Extraordinary Teens Honored at Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Annual 'Southwest Youth of the Year' Celebration
Boys & Girls Club Candidates from across the Southwest region participated in a chance to earn a $20,000 scholarship; Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones awarded for dedication to youth and sports
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Southwest Youth of the Year 2025
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Southwest Youth of the Year 2025
ATLANTA, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America, one of the nation's leading youth-serving organizations, hosted its annual 'Southwest Youth of the Year' celebration, honoring extraordinary teens for their achievements in leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to health and well-being.
This year's event was held in Frisco, Texas, on May 16, 2025. It brought together 14 Youth of the Year and Military Youth of the Year candidates from the Southwest region who exemplify tenacity, innovation, and unwavering commitment to community impact.
Emceed by Emmy-nominated host of Good Morning Texas, Amy Vanderoef, the event included several notable attendees, including Karen Ideno, Boys & Girls Clubs' Southwest Regional Chair, who recently retired from Toyota. The celebration kicked off with a reception, followed by speakers, a dinner, and special performances. Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed:
A performance from the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blue
A performance by Club youth, Montgomery, from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, and blue carpet appearances by Club youth from Boys & Girls Club of Collin County among others
Empowering speeches from fourteen representatives to share their personal Club stories
A scholarship awarded to the 2025-26 Southwest Youth of the Year, Ximena from Boys & Girls Club of McAllen (Texas) and 2025-26 Southwest Military Youth of the Year, Summer from Peterson Space Force Base (Colorado).
As the newly named Southwest Youth of the Year and a member of Boys & Girls Club of McAllen for nine years, Ximena has taken on many leadership roles within her Club, including Vice President of Junior Staff, President of her Keystone Club and President of her Club's TLC (Think Learn Change) group. In school, she's Vice President of the National Honor Society and a student athlete in track and field, volleyball, and soccer. Ximena is passionate about serving and improving her community and she has organized and facilitated service events amounting to 200 hours of community service.
'My Club is where I found a place to belong, a place to study, a place to lead, a place to create change, and a place I'm forever thankful to call my second home,' said Ximena.
Named this year's Southwest Military Youth of the Year, Summer has been a member of her Boys and Girls Club at the Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs for 10 years. Within her Club, she serves as Treasurer of Keystone Club and was named Colorado's Military Youth of the Year in 2024 and 2025. Summer was also a National 4H Conference Delegate, where she presented to the Department of Education on the importance of access to career pathways for success, and she is National Honor Society President. Summer is passionate about mental health, and growing up with Tourette Syndrome has fueled her commitment to personal growth.
"Success is obtained through determination and being true to oneself,' said Summer.
Jerry Jones, owner, president, and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys and former Club Kid from Boys Club of North Little Rock (Arkansas), was the recipient of the 2025 Champion of the Youth Award for his outstanding support of youth in sports. He was presented the award by Boys & Girls Clubs of America President & CEO, Jim Clark, and former Dallas Cowboys star, Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former Boys & Girls Club Kid, DeMarcus Ware.
"Some of my most cherished and valuable memories and moments from my youth are from time spent as a Club Kid in North Little Rock,' said Jones. 'So much can be learned from sports and building relationships at an early age. That was clearly the case for me with football. Seeing the youth recognized here tonight for their outstanding qualities is also very rewarding. I know first-hand how the Boys and Girls Clubs of America has surely impacted their current accomplishments and can also help their future growth and success.'
"As we gathered to celebrate our Southwest Youth of the Year candidates, we were privileged to recognize these remarkable young leaders who represent the very best of Boys & Girls Clubs," said Jim Clark, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "These exceptional young people demonstrate outstanding character, academic excellence, and dedication to service, which underscores what's possible when young people are given the support, opportunities, and encouragement to reach their full potential.'
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 2025 Youth of the Year program will culminate with the naming of the 2025-2026 National Youth of the Year during a celebration event on September 18 in Los Angeles.
Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier recognition program for Club teens. As the highest honor a Club member can receive, the National Youth of the Year represents Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the voices of over 4 million Club youth it serves. For more than 75 years, the Youth of the Year program has recognized young people for their outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle.
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America, its programs, and partners, visit www.bgca.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericaFor 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. Over 5,500 Clubs serve more than 4 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. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Youth of the YearThe Youth of the Year program is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier youth recognition initiative. It celebrates outstanding teens who are committed to leadership, service, and academic excellence. Each year, Boys & Girls Club members across the country participate in local, state, and regional Youth of the Year events, culminating in the selection of the National Youth of the Year. As the Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, Kohl's, through Kohl's Cares, empowers Boys & Girls Clubs through staff training in trauma-informed care and curriculum updates that support youth mental health and wellbeing within the Youth of the Year program.
Attachments
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Southwest Youth of the Year 2025
Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Southwest Youth of the Year 2025
CONTACT: Andrea Holliday Boys & Girls Clubs of America aholliday@bgca.orgSign in to access your portfolio
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Becky G, Ivan Cornejo, Maná lead Latinx musicians' response to the ongoing L.A. ICE raids
A number of Latinx musicians have expressed their solidarity and support for immigrant communities via social media in the wake of immigration raids that have resulted in the arrest of 330 people in Southern California and the Central Coast. In a lengthy Instagram video posted Saturday, TV personality and two-time Grammy-nominated singer Chiquis held back tears as she addressed the raids and reminded her fans to 'treat people like you want to be treated.' 'United we stand, divided we fall apart, you guys,' she said. 'If all humans would to get together and be kinder and hold each other's hands and push people a little bit more in a positive way, uplift people, we would be so powerful.' Música Mexicana artist Ivan Cornejo shared in an Instagram post Tuesday that his father had been granted amnesty by the Reagan administration during the '80s. He punctuated his post by sharing the information for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and added that he'll continue to raise funds for CHIRLA throughout his tour. 'Words cannot express the sorrow that I feel for my community,' the "Estas Dañada" singer, a native of Riverside, said. 'I see my mom, my dad and myself in many of you. I am speechless at the inhumanity that is affecting our Mexican and Hispanic communities.' Read more: 330 immigrants detained in Southern California and Central Coast; Bass blasts ongoing raids 'The people being attacked today are not 'illegal aliens,' they are human beings with RIGHTS,' pop star Becky G said Tuesday in an Instagram post that paid tribute to her immigrant grandparents. 'We must understand that an attack on them is an attack on OUR DEMOCRACY and an attack on what this country was made to stand for.' Read more: All of L.A. is not a 'war zone.' We separate facts from spin and disinformation amid immigration raids The "Otro Capitulo" singer also shared information about what to do if confronted by immigration agents, and listed several advocacy organizations to support. Los Aptos, a first-generation música Mexicana act band from Indiana, posted a segment of their interview with YouTube podcaster Pepe Garza describing their origins, and called for 'a system that is untouchable no matter what a— is in office.' In the same post, Los Aptos provided information on what to do if ICE knocks on your door and an infographic with the rights a person has if they are arrested. Fuerza Regida, one of the most streamed Latin music acts, offered their 'love and strength' to the Latinx community in an Instagram post Tuesday. 'We've been deeply moved by the events of this past week,' the band wrote in the statement. 'These are our people, our fans, the very communities that inspire our music.' Fher Olvera, the lead singer of legendary rock en español band Maná, posted a video on the group's official Instagram on Wednesday expressing his support for the immigrant community in L.A., and asked protesters to remain peaceful. Read more: ICE raids across L.A. spark backlash; Trump officials vow to continue operations 'That's how you are going to win,' Olvera said in Spanish. Eight-time platinum artist Junior H also chimed in Wednesday, sharing a photo captioned with "No one is illegal in stolen land." The "Rockstar" singer also shared a post from his fashion brand, Sad Boyz Clothing, announcing that a portion of its sales would be donated to "help cover the legal fees for families impacted by ICE Raids." "It's a small gesture, but one we believe matters— because when one of us hurts, we all do," read the company's statement. The normally tight-lipped Texas band Grupo Frontera also chimed in, writing in an Instagram Story on Wednesday that they 'send strength and resilience to our migrant community.' 'We stand with you. As immigrants, we understand the pain, uncertainty and fear that many are experiencing,' the group said. 'It hurts to see our people go through this and that's why we want to speak out. We support you and we will never stop fighting for our community.' Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Harris Yulin, 'Scarface' and 'Ghostbusters II' actor, dies at 87: 'One of the greatest'
Harris Yulin, 'Scarface' and 'Ghostbusters II' actor, dies at 87: 'One of the greatest' Harris Yulin, the Emmy-nominated actor known for his wide-ranging roles in films such as "Scarface," "Ghostbusters II" and "Clear and Present Danger," has died. He was 87. Yulin died of cardiac arrest on June 10 in New York City, according to a press release shared by the actor's representative Sue Leibman. A memorial service is scheduled to be held at a later date. In the weeks leading up to his death, Yulin was preparing to start production on the Michael Hoffman-directed series "American Classic," which was slated to star Yulin alongside Kevin Kline and Laura Linney. "Harris Yulin was very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered," Hoffman said in a statement. "His marriage of immense technique with an always fresh sense of discovery, gave his work an immediacy and vitality and purity I've experienced nowhere else. "And what he was as an actor, he was as a man, the grace, the humility, the generosity. All of us at'American Classic'have been blessed by our experience with him. He will always remain the beating heart of our show." A native of Los Angeles, Yulin got his showbiz start in the theater community of New York City, appearing in a 1963 production of the James Saunders play "Next Time I'll Sing to You." He made his Broadway debut in the '80s with the Lillian Hellman play "Watch on the Rhine" and went on to perform in other shows such as "The Price," "The Visit" and "Hedda Gabler." In 2004, Yulin starred in a Chicago production of "Finishing the Picture," the final play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller. The actor also directed a number of plays himself, including "The Glass Menagerie," "The Trip to Bountiful" and "This Lime Tree Bower." Yulin made his cinematic debut in 1970 with a starring role in the dark comedy "End of the Road." In the '80s, Yulin stretched his acting chops with roles in the gangster drama "Scarface" and adventure comedy "Ghostbusters II." The actor continued to switch things up in the '90s, appearing in the political thriller "Clear and Present Danger" and slapstick comedy "Bean." Brian Wilson dies: Beach Boys cofounder was 82 Yulin also lent his talents to the TV world with recurring roles in the series "Ozark," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and "Billions." He received a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1996 for his guest role on the sitcom "Frasier." "Yulin was part of the vanguard of a generation who cared passionately about the craft of acting," a statement from Yulin's death announcement read. "This deep, lifelong dedication led to extraordinary, resonant performances that were a gift to audiences, the actors he worked with, and the art of acting itself." Additionally, Yulin gave back to his fellow actors through teaching stints at The Juilliard School and Columbia University. 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Yulin is survived by his wife Kristen Lowman, son-in-law Ted Mineo, nephew Martin Crane, and godchildren Marco and Lara Greenberg.
Los Angeles Times
5 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Becky G, Ivan Cornejo, Maná lead Latinx musicians' response to the ongoing L.A. ICE raids
A number of Latinx musicians have expressed their solidarity and support for immigrant communities via social media in the wake of immigration raids that have resulted in the arrest of 330 people in Southern California and the Central Coast. In a lengthy Instagram video posted Saturday, TV personality and two-time Grammy-nominated singer Chiquis held back tears as she addressed the raids and reminded her fans to 'treat people like you want to be treated.' 'United we stand, divided we fall apart, you guys,' she said. 'If all humans would to get together and be kinder and hold each other's hands and push people a little bit more in a positive way, uplift people, we would be so powerful.' Música Mexicana artist Ivan Cornejo shared in an Instagram post Tuesday that his father had been granted amnesty by the Reagan administration during the '80s. He punctuated his post by sharing the information for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and added that he'll continue to raise funds for CHIRLA throughout his tour. 'Words cannot express the sorrow that I feel for my community,' the 'Estas Dañada' singer, a native of Riverside, said. 'I see my mom, my dad and myself in many of you. I am speechless at the inhumanity that is affecting our Mexican and Hispanic communities.' 'The people being attacked today are not 'illegal aliens,' they are human beings with RIGHTS,' pop star Becky G said Tuesday in an Instagram post that paid tribute to her immigrant grandparents. 'We must understand that an attack on them is an attack on OUR DEMOCRACY and an attack on what this country was made to stand for.' The 'Otro Capitulo' singer also shared information about what to do if confronted by immigration agents, and listed several advocacy organizations to support. Los Aptos, a first-generation música Mexicana act band from Indiana, posted a segment of their interview with YouTube podcaster Pepe Garza describing their origins, and called for 'a system that is untouchable no matter what a— is in office.' In the same post, Los Aptos provided information on what to do if ICE knocks on your door and an infographic with the rights a person has if they are arrested. Fuerza Regida, one of the most streamed Latin music acts, offered their 'love and strength' to the Latinx community in an Instagram post Tuesday. 'We've been deeply moved by the events of this past week,' the band wrote in the statement. 'These are our people, our fans, the very communities that inspire our music.' Fher Olvera, the lead singer of legendary rock en español band Maná, posted a video on the group's official Instagram on Wednesday expressing his support for the immigrant community in L.A., and asked protesters to remain peaceful. 'That's how you are going to win,' Olvera said in Spanish. Eight-time platinum artist Junior H also chimed in Wednesday, sharing a photo captioned with 'No one is illegal in stolen land.' The 'Rockstar' singer also shared a post from his fashion brand, Sad Boyz Clothing, announcing that a portion of its sales would be donated to 'help cover the legal fees for families impacted by ICE Raids.' 'It's a small gesture, but one we believe matters— because when one of us hurts, we all do,' read the company's statement. The normally tight-lipped Texas band Grupo Frontera also chimed in, writing in an Instagram Story on Wednesday that they 'send strength and resilience to our migrant community.' 'We stand with you. As immigrants, we understand the pain, uncertainty and fear that many are experiencing,' the group said. 'It hurts to see our people go through this and that's why we want to speak out. We support you and we will never stop fighting for our community.'
