Welcome to
National Youth
Story
To empower the nation’s youth through storytelling
Our Mission:
Strengthen Storytelling by promoting and teaching the art of story among young tellers
What’s happening in 2025
Get ready for an exciting adventure like no other. This year, our storytellers are in for an unforgettable experience. With some amazing updates in store, we’re thrilled to bring you even more moments of inspiration, connection, and growth.
Storytellers will participate in two Showcases, learn about the art of storytelling, participate in public humanities discussions, tell for a video recording, and record their stories with The Apple Seed radio and podcast. Storytellers will attend studio recordings for adult tellers. Tour local sites and eat great food from some of our sponsors. Share bonding time at the Museum of Natural Curiosity. All before sharing their stories at Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.
Join us in person or jump on virtually for one of our Facebook Live Showcase events. Please help us thank our sponsors.
Storytellers 2025
Annabelle Larson
Utah
Hannah Joy Cutrera
Utah
Ariana Watts
Utah
June Elyse Willingham
Florida
Taytem Harris
Utah
Elsie Parkinson
Virginia
Lily May
Texas
Tessa Taggart
Utah
Ender Rasmussen
Utah
Malan Poll
Utah
We appreciate our
Sponsors!
These individuals & organizations provide financial donations, goods and services to make youth storytelling come alive!
Taytem Harris
Taytem is in 7th grade! She stays very busy with archery, storytelling including writing her own stories, camping, basketball, theatre and most of all playing softball! Taytem gets good grades and loves being a part of hope squad.
Annabelle Larson
Annabelle Larson is an 9-year-old from Orem, Utah, and is thrilled to be selected as a National Youth Storyteller. Annabelle is a friend-magnet – always willing and ready to turn an acquaintance into a “BFF”. She is the 3rd of 4 tale-weaving children, and loves playing soccer, exploring nature, and enjoying board games with family and friends. Her vibrant imagination and joyful spirit bring her stories to life.
Ariana Watts
Ari is an eleven-year-old from Utah who loves to lose herself in stories and imagination. As her interests grew to include writing and musical theater, so did her ability to infuse her storytelling with some dramatic flair. She also enjoys running track, playing board games, and savoring the sweetness of a perfectly made cinnamon roll. She’s thrilled to be presenting a story she co-created at an event for story lovers.
Elsie Parkinson
Elsie loves stories. She reads them, listens to them, rewrites them, invents them, makes them up before bedtime for little siblings. She appears to have accepted there are other things in life, and thus plays tennis, cello, and occasionally holds non-storytelling conversations with others. But in reality, it may all just be part of her sourcing of new stories. The best part of listening to Elsie tell a story is the magical moment when she remembers that she has an audience and her infectious delight extends to everyone in the room.
Ender Rasmussen
Hannah Joy Cutrera
Hannah Joy is an eighth grade homeschool student from Utah. She loves dance, sewing, and storytelling. This is her second year being a National Youth Storyteller, and she is excited to be back.
June Elyse Willingham
June Elyse is thrilled to be part of the National Youth Storytellers this year and to attend the Timpanogos Festival for the first time. She only recently discovered the art of storytelling after a past National Youth Storyteller suggested she look into classes at her local library and quickly realized how much fun it was! June Elyse also loves reading, theatre, crafts, and traveling to new and beautiful places with her family.
Lily May
Lily is a 10-year-old fifth grader at Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Texas. She began studying storytelling at the age of seven. Lily is an active member of her local Girl Scouts troop and enjoys volunteering her time for local causes. She loves reading, writing poetry, and spending time with her younger sister, Mia.
Malan Poll
Malan is a 12-year-old storyteller from Utah who has been telling stories since she was very young, a passion that naturally led her to the stage. Her love of performing has grown through her work as an actress, most recently appearing as Brigitta in The Sound of Music at CenterPoint Theatre. When she’s not on stage, Malan enjoys reading, playing the piano, and taking long bubble baths. She is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this event and hopes you enjoy each and every story—after all, “There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.” (J.K. Rowling)
Tessa Taggart
Tessa Taggart is the youngest of five children, and her laughter sounds like liquid being poured from a bottle. She has three pet frogs and an insatiable appetite for play. She joyfully competes in soccer, volleyball, and swimming. She loved singing in a children’s choir for her church’s worldwide conference, and she once wrote a song about a cotton candy sledgehammer. She enjoys the spotlight whether it’s starring in her school play, taking first place in a ballroom competition, or playing the piano in her school talent show. She makes her family laugh with her madcap antics. Her presence is pure delight.
Capri Botkin
Capri, the youngest of four siblings, hails from a family of storytellers. Inspired by her three older brothers’ tales, she steps into the spotlight this year as a National Youth Storyteller. Beyond storytelling, Capri enjoys a variety of hobbies, including softball, skiing, and shopping. When she’s not on the field or hitting the slopes, you can find her spending time with friends, engaging in board games with her brothers, or caring for her pet snake, Ramen.
Chase Carroll
Chase is eleven years old and will be a sixth grader at Freedom Elementary this year. He has participated in the storytelling festival at his school for four years. He loves all sports, including football, basketball, tennis and wake surfing. Chase has a good sense of humor and he especially loves teasing his three sisters and older brother. He also has a kind and compassionate heart and is a big animal lover—you can always find him hugging his dog, “Maverick.” Chase was chosen to be Hans in his school play “Frozen” last year. He also participated in student council. He is excited about participating in this years’ National Storytelling Festival!
Claire Burnham
Claire is ecstatic to return to the Storytelling Festival for her third year. She loves improv, acting, writing, and all other methods of telling stories.
Cohen Botkin
Elsie Parkinson
Hannah Joy Cutrera
Hannah Lancto
Lynlee Whimpey
Mckinley Brinkerhoff
Mckinley is a 12 year old from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She has six brothers – three older and three younger. She plays flag football, basketball and runs track. She also plays the piano and sings. She likes art, reading, and writing. She loves telling stories and has been competing in school storytelling competitions since kindergarten. She’s excited to be able to share one of her favorite stories.
