Martinez, of Minden, opened the Hope Youth Ranch, a residential facility for boys age 7-18, in 1996.

Whitaker is a resident of Minden and pastor of the Victory Praise and Worship Center. He founded the Victory Community Development Corporation, which sponsors tutorial services, sexual abstinence seminars and college entrance test preparation classes for area youth.

Broussard has championed children’s involvement in the arts and regional culture for two decades, providing a much-needed filling in a gap in the curricula of Webster Parish schools. In addition to the hours she spends working with Cultural Crossroads of Minden, which she cofounded in 1993, she teaches afterschool art classes with nominal fees and directs area children in plays – one featuring more than 300 children from around the parish. Broussard has also raised more than $500,000 for arts programs. She was a winner in 2008.

In addition to her 33-year career as a schoolteacher, Wilson has served the children of Minden in a variety of ways. She has tutored fourth graders for their LEAP tests, mentored children in other grades, taught Sunday school, collected school supplies and worked with girl Scouts and the 4-H Club.

Brewster is active in many programs benefiting children in and around Heflin, especially youth baseball leagues and tournaments.

Martinez operates the Hope Youth Ranch, where since 1994 he has helped more than 800 youg boys in the state's foster care system.

Broussard has championed children’s involvement in the arts and regional culture for two decades, filling a gap in Webster Parish school curricula with art, music and dance instruction. In addition to the hours she spends working with Cultural Crossroads of Minden, which she co-founded in 1993, she teaches after-school art classes with nominal fees and directs area children in plays – one featuring more than 300 children from around the parish. Broussard has also raised more than $500,000 for arts programs. She was also nominated in 2005.

A retired schoolteacher, Rhynes founded the James C. Rhynes Foundation to honor her late husband, also a lifelong educator. The Foundation provides free school supplies, free haircuts, back-to-school tips, gift cards and incentives to encourage area youth to continue their academic pursuits. Rhynes also organizes an annual Back-to-School Event in August to help parents who need free supplies for their children to attend school.