Youth of the Year

Each year the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Members chooses a male and female youth of the year who represents the best of what members achieve during their time here. These members are honored at our annual awards banquet in November. To read more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program, click HERE.

2012′s honorees are:

Felix Cox

Felix’s driving force can be summed up in one word: basketball.  In fact, it was basketball that first brought him to the Boys & Girls Club.  Of course, once he was at the Club, he found much more than simply an athletics program.  With a father who was barely involved in his life, Felix struggled to find his place as a child and longed for the influence of a father.  At the Club, Felix found acceptance, significance and role models that helped him navigate life.  With this support, Felix turned his common story of a childhood without a father into an extraordinary tale of strength and resolve.  While many of his friends under similar circumstances have been pulled into negative lifestyles, Felix has chosen to rise above, learn from the mistakes of those around him and do something significant with his life.  Today, as a senior at Hug High, Felix is preparing to graduate, attend college and create a bright future for himself.

Katie Harrison

Katie is the ultimate “Club kid.”  A member since she was in elementary school, Katie has grown up at the Boys & Girls Club and participated in nearly every program and activity available.  From homework time to leadership clubs, health and life skills classes to drama productions, Katie has taken advantage of everything the Club has to offer, and through it all, has emerged as a leader among younger members and her peers.  But as a child, the successes Katie sees today didn’t always seem attainable.  Raised by her extended family, Katie was forced to step into an adult role at a very young age, even taking care of those who were supposed to be taking care of her.  At times, she seemed destined to fall into the same negative patterns as those around her.  Despite the uncertainty and instability she found at home, the Boys & Girls Club was there to provide the support and care she desperately needed.  Today, Katie is a junior at Hug High with plans for college.  She stands as a shining example of endurance and resilience in the face of incredible challenge.

2011′s honoress were:

Alex Gasetoto

Moving from house to house and school to school as a child, Alex never seemed to stay in one place long enough to make friends and find a home.  That is, until he was introduced to the Boys & Girls Club.  The Club provided stability, and through the midst of recent tragedy, the Club has remained a refuge for Alex.  Now 18 and a high school senior, Alex has emerged as a leader at his Club, setting an example of consistency, positivity and incredible resilience.

Tracy Herrera

Born with a disability to immigrant parents, Tracy faced cultural, social and language barriers right from the start.  She struggled in school and withdrew from the world until she became a member of the Boys & Girls Club.  At the Club, she found the acceptance she craved and the confidence she needed to succeed.  Today, as a 17-year-old high school senior, Tracy is excelling in school and volunteers her time at the Club every day to help children who aren’t much different than she once was.

2010′s honorees were:

Tiffany Gallegos

Like so many young girls, Tiffany grew up searching for acceptance and belonging.  Surrounded by many negative influences as a youngster, her pursuit unfortunately brought her down some wrong paths.  But, she refused to give up and eventually found her outlet: dance.  As her passion for dance grew, she connected with positive friends and influences that led her to the Boys & Girls Club.  Today, as a 17-year-old senior at ACE High School, Tiffany is looking forward to a bright future.

Tiffany is an important member of the dance program at The Club at the Larry D. Johnson Community Center and has found acceptance and belonging with the staff and her peers at the Club.  Even through the most challenging times, Tiffany refused to give up hope, and today she stand as an example that with determination and hard work, anything is possible.  It is for these reasons that Tiffany has been selected as the 2010 Female Youth of the Year candidate.

Emmanuel Williams

Emmanuel Williams joined the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows at the age of 5, after relocating to Northern Nevada from Nashville, Tenn. to live with his grandparents and start fresh after a difficult home life.

At the Club, Emmanuel, his three brothers and a sister found their second family, a positive place to pursue their passions and find a path to success. With mentorship at the Club and the support of Grandma and Grandpa Love, Emmanuel has become an accomplished musician and athlete. The 18-year-old Hug High School student also excels in the classroom.

At age 12 and 13, Emmanuel’s involvement with the Club grew. He became involved in programs like Leaders in Training, Keystone Club and Money Matters, to name a few. In the teen center at the East 9th Street location, Emmanuel is known among his peers as a leader, always arriving with a smile, providing guidance for younger members, and inspiring the members who will follow in his footsteps. With help and guidance from Club staff, Emmanuel has developed a vision for his future that includes college and a career in the music industry. He started attending Crown College in Minnesota this winter.  Emmanuel’s perseverance, upbeat attitude and dedication to helping others have earned him the honor of 2010 Male Youth of the Year.