Youth of the Year

To achieve the title of Youth of the Year on any level, Club members must embody the values of leadership and service; academic excellence; and healthy lifestyles. They should exemplify the critical impact that Boys & Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people.

The Youth of the Year program creates opportunities for Club youth to receive recognition at the local, state, regional and national levels. At the Club level, a Youth of the Year is selected from a pool of members who have participated in a year-round recognition program. The local Youth of the Year serves as a role model for other young people in the Club and as a representative to the community. Only one Youth of the Year from each Club organization may advance to the state level. There, one Youth is selected to represent the State at the Regional level. Finally, the five candidates named Regional Youth of the Year, along with the Military Youth of the Year, will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in a judging process that will determine the National Youth of the Year.

2024 Youth of the Year

Ant’Gilee Ayala

Ant’Gilee Ayala has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee for one year. She will be a Freshman at Chicopee High School and her anticipated career choice is Science Engineering. Ant’Gilee enjoys art and crocheting. She is a caring and a creative person. In her words, “The Club has helped me through some really tough times. It has meant a lot to me for helping me with the highs and lows. I have made a great connection with the Club through my hardships and I will forever remain grateful for the support the Club has given to me.”

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