Held in January, Youth of the Year is a national program designed to promote and recognize service to the Club and community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life. To be named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Club member can have.
Competition begins with each Club site nominating a Youth of the Year in three age categories – Elementary, Junior and Teen – who all receive a certificate and medallion. The program culminates at a special Youth of the Year event, during which each nominee reads an original essay about what Boys & Girls Club means to them and are judged by a panel of local judges.
The 2023 Youth of the Year event, presented by Inter-State Studio & Publishing, was held January 31 at the Liberty Center Association for the Arts. Winners were Nolen Gieschen (elementary), Brooklyn Hathaway (junior) and Austin Nations (teen). Brooklyn and Austin will go on to compete at the State Youth of the Year event, held in Jefferson City in April.