Youth of the Year

Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members.

Each year, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club names two Youth of the Year from each clubhouse.  These extraordinary members serve as exemplary ambassadors for Wakeman BGC youth and lend their strong voices to all of our Club's young people.

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club's Youth of the Year is selected from among these clubhouse winners and goes on to contend for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title. The journey then continues to the Northeast Regional Youth of the Year, and ultimately six finalists will advance to the National Youth of the Year event to vie for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year.


Becoming National Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspiring journey. Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state and regional Youth of the Year events. The National Youth of the Year is a teen spokesperson, role model, leader and advocate for over 4.6 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year, and all of America’s young people.


Learn more about the National Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year program here.

Youth of the Year, Over the Years

2012-2021

Southport Clubhouse Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse Stratfield Clubhouse
2021 Molly Smith*, Kate Alianiello, Matt Sawyer Jonathan Straker & Alyssa Thomas
2020 Mary Corrigan & Brendan McMahon Byron Francis* & Micaiah Boykin
2019 Rory Smith* & Mason Zane Ashli Lowe
2018 Kara Smith & Stephen Gniadek Chanel Francis* & Quinton Sneed
2017 Gabrielle Galletta* & Patrick Steed Zula Blair & Ramir Johnson
2016 Regan Steed & John Gerber Joshua Torres & Amanda Latorre 
2015 Lindsay Meyers & Brendan Blees Stephani Narvaez
2014 Amanda Bow & Tim Kiernan Bill Narvaez & Jannette Latorre Hannah Schreck & Anthony Szymonik
2013 Olivia Morawksi & Sean Smalley Meghan Skerrett & Ronald Vincent
2012 Holly Hoffman & Matt McTague Shakera Spencer & Onree Rodrigues

*Denotes Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Representative at the State Competition


1990-2011

2011 Hayley Lynch & Philip Morris
2010 Molly McGeady & James Cimina    
2009 Patrick Cannon & Joanna Barlow
2008 Samie Ahmed & Meghan Mahder
2007 Nick Makes & Margaret Merritt
2006 Brendan Jones & Erin Cross
2005 Cameron Swallen & Kyle McGeady
2004 Billy Byrne & Meg Orazio
2003 Sean McGeady & Leah Barlow
2002 Tom Reilly & Kait Herman
2001 Thayer Swallen & Kate Fitzpatrick
2000 Matt Makes & Courtney Bowers
1999 Scott Kotchko & Maria Cimina
1998 Greg Strickland & Jacey Haskell
1997 John Cimina & Lindsay Benak
1996 James Driggs & Tiffany Orsini
1995 Kevin Sullivan & Caraly Benak
1994 Brendan McDermott & Debra Sliva
1993 Andrew Orosz & Amy Dayton
1992 Chris Dayton & Courtney Rockwell
1991 Brian Hunt & Molly McHugh
1990 Ron Harrington & Gina Palazzolo

1968-1989

1989 Jeffrey Fortune & Elizabeth Harder
1988 James O'Conner, Joe DeSabella & Laura Edwards
1987 Peter Harding & Allison Mancini
1986 David Casale & Tracy Gomperts
1985 Charley Biggs, Dave Renzulli, & Jennifer McQuaid
1984 John Osterlind & Lisa Rainis
1983 Jeff Renzulli 
1982 Keith Levin 
1981 Jeffrey Roberts 
1980 John Schaffer 
1979 John Donahue 
1978 Robert & Tom Meyers 
1977 Frank Udiskey 
1976 Patrick Philbin 
1975 Patrick Adams 
1974 Neale Ensign 
1973 Barry Dailey 
1972 Robert Guerrere 
1971 Douglas Perce 
1970 James Ziobro 
1969 Dave Powers 
1968 Clark Stephens 
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