Boys & Girls Clubs and the Youth of the Year program teach teens the skills to be successful and how to turn dreams into realities.
State Youth of the Year Breakfast
April 8, 2025 at the AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown
Special Thanks to the Arizona State Youth of the Year Sponsors!
About the Program
The Arizona State Youth of the Year celebration honors the remarkable Club teens from across Arizona who have been selected as their organizations’ Youth of the Year (YOY) representatives. Each YOY candidate previously competed within their organization and was selected to advance to the State Youth of the Year competition based on their tenure as a Club member, strong academic standing, strength of character, community involvement, and perseverance.
This year, we will once again honor a group of young people from across Arizona who exemplify these strong character attributes. One representative will be named the 2025 Arizona State Youth of the Year at the breakfast celebration on April 8, 2025, and will advance to represent Arizona in the Pacific Region competition with the ultimate goal to advance to the National Youth of the Year contest.
Meet the Arizona Youth of the Year 2024 candidates
2024 AZ State Youth of the Year Winner
For the past decade, Sydney F. has called Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale’s Thunderbirds Branch her second home. Throughout her journey at the Club, she has emerged as a leader, advocate, and inspiration to her peers. Sydney began attending her Boys & Girls Club at the age of seven and over the years has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of the Club. She credits the Club as the place where she found the mentors, role models, and lifelong friends that helped her navigate the pressures and stereotypes that often negatively affect teenage girls. Sydney will graduate from Desert Mountain High School this spring and will attend the University of Utah in the fall, where she plans to major in criminology and psychology.
April 2024: Congrats to Sydney F. on being selected for the 2024 YOY Read More
Makia comes from Lok’aa’inteel, known in English as Ganado, a rural community in the Navajo Nation. Carrying values similar to her community’s founder, Ganado Mucho, Makia has naturally evolved into a goal-getter and motivator. Her ability to seek opportunities led her to relocate to Winslow for her education and to take advantage of programs such as Boys & Girls Club, NAU’s Upward Bound Program, Winslow High School’s Honor Society, and more! Makia’s commitment to her education, family, and programs she’s involved with has driven her to the goal of obtaining her Nursing degree and further working towards Medical School. Makia wholeheartedly values her community as well as the people of the Navajo Nation and would like to someday return home to help heal those in need.
A 12-year member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gila River Indian Community, Komatke Branch, Reuben is a legacy Youth of the Year, as his father was the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gila River Indian Community’s 2002 Youth of the Year. Reuben is a senior at Betty H. Fairfax High School and has been accepted at Arizona State University to pursue a degree in Fine Arts as a Ceramist. Reuben was exposed to Art as a young Club member and has been able to delve into the arts at both the Club and at school and has become an accomplished artist.
Rebekah was born in Fort Mohave, Arizona and has lived in the surrounding area her entire life. She is a freshman at Mohave High School, maintaining a 3.70 GPA while being involved with Interact and softball. Rebekah also volunteers her time with the Bullhead Police Department Backpack Buddy Program, which helps youth experiencing disadvantages obtain school supplies and clothing. Rebekah plans on attending Northern Arizona University or University of Las Vegas. She aspires to play collegiate softball and pursue a career in the medical field or follow in her father’s footsteps and work in law enforcement.
Damilan’s journey to the Boys & Girls Club of Sierra Vista began in 2021 after his family relocated to Arizona from Wichita, Kansas. Seeking a safe space to adjust to a new environment following the pandemic, Damilan found a welcoming community at the Club’s main branch. A junior at Buena High School, Damilan actively participates in Keystone, a Boys & Girls Club program that equips teens with valuable life skills through service projects and leadership development. Damilan’s commitment extends to the Junior Staff program, where he mentors younger members and fosters a positive Club environment. Looking towards the future, Damilan aspires to pursue a career as a police officer after graduation.
Jaydon is a 17-year-old junior at Rincon High School. He has been part of the Jim & Vicki Click Club for 8 years. He has been able to express his passion for helping and guiding others through the Clubhouse Internship Academy (CIA), which has put him on a path to success. Growing up at the Club, Jaydon developed a love for basketball, participating in high school basketball, tournaments, AAU teams, and playing at the Club on teen nights. Jaydon also participates in Alpha Gents and Keystone Club, which has taught him valuable life skills and provided opportunities to volunteer in his community. After graduation, Jaydon plans to attend USC in pursuit of a career in sports medicine.
After surviving devastating hurricanes in her native Puerto Rico, Yarieliz moved to Phoenix with her family in 2019. She and her brother joined the Ed Robson Family Branch because their mom needed a place for them while she worked, and Yarieliz quickly found friends, fun, and opportunities. Club staff and peers helped her adjust to life in the United States, build resilience and confidence, and become the version of herself that she always wanted to be. At the Club, Yarieliz enjoys fine arts programs, studying with her friends and classmates, and playing pool! An avid theatre performer, Yarieliz aspires to join the military and get her education in fine arts.