Meet Huck House Youth Award Winner, Rafael Castro.

Soon to be the first in his family to graduate high school, Rafael is a hard-working young man who has had to rely on self-motivation to get him through school. He has emerged as a leader in the Be The One program at Walnut Ridge High School, he holds a part time job, and he plays soccer year-round. Soccer has become central to Rafael’s life and he applies the lessons he learned on the field to his everyday life. He values teamwork, mental-toughness and helping others. After graduation, he hopes to go to college and play soccer. Beyond college, Rafael wants to return to his native country, El Salvador, to build a soccer field for underprivileged children.

At only eighteen, Rafael is already giving back to his community, he says, “If I can use these two hands to help pass out food, I’ll do it.” He has a mature outlook on helping others and hopes adults and other youth will look around them and realize ways to help their community. Rafael deserves recognition for his resiliency and compassion in a world of political uncertainty for immigrants.