Outstanding teens from seven Arizona Boys & Girls Club organizations competed for the state’s highest Club member honor
PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 8, 2024) – The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and presenting sponsor Fiesta Bowl Charities are proud to announce Sydney F. of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale as the 2024 Arizona State Youth of the Year. Sydney is a senior at Desert Mountain High School and has been a member of the Thunderbirds branch since she was in second grade. She received a postsecondary academic award and will vie for the Pacific Region Youth of the Year title this summer.
The breakfast ceremony was held at Chase Field’s Third Base Lounge in downtown Phoenix with family, Club staff, and many state legislators in attendance. Local legislators from the House and Senate met with the seven finalists to learn more about them and their plans for the future.
“We are so proud of Sydney and all of our outstanding candidates,” said Cheyenne Walsh, partner of Compass Strategies Public Affairs and Board Chair for the Arizona Alliance. “These teens are dedicated students and leaders in their communities, and role models at their Clubs. They represent the very best of our more than 114,000 Club members across Arizona.”
Hakima A., the 2023 Arizona State Youth of the Year, emceed the event, presented by Fiesta Bowl Charities with support from Swire Coca-Cola. The breakfast program also included a panel interview with four former Arizona State Youth of the Year winners. Kristina Chumpol, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Community Investment at the Fiesta Bowl, and Judy Bernas, Fiesta Bowl Board Chair, announced the 2024 Arizona State Youth of the Year winner.
“The Fiesta Bowl Organization has a shared commitment with Boys & Girls Clubs to support our talented youth and teens as they advance in their personal development to achieve their dreams,” said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. “The Arizona State Youth of the Year program is such a distinguished honor and we are pleased to help these young people write their own scripts. We are here to celebrate their accomplishments and encourage them to continue to flourish in the chapters ahead.”
Sydney, the 2024 Arizona State Youth of the Year, has been an active member of her Club for ten years. Through the Club’s teen programs like Keystone and Junior Staff, Sydney has emerged as a leader, advocate, and inspiration to her peers and younger Club members. She plans to attend the University of Utah in the Fall, where she will major in criminology and psychology.
Selected from a field of seven candidates from Boys & Girls Clubs organizations around the State, Sydney will receive $2,500 in academic awards courtesy of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She will go on to compete at the regional level with the hope of advancing to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year competition.
In Sydney’s three-minute competition speech, she shared her experience navigating the pressures and stereotypes that often negatively impact teenage girls. She expressed her gratitude to the Club for giving her a safe space where she was free to be herself without judgement, supported by the mentors, role models, and lifelong friends at the Club who have helped her make healthy decisions and gain confidence throughout her journey.
Each of the candidates previously competed at local levels to represent their individual Boys & Girls Club organizations before moving on to the State competition. Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. Teens must write multiple essays, participate in an extensive interview process, and deliver a three-minute speech highlighting the impact of their Club experience.
Congratulations to all the Arizona State Youth of the Year candidates:
- Rebekah C., Boys & Girls Clubs of the Colorado River
- Makia W., Boys & Girls Club of Flagstaff
- Reuben R., Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gila River Indian Community
- Sydney F., Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
- Damilan W., Boys & Girls Club of Sierra Vista
- Jaydon M., Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson
- Yarieliz L., Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley
Special thanks to the Arizona State Youth of the Year judges:
- Pamela Alexander, Founder & CEO, Alexander Communications
- Sandra Avila, Director of Community Relations, Fiesta Bowl
- Leigh Branston, General Manager, Comcast
- Bridget Condon, Director of Public Relations & Government Affairs, Swire Coca-Cola
- Mark R. Grayson, President, Simone Charitable Foundation
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About the Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs:
The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs (www.azabgc.org) is made up of 17 organizations from across the State, serving more than 114,000 kids and teens each year. The Alliance was formed in 2000 to increase the Club’s visibility in communities and to advocate for Arizona’s most vulnerable youth. Clubs offer programs and services promoting and enhancing the development of youth by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence. Follow @AZABGC for more information.
About the Fiesta Bowl Organization:
Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education.