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Lynn Wade<br />
The Ledger<br />
Dorothy Ann Downs & Robert Raymon<br />
Dan & Nicole Hoffman<br />
Suellen Lemmon<br />
Christopher & Cassandra King<br />
John & Sarah Ney<br />
Marylee Owings<br />
Dennis & Mary Staberg<br />
Susan Wilson<br />
Howard & Carol Pellett<br />
Aztec Self Storage<br />
Janice & Norman Vigre<br />
Jack Sather<br />
Kristi & John Chambers<br />
Cecil Thomas<br />
Gregg & Lea Davidson<br />
John & Tammie White<br />
Mary Gleason<br />
Rebecca & William Murray<br />
Brynne & Pat Kelly<br />
Ooh La La Salon<br />
Gateway Transmissions, Inc<br />
Josh Bluhm<br />
Terje & Jessica Culp<br />
Mike Blade<br />
Chad Fisher Construction, LLC<br />
The Rustic Rooster<br />
Tom & Caree Brownfield<br />
Chelsea Bowman<br />
Michael & Dana Webb<br />
Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island<br />
Jennifer & Charles Hardin<br />
Kim & Steven Stafford<br />
Donald L Fenton<br />
Puget Sound Energy Foundation<br />
Tom & Fay Shane<br />
Lowe’s Store<br />
Henry’s Humdingers<br />
Scott Johnson<br />
Jerry Kopp<br />
Sharon Wright<br />
K&H Integrated Print Solutions<br />
KS Excavating, Inc<br />
Eagles - FOE #2069<br />
Rick Trelstad<br />
Jacqueline Zoolkoski<br />
Judd & Black<br />
Herb & Judy Hansen<br />
Bill & Laurie Wallace<br />
Sherry Hendrix<br />
Washington State Auto Dealers Services, Inc<br />
Frontier Building Supply<br />
The Brown Lantern Alehouse<br />
Kim Gardner<br />
Land Title & Escrow Company of Skagit & Island County<br />
Patricia Gordaoff<br />
Mary Staley<br />
Montana Sporting Club<br />
Mike & Mary Stepanski<br />
Alyeska Design, LLC<br />
Colleen Smiley<br />
Barbara Bear<br />
Scott & Harmony Bahr<br />
Joyce Nagel<br />
Mildred Metzger<br />
Michael & Rita King<br />
Dan & Marie Donat<br />
Day Creek Sand & Gravel<br />
Eleanor Kuenzi<br />
Clay Taylor<br />
Espresso Connection<br />
Thomas & Deborah Moser<br />
Cedar Country Lumber<br />
Tim & Sarah Van Dyken<br />
John Roozen<br />
Will & Diane Reichardt<br />
Rob & Erin Reiger<br />
24<br />
This year, one of the judges made an observation that resonated<br />
deeply with staff: They knew that Clubs did good things, but it<br />
wasn’t until seeing the process up close that they realized how<br />
important Clubs were to youth, the need for this type of service,<br />
and how irreplaceable Clubs really are in the community.<br />
For <strong>2016</strong>, we had three Clubhouse Youth of the Year, and four runners-up. Each<br />
story was different, but within them common themes and experiences the Club<br />
members identified as changing them for the better. Acceptance—through<br />
being welcome and knowing they always had a place to talk to someone, in<br />
a safe environment. Opportunity—heard time and again as several reflected<br />
on their experience this last summer on our first major College Tour. Finally,<br />
Staff—a deep, personal relationship with one or more staff members who<br />
have helped to shape their personalities, and who have provided them guidance<br />
during their life.<br />
The Club member selected to represent Skagit County immediately begins<br />
preparation for the next stage—the state program in March. It begins on a<br />
Tuesday evening, with all the organizational Youth of the Year joining together<br />
in ice breakers and some fun. First thing Wednesday morning, the youth go to<br />
the Governor’s Mansion for a breakfast in their honor where they are joined by<br />
legislative representatives from all over the state. While there, the Governor’s<br />
Community Service Scholarship award is presented, and all youth are introduced<br />
officially.<br />
A whirlwind 36 hours follows the visit to Olympia, and includes meeting community<br />
and civic leaders, engaging in vibrant discussion, polishing up on interview<br />
and speech delivery skills, going through another round of judging, and finally,<br />
one youth being crowned as the Washington State Youth of the Year, earning a<br />
$5,000 scholarship, and opportunity to represent the state at the Pacific Region<br />
event in June, in Los Angeles, CA. The Pacific Region Youth of the Year earns an<br />
additional $40,000 in college scholarships, and travels to Washington, DC in the<br />
fall to meet the President in the Oval Office, and participate in the final round<br />
that crowns our Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Youth of the Year.<br />
Representing Skagit County for 2017 is Paula Banda, an 8th grader from Cascade<br />
Middle School in Sedro-Woolley. While rare to have someone so young<br />
selected, Paula meets all the qualification requirements, and made a significant<br />
impression on the judges. To determine a winner, seven judges received<br />
advance materials that include biographical information, essays, and supporting<br />
letters and other materials. A rubric is provided for the entire cycle, and the<br />
judges come together to hear speeches, and interview all the candidates, the<br />
day before our Youth of the Year Dinner. Because of the quality of our Club<br />
members participating, for the second year in a row, just two points separated<br />
winner and runner-up.<br />
This year, one of the judges made an observation that resonated deeply with<br />
staff: They knew that Clubs did good things, but it wasn’t until seeing the process<br />
up close that they realized how important Clubs were to youth, the need<br />
for this type of service, and how irreplaceable Clubs really are in the community.<br />
We are thankful for our judges, for staff simply could not make the choice themselves.<br />
Perhaps a wonderful testament to this is Paula’s own opening line in her
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