Zachary Kerr is your typical outgoing, transgender teen, and he's one of this year's honorees for the TeenNick HALO Awards. Kerr's work in the transgender community at just 19-year-old, has changed lives. Kerr facilitates educational programs through Greater Boston's PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), demonstrates fearlessness in the face of adversity, and is a role model to thousands of transgender individuals who struggle daily with their identity.

Kerr grew up as an identical third in set of triplets, in a home in Methuen, Massachusetts.  He dealt with years of anxiety and confusion before coming to terms with his personal identity and his gender identity. The transition from female to male made him a constant source of ridicule in his community, and he was targeted by teachers and students at school. The challenges at school inspired Kerr to be a positive advocate for change and transgender empowerment. He joined his school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), and became the president, which enabled him to travel to Washington D.C., as a youth representative for the organization.  Later, he joined the Massachusetts Safe School Program for LGBT students and Greater Boston PFLAG; both were sites where he held workshops, educational programing, and taught how to create safe environments for LGBT youth.

"I want to be a living, breathing example of what it means to be happy and GLABT," Kerr said.

The college freshman has travelled to over 200 schools throughout the state of Michigan, and has met with the state's governor about the Transgender Equal Rights Bill.

Kerr was recently honored by Josh Hutcherson ("The Hunger Games and Catching Fire") at a Basketball Tournament on Aug. 9 in Los Angeles, Calif., in anticipation of the award show. Nickelodeon's TeenNick HALO Award broadcasts live on Nov. 17 on TeenNick. HALO honorees receive grants to further their causes. Which for Kerr, are plans to develop a mentoring program for transgender youth that is similar to the Big Brothers Big Sisters.