Youth of the Year
Youth of the Year is our signature effort to foster a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy.
In the 21st-century world and workplace, leadership skills such as communication, goal-setting and teamwork are essential for everyone – especially young people preparing to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood. With a grassroots beginning in 1947, with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Youth of the Year has evolved into a comprehensive leadership development program.
Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth as well as a voice for all of our nation’s young people. Over the decades, these individuals have exemplified the Boys & Girls Club mission and are proof to the impact Clubs make in transforming and saving kids’ lives. National Youth of the Year winners have achieved success in a variety of industries, including entertainment, politics, business and sports.
Becoming National Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspiring journey. Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state and regional Youth of the Year events. Six teens, including five regional winners and a national military youth winner, advance to the National Youth of the Year Celebration, where one outstanding young person is named Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national teen spokesperson. The National Youth of the Year is a role model, leader and advocate for over 3.6 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year, and all of America’s young people.
Eligibility Requirements
Restrictions: Candidates previously named Regional Youth of the Year are not eligible to participate at the state, regional or national levels. Candidates can be named State Youth of the Year no more than two times. In multi-unit organizations, only one candidate (i.e., the Youth of the Year selected to represent the entire organization) may advance to the state and successive levels.
Application: Application submissions will only be accepted online at NYOY.org. Submissions must be received online on or before the due date. Online application submissions may not be altered once submitted.
Age: Candidates must be no younger than 14 and no older than 18 years of age on Jan. 31, 2025, to participate in the judging process at the state level.
Identification: Acceptable forms of identification include: a state-issued driver’s license or learner’s permit, birth certificate, U.S. passport, Social Security card, military ID card, certificate of citizenship and naturalization, employment authorization number and Native American identification card. If candidates do not have one of these forms of ID, a school ID will be accepted. U.S. citizenship is NOT required.
We recognize that in some instances, a candidate’s name may not match the name printed on their formal identification. BGCA supports all youth and is committed to providing an affirming and inclusive experience for everyone. Candidates may participate in all Youth of the Year activities, using the name they identify with, regardless of whether it matches the name on their formal ID. Staff will work with candidates and their advisors on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that all activities are safe and inclusive for everyone.
Status: Candidates advancing to the state level must have been named Youth of the Year for their organization during the current program year (Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2025). The organization’s chief executive officer must sign and approve the candidate’s application.
Club Level
Youth of the Year is selected in the local Club from a pool of members who have applied at the local level. The local Youth of the Year serves as a role model for other young people in the Club and as a representative of the community. Youth will be chosen by a panel of judges as the local youth of the year. This youth will then go on to participate in the state competition. Youth must apply at the local level and include one Essay entitled “My Club Experience,” resume and cover letter.
State Level
Each candidate who advances to a state-level event must submit the application materials in this packet, in their entirety to BGCA via the online application portal at NYOY.org. This is a one-time submission; materials from this packet will be reproduced for consideration at each successive level, should the candidate move on to regional and/or national participation.
Judges at the state, regional and national levels will consider candidates based on the scoring framework in this kit. Therefore, these application materials require candidates, and those who write letters of recommendation, to make a case for their qualification as BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. Candidates selected at the state level participate in their region’s Youth of the Year event. No new applications are required to participate at this level