WARREN — Twenty of the most impressive young leaders in Trumbull County have been selected for the 2024 Class of Twenty Under 20.

Now in its 12th year, the program, co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle, Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley and AVI Foodsystems, honors 20 high-achieving individuals younger than 20 for their leadership skills through volunteerism, extracurricular activities and academic achievements.

Sue Shafer, community events coordinator for the Tribune Chronicle, said it was difficult for the judges to choose only 20 winners out of more than 50 nominations, which included one repeat nominee — Courtney Wilcox, a senior at Warren G. Harding High School.

She also said there was a wide variety of school districts represented, with nine. Warren G. Harding leads the nominations with eight. This year’s class includes one high school freshman, two sophomores, one junior and 16 seniors. The class also includes 18 girls and two boys — the same ratio as last year.

“The judges read more than 50 nominations. There are many students all over Trumbull County who are involved in projects that truly make a difference in our communities,” Shafer said.

The students, whose volunteer activities run the gamut from church groups and a bed-building organization to Akron Children’s and food pantries, were nominated by family members, teachers, club advisers and school guidance counselors.

Many of them have 4.0 grade point averages, have taken college credit courses and are on track to graduate at the top of their classes.

“Seeing the academic accomplishments of these kids and their impressive level of involvement in extracurricular activities and in making their communities better was an eye-opening experience. It made me feel better about the future,” Tribune Chronicle Editor Ed Puskas said.

The winners were selected based on a calculation of 50% leadership and 25% each academic achievement and extracurricular activities.

The top five winners will be selected to split $1,000 to be donated to the local charity of their choice.

One overall winner will be picked from among the five. Those winners will be announced during a dinner Dec. 11 at DiVieste’s.

This year’s winners are:

Tasso Anastasiades, Howland High School senior

Grace Anderson, John F. Kennedy Catholic School senior

Samantha Barkley, Warren G. Harding High School sophomore

Nicolette Cochran, Girard High School senior

Ellie Falb, Newton Falls High School junior

Jane Faulk, Warren G. Harding sophomore

Hayley Flinner, Maplewood High School senior

Sophie Gardner, Warren G. Harding senior

Madelyn Gassman, Girard senior

Sarah Herko, Warren G. Harding senior

Kennedy Howard, Newton Falls senior

Christopher Mijavec, Howland senior

Yurielis Navarro Jimenez, Warren G. Harding senior

Sonia Pitts, Warren G. Harding senior

Samantha Plott, Champion High School senior

Julia Ragozzino, Girard senior

Monica Ruckman, Warren G. Harding senior

Courtney Wilcox, Warren G. Harding senior

Addison Williams, Bristol High School senior

Isabella Williams, Brookfield High School freshman

Tickets for the Dec. 11 award dinner are available by contacting Sue Shafer at sshafer@tribtoday.com and 330-841-1696.