Nico Venegas has been named the 2017 Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, selected from among eight outstanding finalists. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. “Congratulations to the Youth of the Year finalists and Nico Venegas, our 2017 Youth of the Year! He wholeheartedly deserves this prestigious award, and we look forward to watching him excel in the future,” said Bobby Walker, Jr., BGCG’s CEO.
Venegas will go on to vie for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The 2017 Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich finalists were: Kevin Agudelo, Amanda Chan, Gaia Fakhoury, Mateo Leon, Amanda Silva, Jennifer Rezende and Kevin Wing.
“Being Youth of the Year is the Club’s greatest honor to me. It’s been my dream and is now my privilege to represent the Club, ” Venegas said.
In addition to completing his schoolwork in the After School program, Venegas joined Torch Club, a chartered, small-group leadership and service club for boys and girls ages 11 to 13, where he served as President. Once in high school, he joined Keystone Club, a teen group dedicated to leadership and community service. Venegas served as President of Keystone Club for two years, being the first to hold that position for more than one year. He takes pride in being part of the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich’s Honor Guard and is a Lifeguard at the Club’s pool as well.
If Venegas wins the CT state competition, he will compete for the title of Northeast 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, to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’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.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit youthoftheyear.org.
