Phoenix, AZ, April 15, 2026 – The Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs is proud to announce that two exceptional young leaders have been named Arizona State Youth of the Year and Arizona State Military Youth of the Year.
Aurora Archer, a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ), has been named Arizona State Youth of the Year, the highest honor awarded to a Boys & Girls Club teen in the State. In addition, Aria Walker, from Luke Air Force Base Youth Programs, has been named Arizona State Military Youth of the Year.
Selected from an inspiring group of youth leaders across Arizona, both Aurora and Aria earned these honors for their leadership, academic success, commitment to service, and dedication to living healthy lifestyles. They will go on to represent Arizona in the regional Youth of the Year competition.
“Aurora and Aria represent the very best of our Clubs and youth programs across Arizona,” said Cheyenne Walsh, Board President of the Arizona Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and partner at Compass Strategies. “Their stories reflect resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to their communities. We are proud to have them represent our state on the regional stage.”
As Arizona’s official Youth of the Year and Military Youth of the Year, Aurora and Aria will serve as ambassadors for youth across the State, using their voices to advocate for opportunities and support for young people.
The Youth of the Year program is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier teen recognition initiative, celebrating young people who exemplify leadership, character, and service. State winners receive scholarship opportunities and will advance to regional and national competitions.
Special thanks to the Arizona State Youth of the Year Sponsors, longtime partner, Fiesta Sports Foundation and Swire Coca-Cola. This year’s judging panel included an impressive list of leaders: Angie Rodgers, Department of Economic Security; Chris Kiley, Swire Coca-Cola, Dr. Eric Leshinskie, Scottsdale Community College; Katia Jones, Fiesta Sports Foundation and Chris Montgomery, Fiesta Sports Foundation. These leaders donated their time to listen to the teens’ speeches and conduct interviews to select the winners.