Carter Anderson

Carter Anderson is a student activist from Alexandria, Virginia. He and Naomi Wadler have been friends and neighbors since kindergarten. After his participation in a student protest at the White House left him feeling like kids could really make a difference, Carter joined Naomi to lead a student walkout at their elementary school on the one-month anniversary of the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Their walkout, which gained international attention, was 18 minutes long—17 minutes for each student and teacher who lost their lives in Parkland, and one additional minute for Courtlin Arrington, an African American student who was murdered in her Alabama high school shortly after the Parkland shooting.

Carter will contribute part of his award to advance international peace efforts through the Carter Center in Atlanta. He and Naomi are writing a book to encourage kids to get involved and make a difference.