Celebrate! Boys & Girls Club Community Youth of the Year 2023

Shirley Stirling

I felt a shock of (virtual) fresh air and sunlight during the evening of Friday, February 3. I was deeply touched, wiping tears from my eyes. The night celebrated the Youth of the Year at the Raj Manhas Activity Center (RMAC) of North Thurston High School for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County (BGCTC). Close to 200 people attended.

Three 9th-grade students were honored as finalists for the 2023 Thurston County Youth of the Year. Each has earned the Youth of the Year title for their local branch. They embody the values of leadership, service, academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles:  Hadley Hughes, Rochester Branch; Zackaeus Trevino, Lacey Branch; and Lilly Wilson, Tumwater Branch.  They were each amazing!

Lilly Wilson was chosen as the overall Thurston County Youth of the Year. Congratulations to them all!

Their presentations stunned me. They each so eloquently shared snippets of their lives, struggles, and accomplishments, downtimes and happy times, and exactly how the Boys and Girls Club plays a part in a better life for themselves and others.

According to a Harris Interactive survey, 57% of Boys & Girls Club alumni say the Club "saved my life." These students attested to that, and I wish all kids could have this sort of help through the rough parts of childhood and adolescence. They spoke of emotional stuff: loneliness/friendship and estrangement/belonging.

They also spoke of steps towards excellence: growth, leadership skills, volunteerism, and public speaking. I was touched by their self-reflection, frankness, and insights. To hear these young teenagers eloquently verbalize their feelings and experience was a gift to me and to all who attended.

And I had a sense that the three of them were close, to find later from staff – yes, these kids from three of the Thurston County branches developed an affinity for each other and had a lot of fun through a series of adventures, in recognition as branch honorees and candidates for the county award.

Lilly

“I learned to be responsible while I was at the club. At the club, it was up to me to make sure my homework was done, and how I treated my peers reflected on me. I could be honest with them, and it helped me to be more open in general. I slowly grew into a bigger role, and now I work to make sure everyone feels heard and seen.’

“The Boys & Girls club has always supported me, and I am proud to be a part of it. I know that as I continue on in life, the experiences I've gained here will be with me throughout my life. I hope that my first job will be at the club, and while I may go on to do other things as well, I plan to volunteer and send my kids here when I get older. The club has impacted me in so many ways, and I always want to be a part of it.”

From the evening’s printed program: Lilly has been a member for two years! Lilly is a Freshman enrolled at A.G. West Black Hills High School (BHHS) in Tumwater. She enjoys karate, swimming, writing, and reading. She has a purple belt, dives for BHHS, is working on her own book, and loves dragons. Lilly's favorite activity at Club is volunteering with the younger youth. Her favorite quote is, "It is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change." – Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

Zackaeus

 “The Club gave me a space to be creative, hang out with friends, and learn new things. At the Club, I made some of my best friends. None of my friendships since then compared to the connections I had with those kids. I was able to be myself there and just be a kid like everyone else. The staff made me want to keep coming back.”

“The Club has changed but I have too. I'm not that little Club kid that I was. Now I’m a teen, and the Club is helping me figure out who I want to be. I’m looking ahead and excited about the next step in my Club experience.”

From the evening’s printed program: Zackaeus has been a member since kindergarten! He is a freshman at Timberline High School in Lacey, and enjoys basketball, video games, and spending time with family. At the Club, Zackaeus can be found playing basketball, lounging with other teens, or chatting it up with staff members. His favorite quote is: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” –Mahatma Gandhi

Hadley

 “I’ve literally been part of the Rochester Club my entire life. My Club has helped me grow and thrive which is how I’m able to speak in front of you today. Since they’ve helped me break out of my shell, I have been able to find and cultivate my personality. The Rochester Club will always be my Club, my family, my home, and the foundation for my future as an aspiring eight grade teacher.”

“Because of Club I am ready and excited to have the opportunity to grow on my own. This is a huge step, and if “little me” heard about this it would blow her mind. Who knew the painfully shy little girl could in fact gain confidence and strength through years of support from her family and Club to become independent and outgoing.”

From the program: Hadley has been a Boys and Girls Club member for nine years! She is a Freshman at Rochester High School and enjoys drawing, ceramics, theatre, music, and spending time with friends and family. She owns two lizards. Hadley's favorite activities at Club are "playing in the gym with the kids and just helping outside of the teen center." Her favorite quote is, "Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly." -Morticia Addams of Adams Family.

History of the Club

In social welfare history, you see the Boys and Girls Club as an urban, east coast organization. It was affiliated in Boston in 1906 but now lives throughout the USA, a federation of 1,100 independent organizations. It began in 1860 to give boys an alternative to walking the streets, capture their interests, increase their personal expectations, and develop character. In 1906, after 50 years, they received a congressional charter. From its earliest days, girls were also a part of the cause, and in 1990 they renamed themselves as Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Local Origins and Growth

In 2001, the club started in Thurston County with the Tumwater Branch and now has eight branches: Tumwater, Rochester, Lacey, Olympia, Tenino, Yelm, Ray Manhas Activities Center (RMAC) at North Thurston, and most recently, Griffin, which started in 2021. BGCTC served 2,500 youth in the pre-pandemic time period and is currently at 700 participants but building up toward their previous numbers.

In order to compete for consideration, students submit an application and essays, write and deliver a speech, and interview with a panel of judges, first at the branch level and then at the county level. The process includes a weekend retreat where they work on their written speech, public speaking skills, and interview skills. Since 2018, True Responders have partnered with BGCTC to outfit all finalists in professional attire for the big event.

The Youth of the Year Award includes monetary awards for all three finalists. Since they are early in their high school careers, the funds will be set aside until graduation. The awards total $1,500 for each runner-up and $9,000 for the county winner. If the county youth of the year had been a graduating senior, the award would be a two-year tuition scholarship from South Puget Sound Community College.

 “I heard that you volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club”, I confirmed with John Libby, a man who sat next to me at the event. “What do you do there!”

 “I volunteer!”

“Well, yes”, I said “but what I mean is…”

“I spend time with them,” he said, smiling. “For instance… I help the kids with their homework.” He looked up and thought for an instant. “I mentor them!” he exclaimed, now satisfied. I guess that says it all.

I applaud both the adults and youth who volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club and the staff, some of whom are alumni and/or have children in the program. Also, the judges, board members, and donors. And most of all I applaud the kids who, while having fun, make good use of their time developing skills, interests, friendships, and otherwise preparing themselves to live good and meaningful lives.

Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you’d like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.