State Honoree

Paige Logan, 18, of Altamont, Ill., a senior at Altamont High School, became a leading voice against bullying on the local, state and national level after she won a local pageant in the eighth grade and then experienced attacks online and became the subject of gossip and rumors from classmates -- and, in some cases, even from their parents. "When it happened, I just started going down and down," said Paige. "I didn't want to go to school anymore and my grades started slipping." School officials eventually interceded, but by then, Paige had already decided that she had to do something to keep the same thing from happening to others. "I decided to take action, make a difference not only for my school, but for my community, my country and even my world," said Paige.

For many years, Paige had been a leader in her local 4-H, teaching cooking classes to youngsters, and helping to start a program that has recycled 1,500 pounds of unused prescription medications. This time she turned to 4-H to hone her leadership skills so she could speak with authority. She began traveling to schools and universities to speak about bullying, and won grants to conduct a leadership camp and an anti-bullying program in her county. She has been invited to serve on several state and local boards, as well as participate at bullying-prevention summits in Washington, D.C. In addition, she serves as a national spokesperson for the Great American No Bull Challenge. While the public is now more aware of the problem, Paige says bullying is more complicated today than ever before. "All day it happens at school and then when you think you are safe in your own home, you're not," she said. "Because of the use of cell phones and social networks, bullying is now a 24-hour event."