2025 St. Charles Unit Finalists Named in Junior Youth of the Year Program

St. Charles, MO, January 15, 2025 –

Avaya N., aged 10, and Everett M., aged 10, have been named finalists in the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County Junior Youth of the Year Competition, standing out among four exceptional young candidates from the St. Charles Unit.

Handpicked by unit leaders based on their engagement, emerging leadership qualities, and outstanding character, a total of eight Club members from the O’Fallon and St. Charles Units were chosen to participate in this year’s rigorous program. Running from October to January, the multi-month initiative demanded weekly involvement from Club participants. To qualify, Junior Youth of the Year contenders immersed themselves in volunteer work, attended skill-building workshops, wrote a reflective essay, and presented a speech to a panel of judges.

The judging panel, comprised of esteemed community volunteers Pastor Ellen Jones of Emmanuel Light Ministries, James EJ Turner of Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles, and Kim Hannegan of BGCSTC's volunteer committee, The Women in Action Collective. Judges faced the challenging task of selecting finalists from the St. Charles Unit. Ultimately, Avaya and Everett were chosen for their exemplary performance.

Moving forward, Avaya and Everett will advance to the organization-level competition on Saturday, January 18, where they will compete against Autumn H. and Kaitlyn C., the finalists from the O’Fallon Unit. The crowning moment will arrive at the Great Futures Lunch on Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. During the lunch, one outstanding finalist will earn the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County’s 2025 Junior Youth of the Year representative and proceed to the state-level competition in Jefferson City this April.

Thanks to local sponsorship from Plackemeier Agency and Toyota Missouri, coupled with national support from Toyota and Kohl’s Cares, the Junior Youth of the Year program stands as a beacon for young local leaders. By nurturing essential life and career skills, fostering confidence, and empowering youth, the program inspires Club members to pursue leadership opportunities and embody the qualities of responsible citizenship and positive change agents.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County

Celebrating 70 years of service in 2025, Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County (BGCSTC) provides a safe, nurturing environment where kids and teens can thrive. Offering caring mentors, enriching programs, and opportunities for growth, BGCSTC promotes academic success, leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Serving youth ages 5-18 through after-school programs, summer camps, and community events, BGCSTC empowers young people to become responsible, caring, and productive citizens. Learn more on bgcstc.org, Facebook, and LinkedIn.