Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana is just weeks away from one of its biggest events of the year, the annual Youth of the Year. The event is the capstone on an extensive recognition program that engages teenagers from its ten Northwest Indiana Clubs in various leadership experiences.
Youth of the Year is by no means a one-night affair. Club members are nominated by staff leadership in the Fall and then participate in an array of prep work and activities. Each nominee completes three essays, writes a resume, presents a three-minute speech and public speaking training, secures two letters of recommendation, and engages in a formal interview with the judges.
“Our teen candidates exemplify the Boys & Girls Clubs mission and are proof of the impact Clubs make in transforming and saving kids’ lives,” says Mike Jessen, CEO at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. “Each has attended our Clubs for years, and is celebrated for their extraordinary achievements, volunteerism in the community, and mentorship of our younger Club kids. They are true Ambassadors of the BGCA Movement.”
After their selection, each candidate is paired with a Professionals Advancing Local Success (PALS) member. These individuals are young professionals from the Region, ages 25-40, who serve as mentors and coaches for months leading up to the event. PALs mentors help guide the candidates as they compile their thoughts and experiences into impressive written and spoken word. Speeches are performed in front of an audience of 400+ supporters at the Youth of the Year event. By telling their inspiring stories and sharing what the Club means to them, candidates give us an inside view into their personal growth and ways that they embody strong standards of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
“Their speeches are more than an autobiography. The power of storytelling allows these teenagers to share their authentic selves, while spotlighting their academic success, healthy lifestyle choices, and future plans. Throughout the process, it helps them to strengthen their voice and gain confidence as they embark on their next chapter of young adulthood,” shared Wendy Mang, Director of Community Outreach, who proudly organizes the annual event. Mang, who has been with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana for years, explained that seeing the growth of the Club members throughout their candidacy is one of her favorite parts of the job.
Before the big night, the candidates take part in a few special outings with their PALS members and staff mentors. There is a formal etiquette dinner, hosted at Asparagus in Merrillville, where the candidates learn about good eye contact, table place settings, and polite interactions with restaurant staff. They go through things like introductions and how to give a good handshake. It goes beyond basic dinner etiquette. It’s meant to help them in other life events such as meetings and job interviews. The PALS group also pays for a shopping spree to select professional attire to be worn at the event.
“The kids get really excited,” Director of Marketing, Stephanie Letic, said. “The boys love selecting their ties, especially the ones who pick a bowtie. For a lot of them, it might be the first time they’ve ever owned a suit. They’re very intentional about having their outfit show off their personality. Some go with clean and crisp outfits, while others select pops of color and patterns.”
These kids tend to start out shy and timid, and by the night of the event, they’re confident on stage giving their speech and playing it up to the crowd. It’s enjoyable to see how much these Club members grow and how much confidence they gain in a few short months. The winner of the event goes on to a State competition, then potentially a regional and national competition hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The National Youth of the Year is a role model, leader and advocate for more than 3 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year and all of America’s young people.
Please consider attending this impactful event. The 2025 Youth of the Year ceremony is set for Thursday, February 27 at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana. Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m., with the program commencing at 6 p.m. Entrance is free, but please visit bgcgreaternwi.org/2025yoy to RSVP.
