The Youth of the Year program is a National Boys & Girls Clubs program that recognizes teens for outstanding contributions to their family, school, community and Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome.
Participants are chosen on local, state and regional levels - with five regional winners meeting each September in Washington, D.C. to compete for the National Youth of the Year title. At the National level, five judges individually interview each candidate and select the winner on the basis of scholastic achievement; community service; leadership ability; and consideration of any physical, social or emotional obstacles overcome.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana has recognized thirty-five agency Youth of the Year winners since 1976. Each year, five Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana sites recognize one youth to advance to the agency-wide judging. The selected youth are judged based on the national judging format by a panel of community members prior to the ceremony hosted to honor our youth and announce the winner. The winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and each runner-up will receive a $2,500 scholarship thanks to John and Marge Owens. In addition, each candidate will be selected throughout the year to participate in agency-wide speaking engagements and events.
Youth Candidates:
Hammond Club-Whitley
Whitley is 17 and has attended the Hammond Club for 10 years. She is a senior at the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology and is actively involved in the community and at the Club. Whitely has developed a “volunteer’s heart”, a selfless approach to serving others in her community, always ready to help wherever and whenever she is needed. In the Club you will see Whitley mentoring and helping the younger children with life challenges and home work.
At the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology (HAST), a school that uses technology and researched based instruction to provide the highest quality of education to their students, she serves as the volleyball team captain, plays varsity basketball and has an authoritative role in the Junior Planning Committee. Just recently, she planned and coordinated a successful Salvation Army Toy Drive for the 2013 Holiday Season. Whitley is currently involved in L.E.A.D (Leading and Educating Across Domains) a program focusing on drug and alcohol prevention and graduated from SLYC (Southshore Leadership for Youth and Community Engagement) this past December.
“Whitley is a selfless, diligent and organized individual who puts her heart and soul into serving others in her community,” states PJ Jones, Club Director at the Hammond Club. Gary Club-Aaron
Aaron has attended the Club for over 10 years and is currently a senior at Calumet New Tech High School majoring in music and business. Aaron is very involved in his community and Club. At the Club he is involved in the Keystone Leadership Club, Junior Staff and Ten Rites of Passage through these programs he has developed great communication skills, learned how to become a leader amongst his peers and participates weekly in the planning process for programs and special events. Aaron is the second oldest sibling of five and is responsible for helping raise his younger sibling and help financially support the family. What does the Club mean to Aaron…
“Part of the Boys & Girls Club mission is to inspire our members. I have been encouraged, supported, and empowered by my Club family. There are many inspiring statements that are quoted by former Boys & Girls Club members but the one that always stands out to me is “Hope and Opportunity.” Hope is the beginning of knowing that there is a chance for success in my life. Opportunity is God allowing me to wake up every day to do better today than I did yesterday. Do I believe in myself? Yes! I believe that I have overcome many obstacles in my life and will be faced with many more, just like everyone else. I have learned that I must make a stand for myself, be a leader and lead by example. In life I must learn to handle situations and make the right decisions. I learned all of this from my Boys & Girls Club.”
East Chicago Club-Angielic
Angielic grew up in a neighborhood where violence, gangs and drugs where an everyday reminder that she had to strive to be something better. That she had to strive for greatness, being the oldest girl and out of 11 siblings. Angleic grew up experiencing constant worry whether it was how to pay the bills, where their next meal may come from or her other siblings safety. At age 7, Angelic came across the Boys & Girls Club with one of her bothers as they were out looking for a drink of water. Ms. Maria welcomed them in and sent them home with membership applications and her journey began. The Club has helped her through many challenges she has faced in life. Angielic, now 16, volunteers in her community through Keystone Club, is a Junior Staff at the Club and takes honor classes in school. “I have always felt that the Boys & Girls Club is a home away from home. It is a place I can go where I can be myself, help others on their journey, continue to make new friends and meet new people but most of all be happy,” states Angielic.
Lake Station-David
David, since birth, has faced many challenges the most severe has been his battle with Cerebral Palsy. This was not easy as a youth he was teased often and could not do what all his friends were doing. David started coming to the Club as a cadet but as he grew into his teens stopped attending. His life became challenging, living in an area where gang violence and shootings were an everyday occurrence, David starting dealing and fell victim to drug use. He lived through being attacked and loosing friends to gang violence. He saw his life spiraling out of control and decided he had to make changes. He came back to the Club, a place he remembered as a safe-haven, somewhere where he could open up a new door in life. The Club saved his life; David started participating in programs like Passport to Manhood and SMART Moves. David never met his father but at the Club he had adult, male mentors that he looked up to and came to for advice. He wants to make sure that he can provide a better life for his future family then what he had. His goal is to graduate and work with the Marines assisting with clerical and administrative work.
Cedar Lake-Caitlin
Caitlin has been a member at the Cedar Lake Club for three years and is actively involved in mentoring and sports programs. She has a passion for living a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and healthy food habits. Hear Catlin’s perspective on healthy choices. “I believe that with a combined effort we can influence the choices of others, especially young people, to life healthier lifestyles. Habits are just that, habits, developed through daily routine and lifestyles that may have been acquired at a young age. The futures of our communities need us to encourage today’s youth to get out and be active. This has been a growing epidemic in the US for the past few years and you can count me in! I want to work on engaging anyone I can to get on board and start living a healthier lifestyle. Is it the culture we life in? Are kids still engaged in physical activity and given healthy food options? Or have we become accustomed to the drive-thru? How would America react if we took away all of the fast food options? Would we be healthier? I would like to believe that if enough people gather together to encourage, support and influence our communities, we as a whole, could make a positive impact. We could all have a persuasive voice that could help influence the choices of our youth.”
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana
Every child deserves the opportunity to be successful. Currently operating six Clubs in Lake County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana (BGCNWI) has been offering hope and opportunity to local youth since 1954 by providing a safe place for kids to learn and grow through life enhancing after-school and summer programming. With the support of highly trained professional staff and adult mentors, BGCNWI helps build great futures by offering fun, engaging and impactful programs to nearly 10,000 youth ages 6 to 18. When schools are out, Clubs are in! For more information about BGCNWI visit bgcnwi.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BGCNWI.