Contact:

Tyrell Scott, Media Coordinator

757-321-7078

tscott@bgcseva.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia

Virginia Beach Teen Named 2024 BGCSEVA Youth of the Year

Chesapeake Teen Named First-Ever BGCSEVA Junior Youth of the Year

Virginia Beach, VA – Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia (BGCSEVA) is proud to announce the 2024 Youth of the Year winner, Gabriel, and first-ever BGCSEVA Junior Youth of the Year winner, Kiara. The winners were announced on March 28, 2024, at the annual Youth of the Year Gala, held at The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center. The event honors exemplary teen Club members and is the organization’s largest fundraiser for BGCSEVA’s nine Clubs across Southeast Virginia. This year’s gala was hosted by emcee Kurt Williams, anchor at WTKR News3, and presented by Family Dollar, Title Sponsor.

Established in 1947, Youth of the Year is the premier youth recognition program of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This national competition is designed to promote and recognize a teen member’s service to Club and community, academic performance, and contributions to family and spiritual life. Competition begins at the local level, where individual Clubs select a Youth of the Year from Club members, ages 14-18, and they then compete for the title of Youth of the Year of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia. The winner advances to the statewide competition and receives a college scholarship.

This year, BGCSEVA honored two Youths of the Year: Gabriel (Virginia Beach) and Isaiah (Chesapeake). Both teens worked hard this past year with their Club staff to fulfill the requirements to compete for Youth of the Year. In February, they went through final judging, hosted by Cox Communications, where they had to give a personal speech and answer questions from a panel of five judges. On March 28th, both Gabriel and Isaiah gave their compelling and heartfelt speeches in front of over 300 attentive supporters and community leaders.

Gabriel said, “The process may have been hard, but it was all worth showing the kids around me that you can do anything if you try. #Proud of myself.”

Three Junior Youths of the Year were also honored: Harmony (Eastern Shore), Kiara (Chesapeake), and Sharell (Portsmouth). The Junior Youths of the Year were interviewed by Kurt Williams, giving answers that delighted, surprised, and inspired the audience. Distinct from the National Youth of the Year program, Junior Youth of the Year seeks to develop junior leaders within the Club environment. The program fosters Club members’ emerging leadership abilities while preparing them for later participation in the Youth of the Year program. In addition to recognizing the achievements of Club youth, Junior Youth of the Year also cultivates their potential, providing the foundation they need for advanced leadership development, academic excellence, and postsecondary success. Through this program, Club youth become motivated to seek opportunities for leadership and to act as responsible citizens and change agents.

Since 2018, the Youth of the Year Gala has featured the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Hall of Fame honors community leaders who are integral to the success of our organization and have made great strides towards ensuring that Great Futures Start Here. This year, BGCSEVA was proud to induct G. Robert Aston, Jr., Executive Chairman of TowneBank.

See photos here. https://boysandgirlsclubofsoutheastvirginia.pixieset.com/youthoftheyear2024/

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About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. More than 4,700 Clubs serve 4.6 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America at BGCA.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia (bgcseva.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, the organization serves 7 cities throughout Southampton Roads and provides services to nearly 2,000 youth organization-wide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.

Virginia Beach Teen Named 2024 BGCSEVA Youth of the Year Chesapeake Teen Named First-Ever BGCSEVA Junior Youth of the Year