KBGC Youth of the Year!

Recognizing the accomplishments of our club members and their commitment to bettering themselves and their communities!

Youth of the Year is our organizations signature effort to foster a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy.

In the 21st-century world and workplace, leadership skills such as communication, goal-setting and teamwork are essential for everyone - especially young people preparing to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood.


Youth of the Year

Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth as well as a voice for all of our nation’s young people. Over the decades, these individuals have exemplified the Boys & Girls Club mission and are proof to the impact Clubs make in transforming and saving kids’ lives. National Youth of the Year winners have achieved success in a variety of industries, including entertainment, politics, business and sports.

Junior Youth of the Year

Distinct from the National Youth of the Year program, Junior Youth of the Year seeks to develop junior leaders ages 10-13 within the Club environment. The program fosters Club members’ emerging leadership abilities while preparing them for later participation in the Youth of the Year program. In addition to recognizing the leadership achievements of Club youth, Junior Youth of the Year also cultivates their leadership potential, providing the foundation they need for advanced leadership development, academic excellence and postsecondary success. Through this program, Club youth become motivated to seek opportunities for leadership and to act as responsible citizens and change agents.

2024 Youth of the Year

AJ Crews

AJ Crews is 17 years old and is a Senior at Dobyns Bennett but attends DB Excel. He also was selected to do work base learning at Eastman Chemical Company. AJ has attended the club for 11 years. He plans on attending Northeast State after graduation. At the club he loves to mentor the younger club members.

2024 Junior Youth of the Year

Rylan Kiser

Rylan Kiser is 13 years old and is in the 8th grade at Sevier Middle School. He has been coming to the club for the past 4 years. He always says that the club is his safe place. Rylan enjoys Table Time, pickleball, and playing basketball. He also enjoys being in leadership roles. After graduation Rylan would like to attend the University of Tennessee.

2024 Youth of the Year Nominee

Jakub Stewart

Jakub Stewart is 17 years old and is in the 11th grade at Dobyns Bennett High School. He has been a club member for 8 years. Jakub loves to dance and is the club ambassador. He loves coming to the club to be with his friends and to have a good time. He would like to be a police officer when he grows up.

2024 Youth of the Year Nominee Van Davidson

Van Davidson is 17 years old and is in the 11th grade at Dobyns Bennett. Van has attended the club for 6 years. He likes coming to club because he can be himself and has somewhere fun to go after school. Van likes to cook when he’s at the club and he takes pride in it. After graduating school, he would like to got to North East State.

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