Samantha Barkley

Warren G. Harding High School sophomore Samantha Barkley, leadership is second nature.

With a 4.108 GPA, a global nonprofit literary magazine and a passion for community service, the 16-year-old has been named one of the Tribune Chronicle’s Twenty Under 20 for 2024. The program is co-sponsored by Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley and AVI Foodsystems.

Barkley’s academic and extracurricular achievements stand out, but her most significant contribution may be The Phone Book Magazine, an online platform she founded as a freshman. The publication now connects young writers and artists worldwide, with contributions from countries like Pakistan and Egypt.

“I started it on a whim my freshman year,” Barkley said. “Now, it’s incredible to see how much it’s grown and how people from such different places can come together.”

The magazine features content ranging from book banning to poetry and visual art. Recently, Barkley partnered with other youth publications to create a no-censorship contract, aimed at amplifying diverse voices.

“It’s about giving people a platform,” she said. “Everyone deserves to be heard.”

Her leadership extends beyond publishing. A Silver Key recipient in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Barkley actively gives back to her community. She volunteers at local events, reads to preschoolers, and is raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by participating in a 5K race.

“Samantha is a natural leader who inspires her peers and brings people together,” said guidance counselor Don Cheffo, who nominated her for the honor. “Her resilience and initiative are remarkable.”

Barkley credits her leadership skills to mentors like her seventh-grade English teacher, who encouraged her love of writing, and her jiu-jitsu coach, who taught her the value of discipline and perseverance.

“I’ve been shaped by people who showed me how to believe in myself and others,” she said.

Through the Interact Club at Harding — a youth organization patterned after Rotary International — she reads to students at Willard PK-8 school, organizes Harding’s dress clothes closet and volunteers at Opening Night, which is a New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Warren.

Despite her packed schedule, Barkley knows the importance of balance.

“I make time to laugh and enjoy life,” she said. “That’s how I keep from losing my mind while managing everything.”

Looking to the future, Barkley aspires to become an investigative journalist or even a war correspondent, fields that align with her passion for storytelling and justice.

With her drive, compassion, and vision, Barkley is not just a standout student but also a rising leader whose impact is already felt in Warren and beyond.