Champion High School seniors Channing Fox, Olivia Gray, Kayla Haynie, and Hayes Yocum are four of just 20 young leaders in Trumbull County to be selected for the 2023 Class of 20 Under Twenty! Co-sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle, Akron Children’s Hospital, and the United Way of Trumbull County, the program honors 20 high-achieving individuals younger than 20 for their leadership skills through volunteerism, extracurricular activities, and academic achievements.
Champion Flashes comprise one-third of the seniors selected to the 20 Under Twenty class this year. Meet the honorees.
Channing Fox
Fox says she was watching television when she got the call about her selection to the 20 Under Twenty class. “I was excited and shocked at the same time, I had no idea I had even been nominated,” she recalls. “It feels really good [to be part of the class], it’s a great accomplishment and I am grateful for the opportunities it will provide.” At Champion, Fox is a member of Champion Teens Care (CTC), student council, the academic team, the girls' golf team, and participates in school musicals. She maintains a 4.0 grade point average while taking honors and College Credit Plus (CCP) classes. In addition to her school activities, Fox is also a member of the Civil Air Patrol where she volunteers her time with the Youngstown Squadron located at the Air Reserve Station in Vienna. Following graduation, Fox says she plans to study nursing but is currently undecided about what college or university she will attend.
Olivia Gray
Gray is the second in her family to be selected for a 20 Under Twenty class! “When I found out, it felt unreal,” she says. “I watched my brother receive this award, and now here I am. I’m proud of everyone who I’ve grown up with and to see my peers succeed is just so special.” Gray currently attends Trumbull Career and Technical Center where she is an honor roll student taking College Credit Plus (CCP) courses. She is enrolled in TCTC’s nursing program studying to be a phlebotomist and State Tested Nuses Aide (STNA). Through the program, Gray has been able to volunteer regularly within nursing facilities. She is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) at TCTC and also volunteers her time with grounds cleanup, trunk or treat, and set up for various events. Following her graduation, Gray plans to attend Mount Union University to continue her nursing education.
Kayla Haynie
Haynie has dubbed the 20 Under Twenty a “family tradition” as she too, is the second in her family to be selected for a class! Following in her sister’s footsteps, Haynie says she was filling out college applications when she got the call. “I was shocked, I had no idea I was being nominated,” she says. “It feels good and is such an honor to be chosen.” Haynie was nominated by her youth pastor at Saint Williams Church. At church, Haynie is involved with nearly every event, dinner, and activity they sponsor and says she enjoys spending time with the older members of the congregation. At school, Haynie maintains a 4.0 grade point average while taking honor roll and College Credit Plus (CCP) classes. She is a member of Champion Teens Care (CTC), Interact Club, student council, STEM club, and SMASH club and plays both golf and basketball for the girls’ teams. Following graduation, Haynie says she currently plans to study exercise science and pursue a career in physical therapy. She is still undecided on where she will attend.
Hayes Yocum
Yocum admits his selection to the 20 Under Twenty class left him emotional. “I cried tears of joy,” he says. “It makes me feel proud of all my academic progress and community service.” Yocum is a volunteer at the Champion Fire Department, where he has spent over 250 hours helping and learning to serve in that capacity. At CHS, Yocum is a member of the academic team, participates in all the school musicals, and is captain of the eSports team. He is an honor roll student taking honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and College Credit Plus (CCP) classes. In February of 2024, Yocum is set to finish his Emergency Medical Technician course and become a registered EMT. Post graduation, he plans to attend the fire academy and defer his college enrollment for a gap year to hopefully work at Champion Fire Department. He says he does plan to attend college to attain a degree in Public Health or a similar field, but says he will most likely return to fire service for as long as he can before moving into a job that’s suited for his degree.
54 young adults were nominated for 20 Under Twenty. In addition to twelve seniors, two freshmen, two sophomores, and four juniors from eleven school districts were also selected for the Class of 2023. Winners are selected based on a calculation of 50% leadership and 25% each academic achievement and extracurricular activities.
The Class will be honored during a dinner in December where the top five winners from the class will be selected to split $1,000 to be donated to the local charity of their choice. One overall winner will be picked from the top five. This is the 11th year for the 20 Under Twenty program.
Congratulations Channing, Olivia, Kayla, and Hayes! We are so proud of you!