Savannah , Youth of the Year

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By Anika Yoder

Savannah Friesen has won Elkhart County Youth of the Year..

The Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year award is given to an exceptional Club member to serve as a voice for the Boys and Girls Club youth and youth over all. This award began in 1947 and has evolved into a program to develop leadership skills as well as communication and other qualities to help young people grow into well rounded citizens.

The winner for the Elkhart County, Savannah Friesen, is a junior here at GHS and has been attending the Boys and Girls Club since second grade. She’s competed for four years for the Youth of the Year award. She won the award both this year and last year.

“I’ve wanted this since second grade so the fact that 2 out of the 4 years that I’ve competed I’ve won is amazing. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for this opportunity,” said Friesen.

The Youth of the Year award is the highest honor you can receive in the Boys and Girls Club. The process involves three letters of recommendation for academic excellence, character, and lifestyle as well as three essays talking about club experience and your vision for American youth. You then fill out a questionnaire and give a three minute speech.

This year was different. Last year I was shocked that I as a sophomore beat out upper class men but this year I came in with more confidence so it was an amazing feeling both times but it was a different type of amazing,” said Friesen.

This is exceptional because a sophomore compiling essays and letters of recommendation as well as giving a three minute speech is impressive. Some might not want to put forth the effort but for four years Savannah has gone the extra mile to become a key figure in the leadership program for the Boys and Girls Club.

When asked what it was like being nominated for the award, she said, “Being nominated for this award is life changing because it congratulated me on all the accomplishments that I have had through my life especially when they might have otherwise been looked over.”

Savannah’s hard work over the the past four years has been recognized with the Youth of the Year award and we can see the effort put into good leadership and academic excellence over the years.

Congratulations, Savannah!

 

Author

lshetler

GHS English Teacher

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