Youth of the Year candidates

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley recently announced the candidates for the 2010 Youth of the Year program. They include Anthony Castelli, Gemma Bolanos and Jessica Contreras.

The three candidates will be honored at the second annual Youth of the Year celebration at the Maxwell Clubhouse on January 13 where the winner will be announced and go on to compete at the regional level. A Member of the Year from each Boys & Girls Club site will also be recognized at the celebration including Maxwell Clubhouse, Sassarini Elementary School, Flowery Elementary School, and El Verano Elementary School.

Youth of the Year is an initiative designed to promote and recognize teens who have developed sound character, leadership abilities and the willingness to give back to their community. More about each candidate follows:

Anthony Castelli: Anthony became involved with the Boys & Girls Club through his senior project. He put in thirty-two hours of volunteer time playing sports and acting as a mentor to younger members. Anthony demonstrates maturity and thoughtfulness by spending several hours outside of his volunteer time to help members in the Intel Computer Clubhouse. Anthony will start college in the spring to study automotive technology and plans to work as a diesel mechanic.

Gemma Bolanos: Gemma has been an active volunteer for several years. She started with the Girls Scouts and is now president of The Boys & Girls Club Keystone Club. She is committed to her academics, enrolling in the Boys & Girls Club’s College Bound Program and taking advantage of the Club’s college tours and workshops. Gemma can often be seen at the Club running service activities or volunteering her time to mentor younger members. She always has a smile on her face and has a hard-working attitude from which her peers benefit day-to-day.

Jessica Contreras: Jessica is secretary of the community service-focused Keystone Club and recipient of the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Month. During the spring of her senior year, she attended the 2010 National Keystone Conference in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Just this past month, she traveled to Boston and represented the Club at the 2010 Intel Computer Clubhouse Network Teen Summit. She always has a positive attitude and makes sure to come along on college tours, use the quiet study space of the Intel Computer Clubhouse, and help plan Club events and service learning projects. Jessica currently attends Santa Rosa Junior College.