Five Teens Vying for $30,000 Scholarship and BGCS Youth of the Year Title

Scottsdale, AZ (Nov. 22, 2024) — Eleven inspiring teen leaders took center stage at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale’s Night of Lights Youth of the Year Announcement Dinner on Wednesday night. Family, friends, Club staff and supporters gathered to celebrate the completion of the first round of the program and to reveal the five Youth of the Year finalists who will go on to compete for the organizational title and a $30,000 scholarship awarded by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Foundation.

The finalists are:

Brandon, 17, has been a Club member for 11 years and attends the Ellie & Michael Ziegler Teen Center at the Vestar Branch in Desert Ridge. He is senior at Pinnacle High School.

Damien, 15, has been a Club member for 8 years and attends the Thunderbirds Branch Hilton Family Teen Center in Grayhawk. He is a freshman at Pinnacle High School.

Daniela, 16, has been a Club member for 10 years and attends the Hartley & Ruth Barker Branch Executive Council Charities Teen Center in south Scottsdale. Daniela is a junior at Arcadia High School.

Emma, 17, has been a Club member for 13 years and attends the Sal Cosenza Teen Center at the Virginia G. Piper Branch in Scottsdale Ranch. She is a senior at Desert Mountain High School.

Madigan, 16, has been a Club member for 4 years and attends the Teen Center at the Mary Ellen & Robert McKee Branch in Fountain Hills. She is a junior at Fountain Hills High School.

“All of our Youth of the Year candidates have showcased incredible determination, resilience, and leadership, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements and honor their bright futures,” said Ivan Gilreath, BGCS President & CEO.

The finalists embody Boys & Girls Clubs’ core outcome areas of leadership, character and service; academic excellence; and healthy lifestyles. Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor bestowed upon a Club member, recognizing their commitment to personal growth and their role as ambassadors for youth and teens in their respective Clubs.

The finalists will now prepare to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Youth of the Year, advancing toward the State, Regional, and National Youth of the Year competitions, where they have the opportunity to win additional scholarships and national recognition.

Each of the six candidates who did not advance to the next round of the competition, demonstrated remarkable dedication and achievements and will receive $500 in scholarship funding provided by Dr. Susan Kaib and an anonymous donor.

For more information about the Youth of the Year program and how it empowers young people to achieve great futures, visit www.bgcs.org.