All high school age members of Boys & Girls Clubs have the opportunity to participate in the Youth of the Year competition at their Club. This program recognizes a member who has made exceptional strides academically, personally, and within their community. In addition to winning scholarship money, the Youth of the Year has the opportunity to meet important community leaders and compete for more scholarship funds at Regional and National Youth of the Year competitions.
At the Union League of Philadelphia, Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia announced Courtney
Moragne as thier Youth of the Year at the annual Youth of the Year dinner. Moragne is
a member of the Nicetown Boys & Girls Club. A senior at Central High School, Courtney's
academic achievements reflect hard work and dedication, and she also serves as captain and
treasurer of her school's pep squad. And as president of the Nicetown Teen Supreme Keystone Club,
Courtney contributes much of her time organizing and participating in neighborhood clean-ups and
community unity activities. She will attend Clark Atlanta University in pursuit of a career in
pediatric medicine. She writes, "I want to continue my education for those who cannot, for
those who think they cannot, for children who are scared, for my mother, but most importantly for
myself." When accepting the award, Courtney thanked God, her family, the Clubs, and, above all,
herself for finding the strength and courage to achieve such a high honor.
Moragne reveived a $1,000 scholarship for college and will be BGCP's representative at the State
Youth of the Year competition in Harrisburg May 22 and 23, 2006. She has a chance of winning more
college scholarship funds as she advances to the next level of competition. Youth of the Year is
a Boys & Girls Clubs of America program designed to recognize outstanding teens at each Club,
and to give them a chance to win scholarships for post-high school education. Teens from each Club
undergo a rigorous process that includes written recommendations from peers and teachers, essays,
and an interview with a diverse panel of judges.
The runner-up of BGCP's Youth of the Year competition is Joseph Padgett-Mebane, also from the
Nicetown Boys & Girls Club. Padgett-Mebane, a senior at Simor Gratz High School, plans to
attend Kutztown College as a business major.
| Congratulations to all the Youth of the Year winners! |
»view photos |
-Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia
