OUTSTANDING BOYS & GIRLS OF ADA COUNTY TEEN TO COMPETE FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA'S STATE YOUTH OF THE YEAR HONOR

Boys & Girls Club of Ada County Club member, Darnisha Victorain, is an extraordinary young woman! At age 16, she has just been selected to compete against other Boys & Girls Club members from around the state for the state of Idaho's Youth of the Year title and a $2,500 scholarship for Micron Foundation. Ms. Victorain competed with 3 other exceptional local youth, who entered the competition with the shared desire to represent the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County in the state Youth of the Year Competition in February, 2009. All participants are selected to compete at the Club level because they demonstrate sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. This program was founded over 60 years ago through the generosity of the Reader’s Digest Foundation.

Darnisha has been a Club member at the Meridian Unit for, she joined the Club ready to help out and her enthusiasm and participation in Club, school and community has only increased throughout her membership. Ms. Victorain is an A/B student and in honor classes in History, Biology, Algebra II and English. She plans to attend college to pursue her professional goal of becoming an attorney. Darnisha explains her passion to become an attorney as follows, "Ever since I was little I have noticed that many little boys want to be fire fighters and policeman, but not a lot of people think about what happens to the bad guys once they are arrested, so I want to be a District Attorney so that I can see that justice is served and that people are accountable for their decisions."

In Addition to being an excellent student Darnisha is also an athlete.  She participates in track and J.V. soccer. She is also very active in the Club and her community Darnisha is a Jr. Staff at the Club, where she has participated in service projects including Rake Up Meridian, Parents Night Out (a program that allows parents to enjoy a night out while Club teens babysit their young children), and many other volunteer and service programs offered through the Club.  On her own time Ms. Victorain volunteers at Sunbridge Rehabilitation Facility where she interacts with the elderly through arts and crafts projects and other activities. 

Darnisha's experiences at the Club have helped her to overcome some of her most challenging personal obstacles, for example she tells us that, “I’ve struggled with an identity issue and it’s been hard to live in California and here.  In Idaho, as an African American, I’m a minority for being black, but in California and Louisiana, I’m a minority for being white.  People in California say “Why do you talk so funny” and “Why is your skin so light”, but staff at the club like Jonathan, Karly & Josh, have helped me to accept who I am.” She goes on to explain that, "I think it is good to be able to get out of school and come here and be myself, hang out with friends and get a chance to hang out with my little sister and not seem like a total nerd for hanging out with little kids.  The club is like its own little bubble, it’s like no other place.  You come here and little kids are running around and having fun and you can’t help but smile.  It’s a very positive place to be."

“Darnisha is a remarkably poised young lady, we have no doubt that she will make us very proud in the state Youth of the Year competition. She possesses the qualities that will allow her to achieve whatever goals she sets her sights on ” said Colleen Braga, chief professional officer, Boys & Girls Club of Ada County.

If Ms. Victorain wins at the state competition, she will compete for the title of Southwest Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 scholarship. The five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2009, to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $15,000 college scholarship and is installed by the President in an Oval Office ceremony.

BACKGROUND:

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County, with two locations, 610 E. 42nd Street in Garden City and 911 N. Meridian Road in Meridian, serve more than 4,000 children 6 to 18 years of age annually. The Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis which are conducted by full-time, professional staff.  Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness, and recreation.