Youth of the Year

Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s highest honor and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the recipient’s contributions to their family, school, community, and their Boys & Girls Club.

Youth of the Year

Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth as well as a voice for all of our young people.
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. All of the honorees are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at the Boys & Girls Clubs. We are so proud of all of this year’s participants who took the time to complete a challenging yet worthwhile process. All possess the ability and ambition to be successful, and should be recognized for their leadership, service, academic achievements and commitment to live a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Flint Fowler

President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

2023-2024 Winners

2023-2024 1st Place Youth of the Year, Ismail B.

Ishmail from Teen Center of Excellence Club received a $5000 scholarship & car courtesy of Frank Leta Honda!

Ismail’s Speech

2023-2024 2nd Place Youth of the Year, Jiyu Z.

Jiyu from Teen Center of Excellence Club received a $2500 scholarship!

Jiyu’s Speech

2023-2024 3rd Place Youth of the Year, Lailah G.

Lailah from O’Fallon Park Club received a $1000 scholarship!

Lailah’s Speech

2023-2024 4th Place Youth of the Year, Lai' Jeon W.

Lai’ Jeon from Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club received a $500 scholarship!

Lai’ Jeon’s Speech

Support Youth of the Year & the Great Futures Gala

Recent Youth of the Year Winners

2023 Youth of the Year & Gala Recap

2023 Youth of the Year & Gala Recap

YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA Zhariah Davis Wins Youth of the Year, $5,000 in Scholarships & A NEW CAR Over 500 guests and $660,000 raised for Club kids and teens! St. Louis, MO, November 28, 2022 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2023 Youth of the Year winner is O’Fallon Park Club member Zhariah Davis! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the...

read more
Lailah Green Wins 2022 Youth of the Year

Lailah Green Wins 2022 Youth of the Year

YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA Lailah Green Wins Youth of the Year, $5,000 in Scholarships & A NEW CAR Over 330 guests and $700,000 raised for Club kids and teens! St. Louis, MO, October 22, 2021 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2022 Youth of the Year winner is O’Fallon Park Club member Lailah Green! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the...

read more
YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED  AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA

YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA

YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA  Ja’Niyah Banks-Ewing Wins Youth of the Year, $9,000 in Scholarships & A NEW CAR Nearly 250 guests and $450,000 raised for Club kids! St. Louis, MO, November 9, 2020 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2021 Youth of the Year winner is Ja’Niyah Banks-Ewing! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the recipient's contributions...

read more
2020 Youth of the Year, Danielle Kain!

2020 Youth of the Year, Danielle Kain!

YOUTH OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS GREAT FUTURES GALA Danielle Kain Wins Youth of the Year, $9,000 in Scholarships & A NEW CAR Nearly 700 guests and $525,000 raised for Club kids! Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2020 Youth of the Year winner is Danielle Kain! Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive and a signature national youth recognition program that celebrates the recipient's contributions to their family, school, community, and their Boys...

read more
2018 Youth of the Year Candidates

2018 Youth of the Year Candidates

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is proud to announce our 2018 Youth of the Year Candidates Meet our 2018 Youth of the Year (YOY) candidates! Fourteen teens are being recognized for demonstrating outstanding leadership in their schools,...

read more

JaLisa Wines is the 2017 Youth of the Year

EXCEPTIONAL ST. LOUIS TEEN WINS YOUTH OF THE YEAR HONOR FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS JaLisa Wines Wins Youth of the Year Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) is proud to announce the 2017 Youth of the Year winner...

read more
Shaila Jones is the 2016 Youth of the Year

Shaila Jones is the 2016 Youth of the Year

GREAT FUTURES START HERE: EXCEPTIONAL ST. LOUIS TEEN WINS YOUTH OF THE YEAR HONOR FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER ST. LOUIS Shaila Jones Wins Youth of the Year St. Louis, MO, November 16, 2015 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is...

read more

Youth of the Year Videos

2024 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Ismail Botchway
Teen Center of Excellence

2024 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Jiyu Zhang
Teen Center of Excellence

2024 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Lailah Green
O’Fallon Park Club member

2024 Youth of the Year
4th Place
Lai’ Jeon Williams
Mathews-Dickey Club member

2023 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Zhariah Davis
O’Fallon Park Club member

2023 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Lai’ Jeon Williams
Mathews-Dickey Club member

2023 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Lailah Green
O’Fallon Park Club member

2023 Youth of the Year
4th Place
Nikell Smith
Herbert Hoover Club member

2022 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Lailah Green
O’Fallon Park Club member

2022 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Nikell Smith
Herbert Hoover Club member

2022 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Hannah Wallace
Hazelwood East High Member

2022 Youth of the Year
4th Place, Be Great Graduate
Da’Nija Jones
Normandy High School 

2021 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Ja’Niyah Banks-Ewing

2021 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Triniti Groves

2021 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Diondre Fulton

2021 Youth of the Year
4th Place
Troy Staten

2020 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Danielle K.

2020 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Kahalia A.

2020 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Alex M.

2020 Youth of the Year
4th Place
Fatuma E.

2019 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Kahalia A.

2019 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Danielle K.

2019 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Fatuma E.

2019 Youth of the Year
4th Place
Jennifer S.

2018 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Michael Monique Mayo

2018 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Jennifer Sandford

2018 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Danielle Kain

2018 Youth of the Year
4th Place
Daija Glover

2017 Youth of the Year
1st Place
JaLisa Wines

2017 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Michael Monique Mayo

2017 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Aaryn Gardner

2016 Great Futures Gala
Youth of the Year Video

 

Imagine a Better STL
featuring Youth of the Year
Shaila Jones

2016 Youth of the Year
1st Place
Shaila Jones

2016 Youth of the Year
2nd Place
Demetrious Sims

2016 Youth of the Year
3rd Place
Jennifer Sandford

2016 Youth of the Year
4th Place
Maya Jones

2016 Youth of the Year
Finalist
Kayvion Calvert

More ways to Get Started

Join the Club

St. Louis Internship Program