Area teens compete in Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada’s Youth of the Year competition
Family, safety and confidence were the topics of the day as three Carson City teens competed in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada’s Youth of the Year competition on Friday, Jan. 8.
Carson High School senior, 18 year old Autumn Cuellar, and freshman Natalie Ontiveros, 15, and McKenzie Malone, also 15, delivered speeches discussing what the Club means to their lives before spending over an hour meeting with members of the judging panel in private interviews.
Each contestant must submit a comprehensive application packet including three essays on topics selected for them, letters of recommendation as well as speaking to and interviewing with the judges. Participants must be at least 14 years old and have been a Club member for two years.
“Each of these young ladies has an incredible story and has overcome something significant or tragic, or lives with adversity,” Matt Sampson, program director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, said. “These are incredible young women with incredible stories.”
The Carson City competition is the first step in the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year competition. The winning teen from Carson City will move on to the state round in Las Vegas in February. State winners advance to the regional competition and finally on to the national competition held at the White House.
Judges included Boys & Girls Club board member Andie Wilson and past president Jonathan Olivas, juvenile probation officer Ben Bianchi and his wife Karen, and Cyntha Pennington, vice president of sales for the Change Companies, also the host of this year’s local competition.
Carson City’s Youth of the Year will be announced at the Club’s annual awards celebration Jan. 29.
Photo information: Katie Leao, chief professional officer, and Matt Sampson, program director, of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, with three Club members competing in the local Youth of the Year contest, Natalie Ontiveros, McKenzie Malone and Autumn Cuellar, with competition judges and Club board members Andie Wilson and Jonathan Olivas, Cyntha Pennington, vice president of sales of the Change Companies, Ben Bianchi, juvenile probation officer, and his wife, Karen.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada has been a cornerstone of the community since opening its doors in 1993. Serving some 1,800 youth, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada provides a safe, structured and positive environment for young people after school, during holidays and summer vacation in six locations around Carson City and Douglas County. For more information, please visit www.bgcwn.org.
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