Elgin teen named Illinois Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America
An outstanding teen from the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin has been named 2024 Illinois Youth of the Year.
Selected from a field of 10 exceptional youth, Abigail, 17, was named the winner after a two-day event April 29-30 in Springfield, hosted by the Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs (Alliance) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois.
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 the nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures.
As the Illinois Youth of the Year, Abigail will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a $2,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and advance to the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national event.
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 of 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.
“The Youth of the Year candidates came from all over the state of Illinois and they are all phenomenal,” said Mia Woods, director of organizational development, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “The competition itself is made up of the submission of a resume, application, and essays as well as the speeches and interviews that took place in Springfield for the event.”
“We are incredibly proud of Abigail 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 Illinois Youth of the Year, Abigail 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.”
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 Kohl's.
As the Signature Sponsors of Youth of the Year, Toyota and Kohl's 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, Abigail will join other state Youth of the Year to vie for the Midwest 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 new Toyota Corolla.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit bgca.org/yoy.
The Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs represents 24 Boys & Girls Clubs — affiliated organizations throughout the state furthering the mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Boys & Girls Clubs serve nearly 60,000 youth throughout Illinois — from Genesee to Carbondale and Moline to Danville. With Clubs located in large urban areas such as Chicago, mid-sized cities such as Springfield and smaller communities such as Bethalto, Clubs support youth who need us most and face many different challenges.
Boys & Girls Clubs’ proven youth development model supports the needs youth have in common, such as the need to succeed academically, while allowing local Clubs to tailor their programs and activities to the specific needs of their community’s youth and families. Learn more at bgcillinois.org.
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. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and X.