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| Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland |
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 Alaysha Griffith
2010-2011 Youth
of the Year
Alaysha is currently a senior at Oakland’s Media College Prep High School, a small school that features the Media Academy which focuses on careers in Radio, Television Photography, The Internet, Magazines and Newspaper Journalism. Media College Prep, part of the Oakland Unified school District, is located on The Fremont Federation of High Schools campus. Alaysha carries 3.6 GPA and is described by her teachers as "a natural born leader” and “an impressive member of society”. In addition to her commitment to her studies, Alaysha is involved in extra curricular activities including the After-School program at Media Academy where she is a key leader and she serves as Vice President of the Polynesian Club.
Alaysha sees Boys & Girls Club as a means to a boosted self esteem, a positive social network, exposure to many positive experiences and a safe haven. She has participated as a student-member of BGCO’s Anna Marie Whalen Branch for five years. At her Clubhouse, Alaysha serves as President of the Keystone Club, Boys & Girls Clubs' primary leadership development program for teens, and on the Junior Staff, where her responsibilities span the Social Recreation and the Teen Center departments. Alaysha has also set the pace for her peers by volunteering 250 hours of service to her Club over the past 12 months.
Alaysha hasn't yet selected a University to attend this fall but Cal, St. Mary's, and UCLA are in the running. She plans to earn a degree in Child Psychology and then continue to give back to her community by utilizing her talents and education to help build inner-city youth’s self esteem and develop their leadership skills. BGCO proudly congratulates Alaysha Griffith for having earned this prestigious honor and for her many other achievements to-date, including the great student and model Club member that she has become.
The Youth of the Year program, sponsored by The Reader’s Digest Foundation, is in its 61st year. The program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community, and Boys & Girls Club, academic excellence, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. The Reader’s Digest Foundation awards each state finalist a $1,000 college scholarship and each regional finalist a $5,000 college scholarship. The five regional finalists compete for the title of National Youth of the Year and an opportunity to earn an additional $10,000 college scholarship. Each fall Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Youth of the Year are installed by the President of the United States during a ceremony in the Oval Office. |
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 Erica Murray
2009-2010 Youth
of the Year
Erica— a 13-year member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland’s Ossian E. Carr Branch—earned Youth of the Year standing for her Clubhouse, then went on to win the overall 2009 Youth of the Year honor for BGCO, and was selected one of 3 Northern California finalists who vied for the prestigious California State Youth of the Year title in
Sacramento on March 11, 2009.
With roots in the Elmhurst District of East Oakland, Erica is a senior at Hayward’s Tennyson High School. She is also a member of BGCO’s Junior Staff and considers the Staff and her fellow Club members “my second family”. Her road to becoming the 2009 BGCO Youth of the Year included outstanding contributions to her family, school,
community, and her Boys & Girls Club with equal consideration for her academic excellence and the personal challenges and obstacles she has overcome. According to Ms. Diana Vazquez, Erica’s Counselor “Erica has done great and is on the principal’s honor roll (GPA 4.0).”
For Erica, “family is the most important thing in life.” “One of the major things that I can contribute to my family is attending a university, sticking with my goal, and completing all four years.” “I want to show my family that I have value, that I plan to educate myself, and that I would do whatever it takes to fulfill my dream in education.”
Erica, a June, 2009 high school graduate, has been accepted to California State University – East Bay. With additional school options pending, she plans to make her final college selection by early spring. |
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 Nicholas Gordan
2008-2009 Youth
of the Year
Nicholas has been a BGCO Club member for 5 years and is a top-notch role model for his 6-to-17 year-old fellow Club members—contributing over 160 volunteer hours last year alone. He has been a big help to the professional staff, actively helping to develop and implement effective youth programs and services within his Clubhouse (the Leonard J. Meltzer Branch in Western Oakland).
Nick will graduate from Oakland Technical High School this year and is considering both Wilberforce State University and Texas Southern University with the intent to dual major in Music and Psychology. Nick, a very active Jr. Deacon in his church, maintains Honors-level classes and tutors at school. His service, academic performance, contributions to family and spiritual life all contributed to the earning of this highest level BGCO recognition for 2008. |
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 Jasmine
Simmons
2007-2008 Youth
of the Year
Jasmine
has overcome many obstacles
en route to her current status
as a freshman at California
State University, East Bay.
Despite those obstacles,
Jasmine has caried a 3.14
GPA at Oakland’s
McClymonds High School
and was captain of the
McClymonds Mock Trial Team
where she earned recognition
as Outstanding Defense
Attorney and Honorable
Mention for Best Trial
Attorney during her junior
year. She has interned
with the Alameda County
District Attorney’s
office and would someday
like to become a D.A. To
continue her education,
Jasmine is leaning toward
transferring to Howard
University in Washington,
DC and a law major.
Jasmine
had been a BGCO student-member
at the Leonard J. Meltzer
Branch for over four
years. She was an active
member of the Junior
Staff and served as Vice
President of the Keystone
Club, BGCO’s primary
leadership development
vehicle for teens. Having
attended the National Keystone
Conference in Washington,
D.C. last August, Jasmine
reported that “The
Keystone Conference was
a new experience for me.
It was the first time I
was away from home for
such a long time. It really
gave me a chance to see
that there is life outside
of Oakland and that there
are a lot of other positive
young people.”
In
addition to her Junior
Staff work, which included
tutoring younger Club members,
Jasmine also tutored at
nearby schools. Boys & Girls
Clubs of Oakland proudly
congratulates Jasmine for
her many achievements and
for being a great student
and model Club student-member
and alumna.
The
Youth of the Year program,
sponsored by The Reader’s Digest Foundation,
is in its 60th year. The
program recognizes outstanding
contributions to a member’s
family, school, community
and Boys & Girls Club,
academic excellence, as
well as personal challenges
and obstacles overcome.
The Reader’s Digest
Foundation awards each
state finalist a $1,000
college scholarship and
each regional finalist
a $10,000 college scholarship.
The regional finalist will
then go on to compete for
the title of National Youth
of the Year. The National
Youth of the Year receives
an additional $15,000 college
scholarship and is installed
by the President at a ceremony
in the Oval Office each
fall.
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 Martin Moreno
2007-2007 Youth of the Year
Martin has been a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland since the Anna Marie Whalen Branch opened in September of 2004. As a junior at St. Joseph’s Notre Dame High School, Martin presently maintains a 3.67 overall GPA, with a 4.0 GPA for the first semester of the 2005-2006 academic year. Martin has participated in community clean up projects and is part of a local group called Diversity Works, helping to develop and facilitate prejudice and discrimination awareness workshops.
At the Anna Marie Clubhouse, Martin tutors in the Club’s Education Department, and actively recruits new members from his High School. He is a member of the Keystone Club and the Junior Staff. He also facilitates “Silly Science” workshops every week. Some of his projects have included making tornados, exploring the color spectrum, and starting an ant farm.
Martin would like to attend the University of California San Diego. He plans to major in computer science, and own his own Internet-based business someday. His biggest dream is to be able to provide for his parents so that they can retire early.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland proudly congratulates Martin for his many achievements and for being a great student and club member.
The Youth of the Year program, sponsored by The Reader’s Digest Foundation, is in its 59th year. The program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community, and Boys & Girls Club, academic excellence, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. The Reader’s Digest Foundation awards each state finalist a $1,000 college scholarship and each regional finalist a $5,000 college scholarship. The regional finalist will then go on to compete for the title of National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year receives and additional $10,000 college scholarship and will be installed by the President at a ceremony in the Oval Office tentatively scheduled this September.
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 Donte Rodgers
2005-2006 Youth of the Year
Donte is a five-year member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, where he is a member of the Junior Staff Development Team. As a junior at Life Academy of Health and Bio-Science, Donte presently maintains a 3.08 GPA, is part of the peer conflict mediation program, and plays on the basketball team.
At the Carr Clubhouse, Donte was active in the gun prevention program and the Nike Swoosh Club, which gave him the opportunity to participate in community service projects. He currently assists in providing members with athletic activities.
Donte would like to attend Fresno State University or Grambling University. He plans to major in business management, and own his own business someday. He would also like to travel.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland proudly congratulates Donte for his many achievements and for being a great student and club member.
Sponsored by Readers Digest, the Youth of the Year program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. The State Youth of the Year receives a $25,000 scholarship for post-secondary education from “Oprah’s Angel Network,” a nationwide campaign initiated by Oprah Winfrey on her television program in 1997. Each September, the National Youth of the Year is chosen in Washington, D.C., and is installed by the President of the United States in an official White House ceremony.
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 Irene Randel
2004-2005 Youth of the Year
Irene Randel is a five-year member of Boys & Girls Club of Oakland and is very active in her school, church, community and the Club. As a sophomore at McClymonds High School last year, Irene maintained a 3.46 GPA.
She is a member of the softball team, student government and the Math Club. She also participates in the Travel Club and recently visited Rome, Italy and Paris, France.
At the Meltzer Clubhouse, Irene led our Keystone Club at this year's Regional Keystone Conference, which was hosted in Oakland. As a member of the Junior Staff Development Team, she tutors members in math and reading skills within the Education Department.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland proudly congratulates Irene for her many achievements and for being a model student and Club member.
Sponsored by Reader's Digest, the Youth of the Year program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. The State Youth of the Year receives a $25,000 scholarship for post-secondary education from "Oprah's Angel Network," a nationwide campaign initiated by Oprah Winfrey on her television program in 1997. Each September, the National Youth of the Year is chosen in Washington, D.C., and is installed by the President of the United States in an official White House ceremony.
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 Carla Bonilla
2003-2004 Youth of the Year
Carla graduated from McClymonds High School where she maintained a 3.13 GPA including Honors in English, Mathematics and Science.
She was also ranked in the top ten of her graduating class. She was an active member of McClymond’s Law and Government Academy, the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission, the Rotary Club Enterprise, and the Upward Bound College Preparatory Program at Mills College. Carla is attending Dominican University in San Rafael and majoring in Business Administration.
Carla belongs to St. Andrew-St. Joseph Church in Oakland where she is an active member and volunteer. She assists the church by dedicating herself to working with their youth, serving food at festivals and cultural events, and helping out in any way that she can.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland is fortunate to have had Carla as a member for the past 3 years. She served as the Vice President of her Branch’s Keystone Club and represented her fellow members as a Keystone Council delegate. In addition, Carla was the Torch Club advisor and worked as a peer leader for the SMART Moves Program. She was also a Junior Staff where she served as a mentor to our younger members. It is this type of involvement that won her the admiration of the younger members and the respect of her peers.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland congratulates Carla for her past and future achievements and for being a model student and Club member.
Sponsored by Readers Digest, the Youth of the Year program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. The State Youth of the Year receives a $25,000 scholarship for post-secondary education from “Oprah’s Angel Network,” a nationwide campaign initiated by Oprah Winfrey on her television program in 1997. Each September, the National Youth of the Year is chosen in Washington, D.C., and is installed by the President of the United States in an official White House ceremony.
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JeAnna Louise Morton
2002-2003 Youth of the Year
JeAnna Morton has been a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland’s Leonard J. Meltzer Branch for three years. During that time she’s held several active roles, including that of Keystone Club member—serving as vice-president in 2001-2002, Junior Staff where she oversaw activities in the games room, and as an enthusiastic participant in our SMART Moves curriculum for teens.
A 2002 graduate of Oakland Technical High School, JeAnna has been accepted to Sonoma State University through the Educational Opportunity Program where she will be a freshman in September. She is also a Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland 2001-2002 recipient of the Gerald A. Awes Scholarship.
JeAnna, who loves writing and English, plans to become “a teacher by day and a novelist by night.” She recalls that it wasn’t until her sophomore year in high school that she realized the importance of a good education and began to strive to do her best. She wants others to have the wake-up call she did and so plans to give back to her Oakland community when she graduates from college by starting a new high school course curriculum called College Prep, or “life after high school.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland congratulates JeAnna for her past and future achievements and for being a positive role model for our members at the Meltzer Club as well as organization wide.
Sponsored by Readers Digest, the Youth of the Year program recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. The State Youth of the Year receives a $25,000 scholarship for post-secondary education from “Oprah’s Angel Network,” a nationwide campaign initiated by Oprah Winfrey on her television program in 1997. Each September the National Youth of the Year is chosen in Washington, D.C. and is installed by the President of the United States in an official White House ceremony.
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