Selected among several local outstanding youth, Kyla Johnson will compete against other Boys & Girls Club members for the Connecticut 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 Greenwich, eighteen-year old Kyla is a true example of an extraordinary young woman recognized for her leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. “I am very grateful to be honored as the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich’s Youth of the Year. I take this honor seriously and will make it my duty to be a positive role model for my peers and the younger Club members,” said Johnson.
“Kyla is a highly intelligent young woman who has a calm spirit, yet exuberant personality,” said Bobby Walker, Jr. BGCG’s CEO. He continued, “There is no doubt that with her maturity, great self confidence, willingness to serve her community and above average GPA, that this young lady will represent the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich greatly. Our members, Club staff and Board of Directors couldn’t be more proud to have selected her for this honor.”
Johnson has been a member of Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich since she was in fourth grade. As a youngster, she participated in a range of the Club’s programs including academic tutoring, singing club and knitting club. Johnson learned to skate in the Club’s ice rink and learned to swim here too. Currently, she is a member the Keystone Club, a teen group dedicated to leadership and community service. Kyla is also a Clubhouse part-time staff member who takes pride in her work to help her younger counterparts with their homework, ice skating and their artwork.
Kyla attends Greenwich High School where her favorite subjects are English and History. Her interests outside of BGCG include running track, where she has recently placed to compete in States, playing violin in her school’s orchestra and participating in the Minority Student Achievement Network. She has a GPA of 4.3 and loves to read, write and learn about new cultures. In addition to volunteering at BGCG, she lends some of her time to the Greenwich Education Alliance. Kyla is looking forward to attending college where she can pursue a degree in International Relations. Someday, Kyla hopes to be a part of the movement to eradicate child sex trafficking and provide rehabilitation to children forced to work as soldiers in third world countries.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by Disney, which 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.
If Kyla wins at the state competition, she 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 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.
For more information about Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich visit: bgcg.org and for information regarding the National Youth of the Year program, visit http://www.youthoftheyear.org.
