At Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, Youth of the Year is the highest honor any Boys & Girls Club member can receive. Each of our 38 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Northeast Florida nominates up to three Youth of the Year candidates for elementary school, middle school and high school categories.
Our Youth of the Year nominees represent their Club in this competition, celebrating Club members’ academic achievements, leadership abilities, and communication skills.
The nominees have worked tirelessly over the past few months to be named this year’s winner. The rigorous selection process includes personal essays and panel interviews.
As we eagerly await the announcement of our new 2022 Youth of the Year on February 22, we want to highlight and congratulate all of our nominees for their hard work and dedication to leadership.
Please join us in congratulating the following 2022 Youth of the Year Nominees.
Nominees not pictured are:
Alexis W., Eugene Butler Middle Boys & Girls Club
Braxton B., Northwest Boys & Girls Club
Claudia A., Highlands Middle Boys & Girls Club
Cris R., Fort Caroline Elementary Boys & Girls Club
Kamora J., Ruth N. Upson Elementary Boys & Girls Club
Malak A., Windy Hill Elementary Boys & Girls Club
Malaysia L., Southwind Villas Boys & Girls Club
2022 Youth of the Year Nominees
Quotes from a Few of Our High School Nominees
Modeling Leadership Through Mentorship
“I have had the most amazing seven years as a member of THE PLAYERS Championship Boys & Girls Club. Being taught love, kindness, compassion and discipline daily gives a great foundation for any youth to be successful. These lessons have kept me away from doing the easier wrong, over the harder right. At my Club, the staff, teachers and unit directors are always pushing the Club members to be the very best version of themselves as possible.
“Our leaders make it easy to want to emulate them, by creating opportunities for everyone in hopes of preparing us for the real world. I have learned independence, how to ask for help, transparency, honesty and most importantly to always do the right thing even when no one is looking. So, thank you, to my TPC Club family for helping me find my purpose, direction and motivation in this world.”
- Ambrosia C., THE PLAYERS Championship Boys & Girls Club
Inspired for a Career in Education
“The Boys & Girls Club provides me with a space for community, personal growth and support. As the president of the Keystone Club, I have learned leadership skills like how to communicate effectively with others, collaborate with fellow members and set clear expectations. As a Junior Staff member and volunteer at the Club, I learned the value of being responsible and teaching others.
My experience in attending the Club has had a positive impact on my future. Through my experience of being a leader and helping children, it has influenced me when choosing my career path. Through volunteering at the club, I have discovered a passion for education, and I now want to be an educator. The club has given me resources and a community that I can always rely on. In addition, I gave been given many community service hours and learned the value of volunteering my time to others.”
- Marlie G., McKenzie’s Beaches Boys & Girls Club
Overcoming The Past by Creating Great Futures
“When entering the Boys and Girls Club, it was like entering a whole new part of the school. It was new technology and a new setting. It felt accepting and it felt amazing to be a part of the first year of the Boys and Girls Club at Edward H. White High School. The Boys and Girls Club set up a standard, which let us know that we could be who we are and accomplish anything we put our minds to.
“Many of us endured the struggles of poverty, neglect, abuse and a not so good upcoming, giving most of the student body something to relate to. I personally went through the struggle of poverty, but the Boys and Girls Club helped to build my confidence and helped me to realize there was no time for dwelling in our past but creating our future.
“I felt like I could lead by example and show them there is only one way up from rock bottom. Since then, I have become the President of the Keystone Club in the Boys and Girls Club, planning events and making sure every student in the Club feels involved and does not have to stress about what they do and do not have.”
- Laniya F., Edward H. White Teen Center
Supportive, Caring Mentors
“My experience at the Boys and Girls Club has made me who I am because of the programs and the supportive and caring people who always push me to be my best. Ms. London taught me and showed me how to respect others if I wanted the same respect. Her proverbs and life lessons will forever be with me through life.
“Ms. Hattie has taught me to control my feelings, overcome my weaknesses and pursue what I think is right despite temptations to abandon it. My awesome experience has come from the changes I’ve seen within myself being at the Boys and Girls Club.”
- Christian A., Baxter E. Luther Boys & Girls Club
New Experiences Shape Great Futures
“Overall, my experience at the Citi Teen Center has been nothing but great, and I think it is a perfect environment for anybody looking to meet new people and be exposed to information that is useful in shaping our future. The Citi Teen Center offers different programs for students to take part in every day. We can learn graphic design and make shirts and banners or take part in robotics.
“Over the few months I’ve been involved with the organization, I've experienced a great atmosphere where I can interact with people my age. I’ve met new people and got to experience new things that aren’t as easily accessible in my community. The counselors that I interact with everyday all have unique personalities and get along very well with the youth.”
- Tijay G., Citi Teen Center