Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year awards feature 2 winners from Evansville's North Side
EVANSVILLE – Two Evansville teens making strides in the community are now trying to make a statewide impact.
The Boys & Girls Club of Evansville announced its annual Youth of the Year award, and this year features two honorees: Jada Thompson, 14, and Alexzander Colacecchi, 13.
"It's a proud moment not only for me but for our entire staff to see these kids succeed," said BGCE Executive Director Rob Ryan.
Established in 1947, the Youth of the Year has been the Boys & Girls Club of America's premier recognition program. Here in Evansville, the club recognized 22 youth members in different wards for their contributions to family, school, club, and general community.
As the two top winners of the local club, Thompson and Colacecchi will travel to Indianapolis for the Indiana State Youth of the Year competition, where they'll compete against several others from around the state and submit essays, complete service projects and get judged by a panel of interviewers.
Last year's winner, Ai'Zsoni Sherman, was the first Evansville teen in almost 60 years to take the statewide honor. In 1964, club member Ed Bassemier won the National Youth of the Year title. Bassemier went on to become a Vanderburgh County Sheriff's deputy and serve on the county council, among several other roles.
If either are selected as the state winner, they'll go on to the national competition, where one teen is selected to serve a one-year term as representative for all Boys & Girls Clubs, traveling to address different groups on youth issues and the role the clubs play in changing lives.
For Thompson, being involved in the club has helped her gain her voice and confidence. Many, including herself, commented on how the Cedar Hill eighth-grader has grown outside of her shell.
"When I started coming, I was shy and quiet," she said. "Then someone showed me around and made me feel comfortable."
Colacecchi, who loves football and helping people, has been attending the programs at the club since he was 5 years old. The Thompkins seventh-grader is known around the club for being confident and joyful.
Both were shocked to hear their names called as they thought and hoped that one of their friends had won instead of them.
While both are nervous about being put into the spot like this, they know that their friends and staff have their back as they head into the statewide competition.
"They truly love people that are working with them every day and that's why they come," said Ryan. "We're a safer place in here, but the kids that come here, they're gonna make the community a safer place today not running in the streets."
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Two Evansville teens announced as Boys & Girls Club Youths of Year
