Palmetto teen named Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
Jayden D., a senior at Palmetto High School, was named Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County at the 2023 Youth of the Year Celebration Dinner at the Bradenton Country Club.
Jayden D., a senior at Palmetto High School, was named Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County at the 2023 Youth of the Year Celebration Dinner at the Bradenton Country Club.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County recently honored Jayden D., a senior at Palmetto High School, as the organization’s Youth of the Year during the 2023 Youth of the Year Celebration Dinner at The Bradenton Country Club.

Jayden, whose title includes a one-year Florida College Prepaid Scholarship, will now vie for Florida Youth of the Year and additional awards from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

“We are so proud of Jayden’s accomplishments. He is a bright and determined young man with a desire to make our community and world a better place,” said Dawn Stanhope, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. “We will be cheering him on as he competes against other Youth of the Year winners from across the state next month.”

Jayden, a National Honor Society student with plans to attend Saint Leo University, credits his family for his strong foundation and football for the development of his leadership skills and confidence.

“The way I hope to change the world is to start my own business and mentor teens and young adults to help them through life’s challenges,” said Jayden, a club member since age 7.

The Youth of the Year runner-up, Skylar G., a member of the DeSoto Boys & Girls Club, also received a $1,500 Florida College Prepaid scholarship. Dior A., a member of the Boys & Girls Club at G.D. Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary, was named Junior Youth of the Year.

“It’s a privilege to see Jayden receive the Youth of the Year title,” said John Agnelli, club director at the Palmetto Boys & Girls Club. “His dedication to serving others, compassion and strong leadership qualities puts him on a trajectory to influence positive change now and into the future.”

The Youth of the Year Celebration Dinner was presented by Publix Super Markets Charities. Sponsors included Larry Clark, Bob and Carol Carter, Herbst Foundation courtesy of Fred Nelson, Pittsburgh Pirates-Bradenton Marauders, NDC Construction, and the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund.

For more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, call 941-761-2582 or visit bgcmanatee.org and facebook.com/BoysGirlsClubsManatee.

Submitted by Drue Duerschmidt

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Boys & Girls Clubs honor Palmetto teen at Youth of the Year celebration