Young Woman of Year honored
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Samantha Harris

Samantha Harris competed in her last equestrian event at La Reina High School Sunday. She'll attend her senior prom this weekend and graduate in early June before moving into her dorm at Pepperdine University this fall.

Despite all the traditional endofhighschool activities consuming her life lately, Harris has also pledged to make her community a better place, earning her Ventura County's Young Woman of the Year award.

Last month, the American Red Cross honored seven Ventura County women at its fourth annual Clara Barton Awards, recognizing women for their humanitarianism, philanthropy and community service.

Harris spends much of her time putting together goody bags for deployed troops, which she says has been the most consistently important community service project in her life. The idea came when Harris and her mom were putting together care packages for her brother who was stationed overseas.

"My brother said he was the only one on the ship getting packages," Harris said. "So my mom and I started looking for an opportunity to support the troops the way we were supporting him."

They founded Operation Interdependence, which sends them items and lists so they can organize the boxes before shipping them out.

"My friends and family have been so generous," Harris said. "My dad owns an ad agency, so they helped create the fliers for me, and I posted them around my school. One of Dad's friends owns the GMC dealership in Simi Valley, so he opened that up for a drop-off location. And my mom's sister opened up her cleaner's for drop-offs and cleaned all the bags for free."

Harris also works with Lutheran Social Services to provide meals and sleeping bags for the homeless.

She said when she found out about the Clara Barton award, she thought there had been a mistake.

"I was overwhelmed and shocked at first," Harris said. "I didn't feel like I deserved it. I thought surely there must be a better candidate. And the (family friends) that nominated me are so dear to my heart- the fact that they, people who know me, are so proud of me, that was enough."

Harris is an accomplished equestrian, named top high school rider in Southern California her sophomore year. She's volunteered with Ride On, teaching people with disabilities to ride. Harris also organized a small project collecting prom dresses for the girls of Casa Pacifica.

"To be honored with the other people who won the award was amazing," Harris added. "I was so flattered to be in their company."

Other Clara Barton award winners included: Diversity Ambassador of the Year, Celina Zacarias; Humanitarian of the Year, Jewel Pedi; Life Saver of the Year, Deanna King; Community Spirit Honoree, Sue Chadwick; Philanthropist of the Year, Gloria Friedrich Reed; and Clara's Angel Honoree, Claire Hope.