EXCEPTIONAL TEEN NAMED ARKANSAS YOUTH OF THE YEAR BY BOYS and GIRLS CLUBS
Image Courtesy of Mandy May Photography
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10th, 2024
EXCEPTIONAL TEEN NAMED ARKANSAS YOUTH OF THE YEAR BY BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
Kayleigh Spoon set to receive college scholarship and vie for regional title this summer
Little Rock, Arkansas, April 10th, 2024 – Selected among 8 outstanding youth, Kayleigh Spoon has been named the Arkansas Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 77th year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures. As the Arkansas Youth of the Year, Kayleigh will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a $2,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, $3,500 in additional scholarship dollars, and will advance to the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national event.
A senior from Rogers New Technology High School, Kayleigh represents the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton County. Spoon has excelled in school earning a 4.2 GPA and plans to pursue a degree in business this fall at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. Her peers describe her as “ambitious and resilient.” Spoon is no stranger to the Youth of the Year experience, as she takes home the title for the second year in a row. An overcomer, Spoon credits her time in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton County for helping her to grow, develop and thrive.
“We are incredibly proud of Kayleigh and all the Youth of the Year nominees,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Being named Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor and accomplishment. As the Arkansas Youth of the Year, Kayleigh will serve as a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Club kids and teens across the state who need more role models that they can admire and emulate.”
The competition culminated with an announcement at the Clinton Presidential Center featuring guest speakers such as DJ Williams and a message from Attorney General Tim Griffin, who is an alumni of the Boys & Girls Clubs program. Event emcees, State Senator Jim Petty and Freddie Scott, noted that all of the youth are outstanding examples of how Clubs change lives and help youth develop into leaders in their communities.
Founded in 1947 as Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community, and Boys & Girls Club. The Youth of the Year program is supported by Toyota and Kohls. As the Signature Sponsors of Youth of the Year, Toyota and Kohls are committed to partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to ensure local Clubs provide life-enhancing opportunities for kids and teens to explore, develop and apply the essential skills they need to be successful in life and work. Youth of the Year representatives are the workforce leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow.
This summer, Kayleigh will join other state Youth of the Year to vie for the Southwest regional title. If named the regional Youth of the Year, they will be awarded an additional $20,000 college scholarship. The five finalists along with the National Military Youth of the Year, will advance to the National Youth of the Year event in September 2024 to vie for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional scholarship of $50,000 and a brand-new Toyota Corolla.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit bgca.org/yoy.
About Arkansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
The Arkansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs (ArkansasBGC.org) represents the collective impact of Boys & Girls Clubs across the state of Arkansas. Boys & Girls Clubs in Arkansas are dedicated to serving youth during their most vulnerable time; out of school time. Through after school, summer, and community outreach programming Clubs across the state serve more than 50,000 youth each year. Clubs are leaders in innovative programming that help reinforce school day learning, prepare children to graduate on time with a plan for their future, learn and adapt life and workforce readiness skills, and live healthy lifestyles. The Arkansas Alliance serves as a unified voice for youth and Clubs in Arkansas. Learn more about the Arkansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs on Facebook.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 5,200 Clubs serve 3.3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
For media inquiries please contact Karissa McDonald, by phone at 501.557.7551 or by email at kmcdonald@bgca.org.
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