Boys & Girls Club of Pharr-San Juan Recognizes Winner of Local Youth of the Year 2020
March 2021- Boys & Girls Club of Pharr – San Juan officially announced and celebrated the organization’s 2020 Youth of the Year. The title and corresponding $1,000 scholarship award goes to Clarisa Salinas, a teen member of Boys & Girls Club of Pharr – San Juan Main Unit Club site and active Junior Staff Program participant. The club organized a surprise celebration on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 10th. As Clarisa arrived to the Main Unit she was greeted by cheering family, friends, club peers, and staff who have seen all of her efforts to get to this day.
Enrolled by her mother who needed the Club’s Summer Program services for her children, Clarisa has been a member of BGCPSJ for the past seven years. Clarisa expressed that she was shy and a bit scared to attend the club at first due to her timid nature but that didn’t last long. She quickly made meaningful friendships and found herself blooming as the positive individual that she is. Through the organization’s Junior Staff Program, she gained hands on work experience at the club where her dream of becoming an educator was born. She has now accumulated over 200 hours of community involvement and plans to attend the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Clarisa shared this sentiment in her essay portion of the competition.
“Seeing the kids’ faces and the silly things they do always brighten my day. My love for the kids, staff and being at the Club in general helped me decide what career path I want to take which is teaching in the elementary level. The Boys and Girls Club has been a big part of my life by teaching me responsibilities, leadership skills, and teamwork. To be honest, I would not know where I would have ended up if it were not for my mom signing me up at the Boys and Girls Club. I am very grateful for the opportunities they have given me. I am proud to say that my four younger siblings will be in safe hands when I leave for college. I hope that they will follow in my footsteps and become great leaders within the Boys and Girls Club community.”
Youth of the Year is a nationwide competition that has been Boys & Girls Clubs America’s premier recognition program since 1947. Every year, one exceptional member from a Boys & Girls Club takes on the winning role of National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year serves as an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and as a strong voice for all of our nation’s young people.
The Boys & Girls Club of Pharr – San Juan Staff and Board of Directors congratulate Clarisa on excelling throughout the various levels of the local competition and are proud to recognize her as the BGCPSJ 2020 Youth of the Year!