The Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City is pleased to announce their candidate for the 2017 Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year.
Adriann Reynolds of Michigan City is a senior of Marquette High School. She was introduced to the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City during a summer program at age seven and soon became a regular member of the Club’s after-school programs.
As she grew older, she was involved in many more programs including L.E.A.D. (Leading and Educating Across Domains).
“Being a leader has always been very important to me, but what this program taught me was something bigger than that,” shared Reynolds. “I learned how to be a leader on purpose. … It doesn’t take a lot to be a leader. The only thing you have to do is begin with your community; from there the possibilities are endless. From this and various other contributions that my Club made to my development as a successful member of my community, I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”
At Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City, Reynolds is also a Junior Staff member where she helps at the Charles R. Wescott Center location, 321 Detroit Street. There, she leads weekly arts and craft activities and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) projects. The Junior Staff program prepares youth ages 13 to 18 for future roles as human services professionals by participating in career development activities, discovering the importance of community service, building customer service skills and completing a Club apprenticeship.
“The major things I’ve learned during my time as a member of Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City are leadership, respect and service to others,” Reynolds continued. “Since the age of seven I have been exposed to people at the Club who were great leaders which ultimately helped me when I became Junior Staff.”
“Adriann has excelled in all areas of our after-school program and shows great ability in the areas of academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles,” said Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City Executive Director Brandi Lewis. “She embodies all of the positive traits a National Youth of the Year holds, and I am proud to have her not only be a part of our Club’s history but also to see her represent us at the state, regional and national levels. Adriann is an intelligent, caring, dependable, and exceptionally extraordinary young woman who will certainly accomplish her goals. I am proud and appreciate her great future, starting here.” Reynolds plans to attend Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana to pursue a degree in the field of education.
“This will enable me to be able to do what I love to do most – enrich the youth,” said Reynolds. “After I graduate, I will be able to take my degree overseas, by being a part of the Peace Corps.”
Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year serves as both an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and as a strong voice for all of our nation's young people. The journey to being named National Youth of the Year begins locally and progresses to the state, regional and national levels. To achieve the title of Youth of the Year on any level, Club members must embody the values of leadership and service; academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles. They should exemplify the critical impact that Boys & Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people.
Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City is a private, not-for-profit organization. It is a member of Boys & Girls Club of America, which is a nationwide affiliation of 4,100 local autonomous Club organizations that work to help young people of all backgrounds develop the qualities they need to become responsible citizens and leaders. There are three locations: the Charles R. Wescott Center location, 321 Detroit Street; the Pine Elementary School Boys & Girls Club Extension and the Springfield Elementary School Boys & Girls Club Extension.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City, please visit www.bgclubmc.org or “The Boys and Girls Club of Michigan City” on Facebook.