A Mandan High School senior has been named the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation Teen of the Week, recognized for her commitment to community service, academic excellence, and positive leadership—earning one of the state’s highest youth honors.
The ND Petroleum Foundation’s award spotlights students across North Dakota who demonstrate exceptional leadership, character, and service in their schools and communities. The Mandan teen—known for mentoring younger students, organizing donation drives, and leading student-run volunteer groups—has become a role model for peers in Bismarck-Mandan and across the state.
She’s active in student council, volunteers with youth sports, and participates in STEM and civic programs, emphasizing kindness and teamwork in every space she enters. With college plans focused on business and community leadership, she says she hopes to “build a future in North Dakota and give back to the region that shaped me.”
The honor is part of the Foundation’s ongoing youth recognition initiative, highlighting rising local leaders who strengthen communities across North Dakota’s growing economy and workforce pipeline.
These compliance checks show Grand Forks’ continued focus on responsible alcohol service and youth safety. As more city events, hockey weekends, and campus activities ramp up this fall, officials remind business owners and servers that staying vigilant is essential — no sale is worth the risk.
“I always try to lead by example,” the Mandan student said. “Whether it's helping new students feel welcome, stepping up when something needs to get done, or being the first person to volunteer, I want people to know kindness matters.”
Mandan High School Principal (fictional) Erin Matthews praised her impact, noting, “She embodies the best of what our schools strive to build—young people who care deeply about others and take action.”
As North Dakota continues strengthening its future workforce and community leadership pipeline, students like this Mandan senior serve as powerful reminders that tomorrow’s innovators, public servants, and business leaders are already making a difference today.
Her message? “Positivity spreads—and our communities are strongest when we lift each other up.”
