Six local high school students are finalists for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties 2022 Youth of the Year title. This prestigious honor will be presented to the selected candidate at the organization’s annual Steak & Burger celebration on Friday, February 4, 2022. Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been the premier recognition program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America that fosters a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy. The program celebrates the extraordinary achievements of Club members across the nation. The following teens have exemplified the Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission and are proof to the impact the Clubs make in transforming lives: Mykayla G. is a 15-year-old sophomore at Booker High School and attends the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club; Francisco H. is a 19-year-old senior at North Port High School and attends the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club; Jaliyah L. is a 14-year-old eight-grader at DeSoto Middle School and attends the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club; Bernadette N. is a 17-year-old senior at Riverview High School and attends the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club; D’Kai S. is a 17-year-old senior at Booker High School and attends the Newtown Estate Park Boys & Girls Club; and Ashley V. is a 16-year-old senior at Venice High School and attends the Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club. The 2022 Youth of the Year will have a chance of becoming the 2022 State of Florida Youth of the Year and opportunities to win academic scholarships, speak at national conferences and meet elected officials.

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