MTV-YSA Award

Nestlé's Very Best in Youth 2001
Written by Kenneth W. Bentley
Vice President of Community Affairs for
Nestlé's USA.

Age 16: Home: Kennewick, Washington
Favorite Book: The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
Nickole Evans

"I may not get it right the first time, but I'll keep working until I do."

    The disaster at Columbine High School sparked a range of emotions in young people. Some retreated inward. Others said it couldn't happen at their schools. Some, like Nickole Evans, decided to do something to make sure it didn't happen in their community. "I was really shaken by the Columbine High incident," Nickole says. "I had to do something so I became sort of the teen voice for peace in our area. I developed and presented Web pages with articles entitled. "It Could Happen Here," "Youth speak Out," and "Becoming a Peacemaker." I also started a local branch of Students Against Violence Everywhere (S.A.V.E.) and spearheaded the first ever Columbia S.A.V.E. Leadership Retreat."
   "Ever since she was little, Nickole has been a peacemaker," says her mom Ronda Evans. "She is a natural diplomat. Everyone says she is the nicest person they know. As her mom, I am very proud of her." Nickole has given her mom plenty to be proud of. She received Gold and Silver President's awards for educational improvement and has been a member of her school's marching, jazz and concert bands for four years. Nickole's awards outside of school could match any diplomat. Among them are the Girl Scouts Silver Award, MTV Local Hero Award, Sears-Youth Service America Larger than Life Award, McDonald/Disney World Millennium Dreamers Ambassador Award, Mother's Against Violence in America Youth High School Peacemaker Award and the Global Youth Peace and Tolerance Award.
"I don't think I am the most gifted student in the world," Nickole says. "I have to earn my grades by working extra hard. I may not get it right the first time, but I'll keep working until I do." Nickole's desire to make a difference comes from her parents.

"In 1992 my parents started the first Free-Net program in the state of Washington. Since then they have given out over 4,000 free e-mail accounts, set up 12 community technology centers and recycled over 200 computers. Because of their efforts, kids have gotten better grades and parents have gotten better jobs. As a consequence, people's lives have gotten better. My parents sacrificed personal wealth. Their reward is simply seeing others succeed.
"We hear all the time how "it takes a whole village to raise a child'," Nickole continued. "How about 'it takes but one child to change a village?" I'm only 15, but I have seen kids who live in joy, but suffer from poverty; who live in fear while surrounded by affluence. But through all of this they have taken a stand and made a difference.
"I have been blessed to meet many wonderful people in my life. The six other Global Youth Pace and Tolerance Honorees are high on the list. But the most peaceful person I've ever met was former South African President Nelson Mandela. I met President Mandela at an invitation-only event in Seattle. President Mandela promotes peace in his words, actions and by his mere presence. There was a silence and a sense of awe when he walked in the room. I am incapable of explaining how I felt at that very moment. His words were like beautiful musical notes on a summer day. It was wonderful being in the presence of this one person who has made such a difference. I hope one day people will say that about me."