Youth of the Year

Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs’ premier recognition program, since 1955. Its purpose is to foster a new generation of leaders. 

 

Each Club nominates a high school member annually to compete to represent our organization as Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Youth of the Year, and to compete at the state level and possibly national level.

 

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 a healthy lifestyle. They should exemplify the critical impact that Boys & Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people

Ariana Luis

2023 Youth of the Year

Ariana Luis, a junior at Miami Killian Senior High with a 3.8 GPA, has been a member of the Kendall Club since 2020. Since joining Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, she has become an active member in school activities including the Art Honor Society, the Cambridge Program and the swim team. At the Club, she is the current president of the Kendall Club’s Keystone Chapter, regularly participates in park clean ups hosted by the Club and mentors junior youth members.

 

Luis will be graduating in June 2024. She hopes to attend Columbia University or Florida International University and study international business. Her dream career is to be an ambassador for the United States and work on the international business side of diplomacy. 

 

During her time at the Club, Luis has matured by placing her focus on her education, being a mentor to others and giving back to the community. Luis acknowledges the Club’s impact on her success.