San Diego Teen Nabs peta2 Award
Known for Provocative SeaWorld Protest, Caring Teen Also Pushes to Cut Out Dissection in Science Classes
For Immediate Release:
December 17, 2015
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Every year, peta2, PETA’s youth division, recognizes the best, brightest, and most animal-friendly companies, celebrities, and activists—and it doesn’t get much better or brighter than Camryn Thompson. That’s why the San Diego 16-year-old is taking home the title of 2015 Star Street Teamer of the Year in the 10th Annual Libby Awards (“Libby” is for “liberation”—as in animal liberation) for her efforts to promote kindness to animals.
At 9 years old, Camryn wondered what happened to pigs before they became food on her plate—and a quick search of PETA’s website prompted her to give up meat for good and eventually go vegan. Now, as a member of peta2’s Youth Advisory Board, Camryn offers constant feedback and ideas to help make peta2 bigger and better. She’s also on the front lines at every SeaWorld protest she can get to. Classmates refer to her as “the girl in the prison uniform at the SeaWorld protest”—which she did in solidarity with Tilikum, an orca, who has been held captive at the amusement park for more than 30 years. When not out holding protests, Camryn is hard at work pushing her school to adopt modern, high-tech dissection software that students can use instead of cutting up animals.
“This is the second year running that peta2’s Star Street Teamer has hailed from San Diego, where so many compassionate teens are eager to speak out against SeaWorld’s cruelty to orcas,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “Camryn Thompson is the perfect example of a young activist with an enthusiasm and dedication for helping animals at home, at school, and in her community.”
The 10th Annual Libby Awards recognize winners in 21 categories, including Most Animal-Friendly Band, Best Vegan Meat, and Best Vegan “Dude” Product. Visitors to peta2.com/libbys cast votes to help peta2 decide whom it would choose as Libby Award winners, and winners were chosen by peta2—whose motto reads, “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way”—based on several factors, including vote count. See the full contest details here.
For more information, please visit peta2.com or click here.
