On Thursday night, 10 young men and women took to the stage at the Duneland Falls Banquet Center to share snippets of their lives for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana’s Annual Youth of the Year Awards.
Each young star represented one of the many locations that make up Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. Leading up to Thursday’s ceremony, the Youth of the Year candidates competed in an extensive process involving interviews, essays, academic success, and community service. Azariah Avery of Merrillville Boys & Girls Club opened her speech describing how the Club saved her life when she was contemplating suicide after years of bullying.
“One night, I found myself organizing my letters of goodbye because I didn’t see a point in life anymore,” she said. “Then, I heard a ding. It was a text from my mentor Ms. Marquisha at the Boys & Girls Club. She just wanted to let me know she loved me, and would be there for me no matter what. That was when I realized I had someone outside my family who loved me and saw my worth. I know now that I love myself, and know my self-worth.”
For winning the title, Avery received a $5,000 scholarship to any university, trade school, or career she chooses. The runner-up, Marcus Steele of the John Will Anderson Gary Club, received a $2,500 scholarship.
“Over the time I spent at the Club, I developed a desire for interaction. I wanted to meet new people and see new places,” Steele said. “I got involved as Junior Staff, in Keystone, and all these other Club programs. When I started participating as a Junior Staff, I could see the look on all those kids’ faces looking at me as a big brother figure.”
Those mentorship moments are special for Steele, an only child.
“Before that, I didn’t have anybody to look up to me,” Steele said. “Getting those kids to look up to me, run at me and give me hugs or a smile really helps me. It motivates me to keep going every day.”
Every candidate walked away with goodie bags full of prizes, including their own $1,000 scholarship, pledged by an anonymous donor during the event. For staff of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, the reward was seeing their members’ stories put into words.
“This is the culmination of what we do for kids, and these 10 incredible youth have been on this journey with us for many years,” said Ryan Smiley, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. “Their personal stories truly define the impact that we have. We can’t write that script for them. We know we make a difference, but to hear their stories really brings it all together for us.”
Avery’s competition is not over yet, as she will move on to the statewide event hosted in Indianapolis this March.
“It’s just amazing to convey my feelings and tell the world what I’ve been through,” she said. “It’s just an amazing experience and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This is a great program, and I wish that everybody could be a part of it.”
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, visit www.bgcgreaternwi.org.
