The 20th Annual Youth of the Year Competition by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County was highlighted by Angela of the Fellsmere Club, who was named the county’s Youth of the Year. This achievement highlights the significant influence of the Boys & Girls Clubs on its members.
Angela, a Sebastian River High School junior and a member of the Club for 11 years, earned the Youth of the Year award through a comprehensive evaluation of her contributions to family, upstanding character, community involvement, academic achievements, and leadership within the Club.
Engaged in advanced, honors, and dual enrollment classes, Angela also leads as the Keystone president of the Club, showcasing outstanding leadership. Her goals reach beyond local achievements, with ambitions for a forensic science career post-graduation.
Angela aimed to inspire her siblings through her participation, expressing her desire to demonstrate that they can accomplish anything with determination.
“I wanted to participate in this competition to show my siblings they can achieve anything they put their minds to,” she said.
Serenity Marsh from the Vero Beach Club was named the county’s Junior Youth of the Year for the second year, impressing the judges with her speech, academic performance, and criminal justice career goals.
The intensive selection process for the competition involved the submission of essays, resumes, cover letters, and transcripts and delivering persuasive speeches to a judging panel comprised of community leaders and educators.
Victory in the county-level Youth of the Year opens the door for these young leaders to compete on state, regional, and national platforms over the year, with the top 5 regional winners earning a visit to the White House.
Laura Luettger, Chief Operating Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County, shared her pride in these young individuals for their exceptional service, leadership, and academic dedication.
“We are incredibly proud of these young people; they all have provided quality service to their Clubs and communities and have been outstanding leaders and students. We are fortunate to have pre-teens and teens this dedicated and passionate in pursuit of personal excellence as members of our clubs and setting a positive example for all of the youth we serve,” Luettger said.
Updates will follow as these young leaders advance towards state, regional, and potentially national recognition, signaling a promising future for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children by offering top-notch facilities, nurturing mentors, and enriching educational programs after school and throughout the summer.
Annually, it supports 1,000 young individuals aged 6-18, with 83% eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches. The organization manages three centers located in Sebastian, Fellsmere, and Vero Beach.
In 2019, Charity Navigator awarded it the highest ranking for the sixth year in a row, ranking it among the top 11% of charities nationwide. For additional details, visit their website, their Facebook page, or contact them at 772-299-7449.