4-H Young Alumni Advisory Committee Members
Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rachel Bee of Utah, Alex Paul of Illinois and Ronak Suchindra of Pennsylvania will join National 4-H Council’s Young Alumni Advisory Committee (YAAC). They will serve as ambassadors, advisors and advocates for 4-H, helping to strengthen alumni engagement.
Together, they bring experience in agriculture, civic engagement, STEM, and youth leadership reflecting the breadth of 4-H experiences that prepare young people to be Beyond Ready and lead in their communities, careers, and lives.
Rachel Bee – Utah State University Cooperative Extension
A 10-year 4-H member, Bee developed her leadership through livestock programs and ambassador roles, including serving as a State Livestock Project Ambassador, while turning skills gained through 4-H into entrepreneurial ventures. She launched Infusion Hero, a company that designs hoodies for patients receiving medical treatments. Rachel is pursuing her degree in accounting at Southern Utah University.
Alex Paul – University of Illinois Cooperative Extension
Paul joined 4-H as a high school freshman and quickly grew into state and national leadership, serving as President of Illinois 4-H and representing 4-H through national leadership opportunities. Now a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he plans to pursue a path in law, public policy and advocacy, building on the confidence, communication skills and commitment to civic engagement he developed through 4-H.
Ronak Suchindra – Pennsylvania State Cooperative Extension
A nine-year 4-H member and former National 4-H Youth in Action winner, Suchindra has helped expand hands-on STEM learning, including leading more than 30 STEM camps reaching more than 600 young people across Pennsylvania. Now studying at the University of Pennsylvania, he brings experience in STEM, artificial intelligence and youth leadership and a vision for helping young people build the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Young Alumni Help Shape What Comes Next
“Rachel, Alex and Ronak represent a generation of 4-H alumni who are ready to put their skills, ideas and experiences into action,” said Heather Elliott, Chief Development and Marketing Officer, National 4-H Council. “Their leadership reflects what we want for every young person through Beyond Ready: the confidence, connections and skills to navigate what comes next and make a meaningful difference in their communities.”
YAAC connects emerging leaders with opportunities to continue contributing to 4-H as they transition from 4-H members to young alumni. They bring young alumni perspectives to strengthen connections with the broader 4-H alumni community and help create opportunities for the next generation of 4-H’ers. The experiences of this incoming class demonstrate the many ways 4-H prepares young people to move confidently into their next chapter. From launching businesses and pursuing public policy to exploring the possibilities of artificial intelligence, Bee, Paul and Suchindra are applying the skills developed through 4-H to areas that will shape communities, careers and the future.
Attachment
- 4-H Young Alumni Advisory Committee Members
CONTACT: Yolanda Stephen National 4-H Council 3019612863 [email protected]
