It's no surprise that Roots & Shoots Youth Leader Mitch Paine was voted by his classmates as most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

He works to raise awareness about marine issues, conservation and global warming. He designed an environmental science curriculum to be taught in the high school system. He joined Lincoln, Nebraska Mayor Chris Beutler's election campaign. He's a talented violist who conducted his own composition for the Lincoln Youth Symphony. He trains harbor seals in his spare time.

Not bad for an 18-year-old.

Mitch became involved with Roots & Shoots his freshman year of high school when Dr. Jane spoke at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He looked for her afterward to get an autograph and found her sitting in an art gallery on campus. She gave Mitch not only an autograph but also the motivation to make change happen.

"I talked to her about my interests," Mitch said. "I thought, 'Hey, I should really take her advice and start a Roots & Shoots group.'"

And he did.

The Lincoln native participates in the Zoo School Science Focus Program, which allows him to attend most of his classes at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.

Mitch's R&S group at Zoo School is involved with reaching out to the public, planting trees, saving the tiger beetle, doing zoo cleanups and creating a natural children's play center at a local prairie.

"Roots & Shoots is the best program I have seen," Mitch said. "It's really given me perspective on what youth can do."

Recently, Mitch joined the Roots & Shoots College Leadership Council.

"When I first started interviewing and speaking to Mitch I was immediately impressed by what he had accomplished on his own at such a young age," said Grace Felten, College and Youth Leadership Initiatives Manager. "There was no doubt in my mind that he was an extraordinary young person and showed not only amazing motivation but he very naturally lived our Roots & Shoots philosophy of Knowledge, Compassion and Action."

This September Mitch will begin studying natural resources and agriculture economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He's considering a career in politics. If he's ever elected to the U.S. Senate, Mitch said he'll make a point to visit schools, talk to youth and promote the Roots & Shoots message—just like Dr. Jane.

Want to get better acquainted with Mitch? Read a newspaper article about him.

Want to be a Roots & Shoots Youth Leader, like Mitch? Learn more about the Roots & Shoots Youth and College Leadership Councils.