Success Story

Meet the Youth of the Year Finalists

Cassandra

Meet Susan. Susan, a two-year member of Lawrenceville Boys & Girls Club and a senior at North Gwinnett High School, was named first runner up at the 2011 Youth of the Year Dinner & Awards Ceremony. Her Club taught her that with dedication and determination she can change the world. All her life, Susan dreamed of becoming a Forensic Psychologist so she can influence change. In order for her to achieve her dream, Susan knew college was key.

Thanks to her Club, college is possible for Susan. The College Bound program taught her about financial aid, scholarships and how to apply for college. Through Money Matters, Susan learned the difference between credit and debit along with how to mange her money properly. Because of the knowledge she gained from her Club, this Posse Scholar has a future full of endless possibilities.

Meet Ashley. She was named second runner-up at the 2011Youth of the Year Dinner & Awards Ceremony. “Home, sweet home” is how she describes her Boys & Girls Club. Before joining the Club, this Joseph B. Whitehead Youth of the Year was extremely shy. Her first few months at the Club were spent sitting in a chair watching other Club members and wishing that her mother would come get her.

Ashley now views her Club as an extension of her family. Staff encouraged her to interact with others more and to try new things. Because of the encouragement of her Staff and peers, Ashley found a new passion and outlet - dance. Her ultimate goal in life is to open an arts academy where she can help nurture and build others talents like the Club did for her.

Meet Chante. Before joining the Jesse Draper Boys & Girls Club, this third runner-up was a very shy girl that never traveled outside the state of Georgia. Chante thought she would never have the opportunity to travel or even ride on a plane, but her Club became an avenue that opened the door to so many opportunities.

Thanks to her Club, Chante has become an outspoken adventurous young woman that has traveled across the country. Through various Club programs, she has journeyed to Florida, New York and the Wild Wild West of Colorado.

Traveling around the nation taught Chante many life lessons that she is so grateful for. Her Club told her, “yes she can,” travel the world and be fearless, which washed away a lifetime of “no she couldn’t.”

Youth of the Year is a year-round development program that honors Boys & Girls Club members as outstanding citizens and leaders. Susan, Ashley and Chante are three of the 22 Youth of the Year candidates who competed for the title. These young leaders are selected to become a YOY through a combination of academic achievement, leadership qualities and engagement in their Club and community. They represent thousands of youth across metro Atlanta Clubs whose lives are transformed by their Boys & Girls Club.

Community Spirit Award
W.W. Woolfolk Youth of the Year Mikel Philpot was awarded the Community Spirit Award for his countless hours of volunteerism within his local community and Club. In only 12 months, this Youth of the Year accumulated more than 630 community service hours. 

As a Torch Club member, Mikel participated in a Senior Service project that provided yard service to the elders in his community, trash pick-ups and community sweep programs among several other community initiatives. With Hands on Atlanta, he assisted with cleaning a local nature walk in his community. 

Mikel is truly dedicated to serving others. He is always looking for and doing something to make a different in his community.

Special thank you to the 2011 Youth of the Year Super Judges: Simon Bloom, Partner at Bloom Law Firm, LLC; Sarah Ryan, Community Volunteer and Susan Ward, Vice President of Global Shared Services.

Also, a special thank you to the 2011 Youth of the Year Judges: Stephanie Blank, Chair of Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students and Blank Family Foundation Trustee; Mary Rockett Brock, Owner of The Atlanta Dream; Aron D. Levine, Managing Director of Bank of America and Global Wealth and Investment Management; Milton Little Jr., President of United Way of Metro Atlanta and Gary Price, Managing Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers.  

Photo (left to right): Susan Garcia, Ashley Thomas and Chante Foster.

Success Breeds Success!

See more stories of success resulting from involvement in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta.