YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNERS

2007 - Samantha

South Portland Boys & Girls Club
Activities and Accomplishments: After being selected as South Portland Club’s Youth of the Year, Samantha was subsequently chosen as Maine’s Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year.  Club members from around the state participated in the competition in Augusta which was judged by community and business leaders.  
A Club member for 10 years, Sam has participated in Fine Art Exhibit, Sip 'n Sew, Creative Ladies, Smart Girls, Torch Club, Job Smarts, and Star Student. She joined the Cadet Cheering Squad and cheered for the Club through middle school.  She made the varsity cheering squad at South Portland High School, but continues as a volunteer with the Club’s cheerleading program.  Samantha is involved in many community service projects, including volunteer work at the South Portland Nursing Home and Seventy-Five State, an assisted living center in Portland.  She frequently volunteers at the Club and Club-related events.

2007 - Brianna

Portland Boys & Girls Club
Activities and Accomplishments: The Portland Club’s Youth of the Year is Brianna who has been a very active member for nine years.  She serves as Keystone Club President and is an active participant in the Club’s Power Hour, often helping other members with their schoolwork.  Brianna is a dedicated student and devotes enormous efforts to school projects, working hard to earn the best possible grades.  If Brianna is at the Club, chances are she is assisting the staff by helping with snack times, filling in for the membership secretary at the Club’s very busy front desk, or providing tours to new members or donors.

2007 - Natascha

Boys & Girls Club of Auburn/Lewiston
Activities and Accomplishments
Natascha took Youth of the Year honors at the Auburn/Lewiston Club.  While she has only been a member of the Auburn/Lewiston Club for three years, Natascha has made a huge impression.  She mentors younger members and motivates them to do their part to help make the Club a welcoming place to all.  Natascha reads to Club members who do are not able to read and helps younger members with homework.  She assists with the snack program, helping to prepare the food and serve Club members.  Natascha is also one of the most influential Club members in the annual “Clean outside the Club”.

2006 - Omar

Portland Boys & Girls Club
Activities and Accomplishments: A Club member for 7 years, Omar is a positive, outgoing, and friendly young man.  He is a member of the National Honor Society and the International Club at his school.  Omar was recognized as Peer Leader Youth of the Year, a youth-led after school program in his community.  At the Club, he participated in the computer program and received recognition as the ping-pong champion.  Omar’s leadership of younger Club members earned him a job at the Riverton Extension, where he has done an excellent job connecting with the kids.

"What the Club Means to Me": “The Club seemed like a second home to me.  When my mother was at work I would come to the Club for an afternoon shelter. . . If it wasn’t for the Club, I wouldn’t have been where I am right now.”

2006 - Katrina

2006 - Shawna

Hajira

Activities and Accomplishments:
Hajira, one of 17 members of a large family, came to live in the US from Somalia ten years ago, and has a significant amount of responsibility as a sister and daughter.  Hajira has taken a lead role as a volunteer at a local social service agency by helping peers develop positive life skills.  Hajira is true to her culture and her religion and has faced often daunting peer pressure, which she has resisted.  Hajira is also employed at the Club.

"What the Club Means to Me"
“The Boy & Girls Club was like a home to me;  I developed new skills, learned many things and just had fun when I needed it…all these things could and will help me in the future when I step into the real world.”
 

Kayleigh

Activities and Accomplishments:
Kayleigh, a member of her Club for ten years, is a very dedicated member of Keystone, 4-H and her school.  Kayleigh is particularly empathetic toward those who have had a serious illness, and she has worked to raise funds for the local hospital and the illness-related causes. As a result of Kayleigh’s work with younger Club members, she has decided to pursue a career in teaching.

"What the Club Means to Me"
"The staff and members at the Club have always made me feel welcome with their generosity and openness…they always want the best for their Club members.  Their support always makes someone’s bad day go into a good day.”
 

Mark

Activities and Accomplishments:
Mark has been a member of the Club for seven years.  During that time, he has become increasingly involved in his community through the American Cancer Society, a local soup kitchen. At the Club, Mark is the president of the newly formed Teen Council, and plays an active role in supervising activities for younger members.  Mark has had to work very hard to overcome obstacles as he continues toward his life goals, which include a college education.

"What the Club Means to Me"
”The Boys & Girls Club means everything to me…because of the caring staff members, because of the love that I feel surrounding me, because of the friendships that are long lasting...”
 

Brittany

Activities and Accomplishments:
Brittany has overcome great difficulty in her life to become a successful young person with vision and determination for her future. Although she moved many times in her life, her perseverance has allowed her to maintain excellent grades, and seek stable and healthy friendships. As a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Portland for ten years, Brittany has been president of Torch Club, secretary of Keystone Club, and participated in various programs including Swimming, Photography, Teen Nights, and Beach Clean-Up. An honor roll student at Portland High School, Brittany has been involved in many curricular and extracurricular activities including: the National Young Leadership Conference; Civil Rights Team at Portland High School; Junior Classical League (Latin Club); and the local Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"What the Club Means to Me"
“The Clubs’ faith in me has given me the motivation to set high standards for myself, and the ambition to achieve the goals I set.  They’ve helped me to accept my failures as learning experiences.  They let me be me.”

Kayleigh

Activities and Accomplishments:
Kayleigh, a member of her Club for ten years, is a very dedicated member of Keystone, 4-H and her school.  Kayleigh is particularly empathetic toward those who have had a serious illness, and she has worked to raise funds for the local hospital and the illness-related causes. As a result of Kayleigh’s work with younger Club members, she has decided to pursue a career in teaching.

"What the Club Means to Me"
"The staff and members at the Club have always made me feel welcome with their generosity and openness…they always want the best for their Club members.  Their support always makes someone’s bad day go into a good day.”

 

Activities and Accomplishments:
Andrew has made a remarkable transformation in his life, all in the face of difficulty in school, facing family crises, death of a sibling, and uncertainty of his future. With the help of Club staff, Andrew developed the skills necessary to begin to overcome problems and choose a path of success. As a member of the Auburn/Lewiston Boys & Girls Club for 5 years, Andrew was part of an initiative to reach out to the Somali community by taking on the role of basketball coach at the Club.  Andrew has also been involved as a member of the Torch and Keystone Clubs, and most significantly, helped launch sports tournaments for younger Club members where there was a gap in staff coverage.   

"What the Club Means to Me"
“…this was an opportunity to be a part of something great.  Here we would come to realize how important teamwork was as well as how important we were as individuals… I look back at my life and realize that I have gone through a lot of bumps, I have tripped and fallen as well. However, the Boys & Girls Club has been the one thing that gave me the incentive to stand up, brush myself off, and continue.”
 

Activities and Accomplishments:
Vera has been a member of the Portland Boys & Girls Club for four years.  In recognition of her contribution as a leader and role model to the younger members, she was selected Member of the Year in 2002.  At the Club, Vera keeps busy primarily with swimming, art activities, and Keystone Club.  She is a talented artist, having had three pieces achieve the national level in the Fine Arts Exhibit.  Her strong faith guides her in making everyday decisions and setting personal goals.  She plans to study photography in college.

"What the Club Means to Me"
“The Club has a special place in my heart.  Whenever I was having a hard time, or just needed to talk, I knew I could turn to the staff at the Club… I won’t forget that it was because of the Boys & Girls Club that I have made it this far.”
 

Activities and Accomplishments:
A member of the South Portland Club for 11 years, Josh is a well-rounded and active young man.  Although heavily committed outside the Club these days, he answers the call whenever asked to represent the Club at a function.  He is an excellent student, member of the varsity football and lacrosse teams, and accomplished trumpet player.  He is also an EMT-B and volunteers on his town’s Student Rescue Team.  Josh plans to become a doctor.

"What the Club Means to Me"
“The best thing one can do for themselves is to do the best they can in whatever they do; to never sell themselves short.  The Club has taught me that along with a plethora of other life skills and lessons.”
 

"What the Club Means to Me"
”The Club cheers me up everyday.  I still look forward to going there.  I always feel welcome and wanted.  The Club builds up a lot of my social skills and gives me a good chance to succeed.”