Introducing the 2016 Youth of the Year Candidates

Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro (BGCP) is proud to announce its 2016 Youth of the Year candidates! Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program for Club teens, which promotes service to Club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability.

Each year, all 6 Clubs select an outstanding teen to compete for the honor of BGCP’s overall Youth of the Year. Youth are vetted through a series of interviews with guest judges, written essays, and a 2-minute speech.

All Portland-Metro Youth of the Year candidates receive a $500 college scholarship. The youth selected to represent Portland-Metro Clubs receives a $1000 college scholarship, then goes on to compete for the title of Oregon Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, with potential to move on to compete regionally and nationally.

The finalist who will represent Boys & Girls Clubs at the state level will be announced at the Youth of the Year competition and breakfast Wednesday, January 20 at the Blazers Boys & Girls Club. The breakfast is free and open to the public. All attendees must RSVP by January 19.

YOUTH OF THE YEAR BREAKFAST

Meet the Candidates

MONYA

Blazers Boys & Girls Club
Senior at Grant High School
Club member for 9 years

The Blazers Boys & Girls Club means family to me. I have been coming to the Club since 2007. Since the first day I walked in, I have been received with smiles and handshakes, food, and quality fellowship with friends and staff. I’m always encouraged to be my best self.

INTEREST AND HOBBIES

I love to cook
Sports: Wrestling and Football
I like coming to the Boys & Girls Club
Playing Playstation & Xbox
Rapping
Eating – I consider myself a “foodie”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2016 Nominee for Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Youth of the Year
Member of Grant High School Varsity wrestling team
Member of Grant High School Varsity football team
President of the Blazers Boys & Girls Club Keystone Club

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Graduate high school
Attend Culinary School
Become a professional chef
Own and operate my own restaurant

FUN FACT

I aspire to be a professional chef and I love seafood!

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

“A good meal makes a man feel more charitable toward the world than any sermon.” – Arthur Pendeny

LEARN MORE ABOUT MONYA

SAMANTHA

Inukai Family Boys & Girls Club
Junior at Hillsboro High School
Club member for 5 years

The Club is a place I can go for support, help, and anything else in my life. It’s like my home away from home.

INTEREST AND HOBBIES

Art, drawing, designing
Spending time with family
Volunteering and helping others
Being in as many clubs as possible

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Volunteer for Hillsboro Library
President of Keystone Club
On the Advisory Committee for the Adelante Chicas program
President of the Youth Health Advisory Council
Youth Healthy Representative on the Public Health Advisory Council in Washington County
Member of M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/o de Aztlan)
Member of the Oregon Leadership Institute
Member of TRIO
Member of AVID
Member of the Leader in Training Program

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Studying engineering

LEARN MORE ABOUT SAMANTHA

ILSE

Jack, Will, & Rob Boys & Girls Club
Senior at Hayes Freedom High School
Club member for 11 years

The Club means being surrounded by caring people and is a place where I can be myself.

INTEREST AND HOBBIES

Reading
Yoga
Working out
Cooking

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Poetry Out Loud winner
Helped school to become a Level 1 Green School
Over 300 Club service hours

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

To enroll in college and become an English teacher

FUN FACT

I’ve visited 5 different countries

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

LEARN MORE ABOUT ILSE

IAN

Meyer Memorial Boys & Girls Club
Senior at Milwaukie High School
Club member for 10 years

The Boys & Girls Club is a place where I can have unlimited fun and learn important skills that will help me be successful not only today, but also later in life.

INTEREST AND HOBBIES

Football
Committed to academics
Avid birder with Audubon Society

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Has taken 11 AP classes and holds a 4.414 GPA
Nominated as National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete
Involved in Student government

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Applying for colleges. Top three shoices are Pitzer College, University of PUget Sound, and Occidental College
Plans to study Sports Management and/or politics

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

“It matters not how straight the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” -Invictus, William Ernest Henly

LEARN MORE ABOUT IAN

ANDREA

Regence Boys & Girls Club
Senior at Grant High School
Club member for 12 years

The encouragement and support I received from the Club helped me decide what I want to do with my life, which is to work with children. I want to be able to inspire others to be selfless and support one another, like the Club did with me.”

INTEREST AND HOBBIES

Soccer
Pop, Hip-Hop, Rock, and Spanish music
Fantasy and historical fiction
Creative writing

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Co-leader of my high school’s M.E.Ch.A./Latino Club
Member of the Multnomah Youth Leadership Council
UPS Road Code Certificate of Completion
Spoke on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro to the Portland City Council
Taking classes at Portland Community College

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Attend Portland Community College, transfer to a four year university and get my degree in Early Childhood Education

FUN FACT

I am a very good drawer, especially cartoons

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANDREA

TYLER

Wattles Boys & Girls Club
Senior at Franklin High School
Club member for 12 years

The Club is a place for me to feel safe and accepted, and to show that same acceptance to others. The Club has helped me to overcome the social awkwardness of my elementary school days and become a leader in the teen room. The Club has been a support and encouragement for me throughout the last six years as I have grown into my teen years.

INTEREST AND HOBBIES

Electronics, especially video games and movies
Playing tennis, basketball, and football
Working hard and interacting with peers and adults in order to make sure they are happier for having met me

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

I work at SUN program at Franklin High School, and help serve my fellow students
Participated in service projects at Gracelen Terrace in the summer of 2014 with the Wattles Club

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

I am planning to go into the Navy for a career in the military

FUN FACT

I have a constant thirst for expanding my horizon to new things, especially foreign hobbies, objects, and culture.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin

LEARN MORE ABOUT TYLER

Introducing the 2016 Youth of the Year Candidates