Fiorella Garcia, was recently named Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s 2020 Youth of the Year. A panel of individuals from a diverse mix of Miami-area companies ― including Lisa Mendelson, Allison Stuart, Angela Smith, Marisa Farrell Arteaga, Monique Mosley and Luis Concepcion ― served as the judges to select this year’s Youth of the Year.
Garcia, a student at Miami Beach High School with a 3.7 GPA, has been a member of the South Beach Club since her freshman year. During her time at the Club, she has matured by placing her focus on her education and giving back to the community. She hopes to attend University of South Florida and major in psychology, to eventually give back to the community that helped raise her.
Garcia participates in numerous extracurricular activities including the National Honors Society, Psychology Club, Catholic Student Union, Keystone, Varsity Basketball and the Always Believe Foundation. At the club, she tutors and mentors youth members and helps with daily club activities.
“While we have many youth members here who embrace the attributes we represent at the Clubs, Fiorella is the ideal representative of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade,” said Alex Rodriguez-Roig, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. “She deserves to be named Youth of the Year and we congratulate her for all of her hard work and dedication.”
Every year since 1955, youth from various Boys & Girls Clubs across Florida have competed for the opportunity to represent Florida as the Florida Youth of the Year. The winner of the state title then competes in the regional competition. Five regional winners then move on, and one is named the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth of the Year.
The National Youth of the Year serves as both an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs youth and as a strong voice for all of the nation’s young people. He/she receives a new car courtesy of Toyota, scholarships and cash totaling $60,000. The National Youth of the Year, along with the other four regional runners-up, then travel to Washington, D.C. and speak to members of Congress and meet the president of the United States.
To achieve the title of Youth of the Year on any level, Club members must embody the values of leadership and service, academic excellence and healthy lifestyles. They should exemplify the critical impact that Boys & Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people. The scoring includes candidate essays, an interview, a speech, letters of recommendation and overall application quality.