Graham, N.C. (September 15, 2025) – National 4-H Council announced today that
Kiya Kernodle of Graham, North Carolina, is a runner-up for the 4-H Youth in Action
Award. Kernodle is recognized nationally for her dedication to children with special
needs and for investing in her community.

Discovering her passion after volunteering with 4-H at an egg hunt with a special
education class, Kernodle (17), discovered her passion in life: to become a special
education teacher. This led her to assist with an all-abilities dance class and create her non-profit, “Kiya’s Cupcake Fundraiser,” to raise money for their recital costumes. Her cupcake business was so successful that she was able to pay for all of the dancers’ costumes and went on to support several other charitable causes in her area.

The 4-H Youth in Action Awards began in 2010 to recognize 4-H’ers who have used the knowledge they gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their community. To learn more about the 4-H Youth in Action program and the 2025 runners up, please visit 4-H.org/youthinaction.

ABOUT 4-H NATIONALLY

4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for their careers tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the United States through experiences that develop critical life skills. Through Beyond Ready, 4-H will increase that number to ten million youth annually. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-based 4-H experience grows young people who are two times more likely to have the goal of being a leader, three times more likely to participate in community service, and two times more likely to report living life with intentionality and purpose.

ABOUT 4-H IN NORTH CAROLINA

4-H is in all 100 counties in North Carolina, as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 4-H is about having fun, learning, exploring, and discovering. In 4-H, young people make new friends, develop new skills, become leaders, and help shape their communities. More than 261,000 North Carolina youth get involved in 4-H through community or project clubs, special interest programs, school enrichment programs, in after-school programs, and through our Operation Military Kids program. These youth live in cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural communities. 4-H gives youth a chance to explore their own interests – from photography to computers, from building rockets to raising animals. A list of 4-H projects is available online by visiting our 4-H Curriculum webpage. They go places from district retreats to camp, to state and national conferences. They learn to be outstanding citizens and excellent leaders.

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