Youth Advisory Board - Humane Society Silicon Valley

There are no open positions on the Youth Advisory Board for the 2010-2011 school year. Please continue to check this page for updates about the projects our Teen Board is working on!

To establish a forum that will encourage feedback and ideas from teens to help develop youth centric programs at HSSV; to provide an opportunity for youth to develop their leadership skills and form a basis for life-long animal interest and philanthropy.

The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is geared toward children ages 13 to 18 from local Bay Area communities who share a passion for animals. Term of membership is one year with potential to renew.

	Carrie Beyer Co-chair of the Youth Advisory Board Member of YAB since 2008 Animals are one of my greatest passions. I have a crazy Vizsla dog, named “Red.” His favorite foods are radishes and bananas. I have always loved greeting animals, and I am never afraid to talk to people and share the love they have for dogs. Also, I have been competing at the varsity level in swimming and water polo for past two years. I am involved with the club, “One Dollar For Life, “ and this past summer I went to Kenya to build a classroom. This experience was amazing and taught me that teenagers can make a difference in the world. I am a voice for animals because I am willing to push for their well being in our community.
	Anderson Cook YAB member since 2009 When not serving on Youth Advisory Board or as an “Amazing Animals” camp counselor, I am heavily involved in theater across the Bay Area. I am also involved in Speech and Debate, the improvisational comedy group called Sanguine Humors, ASB, and I serve as president of the yoga club. I have a beautiful dog named “Tessa” and two fantastic rabbits named “Moose” and “Sophie.” Tessa's favorite thing in the world is to play Hide and Go Seek for hours on end. I am a voice for the animals because I want my future children and grandchildren to be able to enjoy animals as much as I do.
	Brianna Mack YAB member since 2007 I have two dogs, both of which I adopted from Humane Society Silicon Valley. When I grow older I want to be able to tell my grandchildren that I saved many different types of animals' lives by finding them safe and caring homes. I would like to inspire my grandchildren to volunteer at organizations such as the Humane Society and encourage them to respect and love animals and tell other people about it.
	Chelsea Nichols YAB member since 2005 I love to draw and paint, and I have used my art as a way to express myself, including my love for animals! I have a fourteen-year old Jack Russell Terrier named “Jackie,” and she's the sweetest dog I've ever known. Even though she's blind and old, she's still one of my best friends. One of my favorite things about being on YAB is letting people know that older animals are just as lovable as puppies and kittens. I also play badminton and have been on the varsity badminton team for four years. I am a voice for animals because I educate the community about the bonds between people and animals and use my artistic ability to illustrate this connection.
	Noreena Lau Icebreakers Committee YAB member since 2008 I am very involved with HSSV as a Compassion In Action student and counselor for the “Amazing Animals” summer camp. I represented YAB by giving a speech at the 2010 Imagine the PAWSibilities event. I play drums, run sprints for track and am on the environmental club board (call me a tree-hugger)! I will be a veterinarian someday; dogs are my absolute passion. Despite my extreme affection for canines, I do not have one---but I love everyone in my fish tank. I am a voice for all animals by displaying my passion and enthusiasm for them both in and out of HSSV.
	Sammi Mielke YAB member since 2009 Ever since I was 5 years old I have wanted to become a veterinarian. I work at a veterinary hospital and volunteer whenever I can. Since I was born, I have always had an animal in my house. Currently, I have an adorable Golden Retriever who howls at sirens and is afraid of my two crazy cats, Mama and Kitten Little. Helping these furry little creatures has always been one of my goals in life. I am a voice for the animals because I believe no animals should suffer from abuse, and I will do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.
	Chris Beyer YAB member since 2007 I have a black lab named "Angel," although she is often just the opposite. She loves to swim during the hot summer days. I am on the swim team, play water polo, am involved in student government, and I have participated in Mock Trial since my sophomore year. I enjoy building various things in my spare time, and I love to travel around the world. I am a voice for animals because I want to try to get rid of the mistreatment of animals around the world. I truly believe that we, as humans, have a duty to protect them.
	Devin Mathews Icebreakers Committee YAB member since 2009 I have three pets. Their names are “Twinkle,” “Skittles,” and a cat called “Neville,” and all are like family to me. I liked being a camp counselor at Hidden Villa this past summer because I love working with animals and children. I someday hope to become a high school math teacher. I use my love for animals to help HSSV spread the word about how animals should be treated. One day when grandchildren ask me what I did for animals, I want to be able to say that hopefully I saved an animal’s life. That is why I joined YAB.
	Avery McEvoy YAB member since 2008 I have two cats, "Chocolate" and "Licorice." Chocolate is a three-legged cancer survivor. I love animals with all my heart, and I never pass up an opportunity to help or give TLC to one in need. This is my fourth year of club volleyball, seventh year of piano, and fourth year of National Charity League (NCL) with my mom. NCL has given me opportunities to help people for the greater good and countless irreplaceable memories with my mom. I am a voice for animals because I believe they are the same as any other being on this earth, and they deserve to be treated well.
	Sofi King YAB member since 2009 I have a cat, Tinkerbell who is loving and kind, and a black lab named Yonaka who loves spending time on the beach. When I was little, I remember waking up early each Saturday morning to watch “Breed All About It” and “K-9 to Five” on Animal Planet. These shows taught me not only about all the different breeds of dogs but also about dogs’ amazing capabilities to change and save human lives. I am a leader for the animals because I value their lives as much as any other creature and am willing to do anything to save them.
	Shannon Walker Icebreakers Committee YAB member since 2008 When I was 8 I learned that all animals didn’t have happy lives. Extremely concerned, I wrote someone I thought could answer my questions: HSSV. I wanted to help, and while I knew I couldn’t volunteer there yet, HSSV took my concerns to heart. I received a letter in reply informing me that when I was older I could become a part of YAB, here I am! Animals are a major part of my life. I am a voice for the animals because I want to help everyone understand the care every animal needs.
	Amy Kim Icebreakers Committee YAB member since 2008 I do not currently have any pets, but I'm looking into getting a dog very soon! I joined YAB because I have a passion for animals, and I want to be an advocate for them and help them as much as I can. My favorite animals are dogs and dolphins. When I talk to my grandkids, I want to be able to tell them that I helped animals find loving homes and educated the community about animal issues to provide the best possible environment for animals to live in.
	Julia Kruep YAB member since 2009 All types of animals, especially penguins, fascinate me! I have a hilarious Labradoodle named “Greta” who loves everyone she meets. I am the vice president of my class and secretary of the Pinewood Interact Club, which focuses on community service. I love to play basketball and softball. This past summer, I attended a program at the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine because I want to be a veterinarian. I want to be able to tell my great-grandchildren that I did everything in my power to improve the welfare of both wild and domestic animals by giving them a direct voice in our community.