Elizabethton, Tenn. — Selected among local outstanding youth, Katelyn Whicker will compete against other Boys & Girls Club members for the Tennessee Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. As the new Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County, 15-year old Whicker is a true example of an extraordinary young woman recognized by BGCA for her leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle.
Whicker is active in her school and her community, serving on the Student Government Association, Health Occupations Students Association, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is on the track team and cheerleading squad and is an active volunteer in the community. She balances these roles while maintaining all A’s in her classes and plans to attend the University of Tennessee after high school where she would like to study physical therapy.
“Katelyn is an impressive young woman with energy, enthusiasm and a strong desire to help others. In addition to all she does in her own school, she volunteers within the Club, and you can see how much our younger members admire her. She is a true role model for our youth,” said Ginny Wright, Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County.
Whicker has been a Club member for eight years, actively participating in Club activities, and as she entered the teen program, she took on volunteer and leadership roles. Last spring, Whicker participated in the Junior Staff program, which teaches teens resume writing, job skills and allows them to participate in interviews. She also assists as a cheerleading coach with five to seven year olds during the summer and fall, and she is a member of the Keystone Club, a teen group dedicated to leadership and community service.
If Whicker wins at the state competition, she will compete for the title of Southeast Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2016, to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year up to $100,000 and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by Disney, who has supported BGCA for more than 50 years, empowering young people to reach their full potential and providing youth with access to the tools they need to build the great futures they imagine. Toyota, the Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, is committed to helping improve the quality of life in our communities, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring youth have access to a quality education. Additional support is provided by University of Phoenix, a national education partner that has joined with BGCA to impact academic success among youth across the country, and the Taco Bell Foundation, BGCA’s premier partner for teen empowerment.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit http://www.youthoftheyear.org.