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Spirit of Youth Award: 2007: Keanalu Chartrand
Keanalu Chartrand of Hilo, Hawaii was chosen for this national honor because he turned his life around when he recognized in his late teens that his parents could no longer get him out of "trouble" with the courts.
Under court supervision, and while in counseling, Keanalu came to understand that he needed to begin to listen to authority rather than continue challenging it, change his peer group and make productive choices about his education. He dedicated himself to graduating from high school and gained admission into community college.
Now, he has set his sights on a doctoral degree in psychology, so that he may continue to pursue his "calling," to counsel and guide at-risk and court-involved youth. Keanalu currently serves as a peer, drug, family, anger management and relationship counselor at a local youth and family services agency, Ke Ala Pono, while also employed by Goodwill Industries and serving as a voluntary coach for Special Olympics. Walter Lau, Chair of the Hawaii Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council, stated, "Nalu exemplifies a person who has overcome great obstacles and defied statistics to become a great contributor to his community."
See all winners of Spirit of Youth Award.
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