The St. Cloud Boys & Girls Club has named its inaugural Youth of the Year winner: Ms. K. Torres of St. Cloud High School.
(Due to child protection laws, the club cannot authorize use of the contestants’ full names.)
The goal is to honor youth ages 13-18 who have worked as leaders and volunteers in their club, school, and community. Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive.
Torres will represent the St. Cloud Boys & Girls Club this year as the official youth ambassador.
“In a sense of confidence knowing you’re a leader is important but knowing you have to be one is a little bit bigger, bigger than myself,” Ms. Torres said. “A leader is someone who can be organized, assertive, delegate responsibility and hold others and themselves accountable. I feel like I’ve grown to be a leader. I’ve been able to exercise my leadership, and St. Cloud Boys & Girls Club has taught me a lot.”
Finalists for the award were judged on communication, public speaking, leadership, and academic achievement, using essays, letters of recommendation, speeches, and an interview with the judges.
“The Boys & Girls Club teaches us everything we need to know,” said runner-up A. Marcano of Digital Academy of Florida, “I learned a lot of life skills, it made me the young lady who I want to be for the future.”
“For me, being a leader is a way to take charge but it’s not all about you. You have to listen to what other people have to say.” said A. Douglas of Tohopekaliga High School, who’s been accepted to Valencia College.
“These individuals give us hope for a bright future. They were excellent. They care about their community, and they recognize that it takes the support of their parents and leaders,” said Club ambassador and finals judge Rayelynne Ketchum, who was joined on the panel by former school board member Robert Bass, Ford Insurance’s Cindy Campbell, St. Cloud Police Chief Doug Goerke and Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital President Brian Wetzel.
For more than 75 years, the Youth of the Year program has recognized young people for their outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to health and wellbeing, according to BGCA.org.
“These are future leaders,” Alex Lindsay, St. Cloud Club Director and former National Youth of the Year finalist, said. “Ms. Torres leads by positive example, she does this at school, home, and in her community, not just at the Boys and Girls club.”
From opening, the St. Cloud club has enrolled about 100 students with an average attendance of around 40 every day, Lindsay said, also noting its first summer camp was completely full.
“There’s a need here,” he said. “We love our community. They’ve embraced us...we all work towards one goal and that’s to serve the community in a positive way.”
