For Viv Shields '20, being the St. Anne’s-Belfield School nominee for this year’s Emily Couric Leadership Awards meant being recognized for four years of quiet work.
“It means so much to me to be recognized for all of the hard work I've done in high school that no one really knew about,” said Shields. “I believe it’s incredibly important for young women to be recognized as leaders and the Emily Couric Leadership Forum makes me very hopeful for the future of all women.”
In addition to serving in student government roles for each of her high school years, Shields has taken a leadership role in environmental and sustainability issues on campus and beyond. She was the 2019 recipient of the Frank Stinchfield Environmental and Experiential Scholarship, which she used to fund an experience with the NewGen Peacebuilder’s program. She employed the skills she learned there to launch a local youth advocacy group, the Youth Environmental Advocacy Committee.