Sonoma teen named California Youth of the Year
Selected among nine outstanding teen Youth of the Year candidates from around the state, Maribel Campos has been named the California Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).
Campos, a member of the Sonoma Valley B&G Clubs, is a graduating senior at Sonoma Valley School. As the California Youth of the Year, Campos will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a $5,000 college scholarship from BGCA, and will go on to compete in the Pacific Regional Youth of the Year, ultimately vying for the BGCA national Youth of the Year title.
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.
“The Club is proud of Maribel and all she has accomplished,” said Rachel Cusick, SVBGC director of development and marketing “She was selected from more than 150,000 Club kids across 135 Boys & Girls Clubs in the State of California. Her success is testament to the positive work and quality staff at Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley. As The Club moves forward with a new Teen facility opening in June we hope to see more great successes like Maribel.”
Campos, in a speech, said her parents left their homeland and abandoned everything they knew in search of “the opportunity to have a better life in America and receive a good education.” Life in America has been challenging for the family in spite of their best intentions, she said, as the family has lived below the poverty line her entire life. Now she is the first in her family to graduate high school and the first generation to attend college
Campos credits BGCSV for providing academic and moral support to see her through tough classes and challenging times, allowing her to maintain a 3.8 GPA. Leadership opportunities like Keystone at The Club and volunteering with younger Club members have had a big impact in her life.
“Maribel and all Youth of the Year nominees are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs across the country are fulfilling our mission of inspiring and enabling young people to achieve great futures,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO, BGCA. “It a lifelong honor. As the California Youth of the Year, Maribel will serve as a spokesperson for our young people, sharing her inspiring story and leading the way to transform communities for the better.”
This summer, Campos will compete against other Boys & Girls Club members within the Pacific Region. If named regional winner, she will be awarded an additional college scholarship up to $40,000. Six youth, including five regional winners and a military youth winner, will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2015, to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. The national winner will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable for four years up to $100,000 and will have the opportunity to meet the President of in the White House.
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There could not have been a better person chosen to represent the California Boys & Girls Clubs teens. Maribel shows humility and compassion for others all the while showing great poise and confidence in her own abilities. I think she has it within herself to go on and be named the National Youth of the Year!