National 4-H Council hosted the first Annual Legacy Awards Gala April 22, honoring extraordinary individuals and corporations that have made a lasting impact through work in 4-H. And Youth Action Award winner Samantha Jo Riddley is just one of those people.
Samantha joined North Dakota 4-H in 2006, and became involved in the archery program. As a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, she brought the Native American tradition back to her community, where it has promoted teamwork and respect.
The high school senior, whose Lakota name is Oyate Wiyanka Pe Win, credits the values and skills that she has learned through 4-H with helping her overcome several challenging obstacles, including illness and poverty. Samantha accepted her award in full Native American dress, and announced that she will take on the next challenge this fall: She will be the first in her family to attend college, and will study medicine at Dartmouth. She hopes to again return to her tribe with the knowledge of medicine to improve the lives of the people in her community. Read More