March of Dimes Announces New Executive Team and Members to National Youth Council

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The March of Dimes National Youth Council has welcomed a new executive team and two new members for 2011-2012 rounding out a committee of 19 college students who work with the March of Dimes for stronger, healthier babies.

National Youth Council members are selected because of their demonstrated leadership ability and their potential for service to the March of Dimes Foundation. These new members have done extensive volunteer work for the March of Dimes and are active members in their communities, and will serve as exceptional leaders.

Taylor Trovillion of San Diego, California is the new chair of the March of Dimes National Youth Council. Taylor was born prematurely and has been involved in the March of Dimes in a leadership capacity for the past six years, including serving as a member and chair of the San Diego County Chain Reaction Council, a high school level student group that supports the March of Dimes. She has spoken on behalf of the March of Dimes in Sacramento and Washington D.C.  This will be her fourth year serving on the Youth Council. She also serves on the March of Dimes Wisconsin Chapter Board of Trustees and on its public affairs committee.  Taylor is a senior at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she is majoring in corporate and broadcast communications with a minor in political science.

Hilary Wright and Nikhita Thaper will serve as the new west and east Region vice chairs respectively.

• Hilary Wright, of Santee, California, a sophomore at the University of Southern California, is majoring in neuroscience with a minor in peace and conflict studies. As a high school freshman, Hilary joined the San Diego Chain Reaction Youth Council, serving as its Chair in 11th and 12th grade.  Hilary also serves as a Youth on Board for the March of Dimes Los Angeles chapter and this will be her second year on the council.
• Nikhita Thaper, of Cranbury, New Jersey, is a junior at Rutgers University where she is studying degrees in cell biology and neuroscience and public health and where she recently founded the university's March of Dimes Collegiate Council, a college-level group that supports the March of Dimes. As a volunteer for the March of Dimes since middle school, Nikhita has held roles on the Chain Reaction Council in Mercer County, New Jersey and Youth on Board for Central Jersey Division. This is her third year on the council.

New members include:

• Lindsey Hiebert, of Gainesville, Florida, is a freshman at Yale University in Connecticut studying international health. As a middle school student, Lindsey began her involvement with the March of Dimes as a National Junior Honor Society Member and later as a member of the March of Dimes Gainesville Chain Reaction Leadership Council. When her brother was born in 2007 with persistent breathing problems from being born preterm, her involvement grew by educating her community about the risks of preterm birth and participating annually in March of Babies.
• Joey Platt, of Salina, Kansas is a freshman at Kansas State University, with intentions of studying neonatal medicine. Joey served as the Family, Careers and Community Leader of America's National Vice President of Community Service, where she began her involvement with the March of Dimes as a team captain and received many awards for her strong leadership and service ethic.

National Youth Council members work closely with other volunteers and professional staff at the March of Dimes regional and national offices and in the chapters to provide leadership and assistance. In addition, National Youth Council members will be involved with other national partners, advocacy initiatives, and the development of collegiate programs to support the March of Dimes mission.  

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org and marchofdimes.com/youth for student volunteers. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE March of Dimes