Holland’s Jaquelin Barajas named Michigan Youth of the Year
LANSING — For the second year in a row, the Michigan Youth of the Year hails from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland.
West Ottawa senior Jaquelin Barajas was named the Michigan Youth of the Year during a ceremony in Lansing on Wednesday, April 17. Barajas previously earned the local honor in March.
More: ‘It means everything’: Youth of the Year ready to represent Holland at state competition
As the state honoree, Barajas earned a $5,000 scholarship and will advance to the Midwest Region Youth of the Year competition in Chicago on June 27.
Prior to the state competition, Barajas said she was honored to represent the Holland club on a bigger stage.
“To me, it means everything. This was my home,” she told The Sentinel last week. “To be able to represent not just my home, but almost every single member that's been here, their home as well, is just an amazing experience. It's such a beautiful thing. I'm so blessed to be taking the northside unit wherever I go, no matter what.”
Barajas is involved in several programs at the club and in the community, including EPIC, Partners with a Purpose, the Holland Youth Advisory Council, the West Ottawa Student Senate and the National Honor Society. She was also a nominee for a Youth Social Justice Award.
She plans to attend Michigan State University to major in public policy, with a minor in social science, after graduating from West Ottawa later this spring.
Barajas is the seventh local winner to earn Michigan Youth of the Year in 29 years. Holland members have now won back-to-back, and three of the last four.
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Last year’s Holland winner Isabel Shepard was a finalist for National Youth of the Year and Nayeli Mora won the local and state awards in 2021.
Youth of the Year is the premier youth recognition program for the Boys and Girls Club of America. It honors and celebrates “inspiring teens and their incredible journeys.”
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland’s Jaquelin Barajas named Michigan Youth of the Year
