countywide and local service projects over the years, including her first service project at age 8. She has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award Gold Level for her service. She serves as Fairfax County 4-H County Council president and as a Virginia 4-H State Cabinet ambassador.

“4-H gave me the confidence and skills I needed to be a leader — and now I try to make sure everyone feels included, just like others did for me,” she said.

Shreyas Kalidindi — Healthy Living

Kalidindi began focusing on safety and healthy living after a bike accident involving a close friend highlighted how quickly everyday activities can turn dangerous.

A Loudoun County 4-H member for seven years, Kalidindi represents the healthy living pillar. His Smart Bike Helmet project centers on a prototype system that prevents a bicycle from unlocking unless the rider is wearing a helmet. Developed with input and support from his 4-H Innovation Club, the project earned third place in the Loudoun Young Entrepreneur Academy competition.

Kalidindi has also created a medicine reminder system to help older adults take medications on time and a smart blind stick to assist visually impaired users in avoiding obstacles. He is currently developing a website designed to connect local farmers directly with customers. As president of his 4-H Innovation Club, he leads hands-on STEM activities, helping younger members build confidence in electronics and coding.

“4-H has inspired me to create meaningful change in my community by providing help, safety, and well-being through innovation and teamwork,” Kalidindi said.

Bhoomika Kaur — STEM

After noticing that many of her peers struggled to connect with science, Kaur saw an opportunity to help.

A first-year Henrico County 4-H member, Kaur represents the STEM pillar and is a co-founder of Osmosis STEM, a youth-led nonprofit focused on inclusive science education. Through a partnership with Henrico 4-H, she helped launch Discovery Lab, a STEM SPIN Club offering 10 interactive workshops at local libraries and community centers.

What began with two participants has grown to more than 30 students exploring topics such as biomechanics, chemistry, digestion, and neuroscience through interactive activities. Several participants have gone on to start science clubs at their own schools, extending the reach of the program beyond the original workshops.

Kaur says teaching younger students helped her grow into a confident leader who can balance support, structure, and creativity — skills she hopes to continue using through future 4-H service.

“4-H has taught me that true leadership is about creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to explore, ask questions, and grow together,” she said.

Learn more about how you can join or support Virginia 4-H.