Chancellor Smith, an 8 year member of the North Unit, has been named Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Youth of the Year.

On Saturday, January 16, Chancellor “Chance” and representatives from the various other Club locations gathered at the Woodmen Tower in downtown Omaha to share their powerful stories of struggle, perseverance and triumph. Each candidate passionately described the part Boys & Girls Clubs have played in shaping them into the positive young adults they have become.

The winner, Chancellor Smith, is very deserving of the title. As a senior at Omaha North High School, Chance is the 2010 class president, captain of the varsity football team and has been recognized as an academic honor student. He is also a journalist for the student newspaper, the North Star.

In the Club, Chance is known for his volunteer work and for the positive example he sets for both his peers and the Club’s younger members. He hopes to be able to develop his passion for helping others by pursuing a Psychology degree and one day becoming therapist – a profession he believes will allow him to give back to others in need.

Upon receiving the award, Chancellor took a moment to thank his family and various Club staff for their roles in helping him achieve the honor. Now, with the full support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Chancellor’s next stop will be the Nebraska State Youth of the Year competition, where he will compete with other youth from across the state. Good luck Chance!

Click here to watch WOWT’s coverage of the 2010 Youth of Year event.

Below are videos of Chancellor and the rest of the Youth of the Year candidates giving their speeches.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands would like to congratulate current Nebraska Cornhuskers and Club alumni, Niles Paul, DJ Jones, and Jeremy Wallace for working hard and helping their team reach tonight’s Big 12 Championship game in Dallas, TX.

From the Jaguar playing field at the North Unit to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, these young men are a shining example of how hard work, dedication and a Boys & Girls Club can help youth reach their goals. To Niles, DJ, Jeremy and the rest of the Cornhuskers and Cornhusker fans all across the country – GO BIG RED!

Below is a list of other former Husker players (1997 to present) who got their at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands.

• Titus Adams – DT (2002-2005)
• Ahman Green – IB (1995-1997)
• Tierre Green – IB (2004-2007)
• Courtney Grixby – DB (2004-2007)
• DeAntae Grixby – RB (1999-2003)
• David Horne – IB (2002-2003)
• Vershan Jackson – TE (1994-1997)
• Mark Leflore – WR (2002-2005)
• Lornell McPherson – CB (2001-2004)
• Randy Stella – LB (1998-2001)
• Brandon Teamer – DT (2003)
• Wilson Thomas – WR (1999-2002)

The Stock Market Challenge returned to Omaha with two goals in mind: provide educational tools for Club members and needed operating dollars through charitable gifts and partnerships. Both were in abundance on November 12th  at the Scoular Ballroom, as Club members and corporate partners each had a chance to participate in this one- of-a-kind event.

In the afternoon, nearly 100 Boys & Girls Clubs members competed in the stock market simulation, using knowledge they gathered from training workshops in the weeks leading up to the event. Team “ROCK URSTOCKSOFF,” a four member team comprised of Westside Club members, won the Challenge, each taking home a $1000 scholarship to UNO.

The evening’s event brought great excitement as well, as over 200 participants and observers came together to try their hand at success. In the end, “The Energizers,” from Tenaska, took first prize for the second year in a row with the largest portfolio at the closing bell. Ryan Schroer, Brad Heisey, Jay Frisbie and Chris Leitner made up the winning team.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands would like to thank all participants and event partners for making Stock Market Challenge possible.

Event Photos
To view photos from the student event, click here.
To view photos from the corporate event, click here.

Get ready for a night of spooky fun as the Carter Lake Unit presents its annual Haunted Forest, Friday, October 30th, from 7-11 pm. Join your neighbors, friends, family and Club members on the lantern-lit trail hike, but beware as you may encounter scary ghouls and ghosts along the way. The Haunted Forest is scary, but still appropriate for ages 6+.

Admission is open to the public for $5. All proceeds go to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands – Carter Lake Unit Keystone Club.

When he joined the Carter Lake Unit as a second grader, William was having a tough time in school. He was reading below his grade level and was experiencing difficulty keeping up with the rest of the kids in his class. What a difference a little time at the Boys & Girls Clubs has made.

Stephanie James, Carter Lake CLC Director, worked daily with William as he practiced reading out loud and helped him complete his assignments. “William worked hard and by the end of the year he had made exceptional progress,” James said. “He recently read almost four pages of a chapter book out loud without asking for help. That accomplishment made myself and the other staff extremely proud.”

With the help of the Carter Lake Unit’s CLC program, William and others like him are able to receive after school educational support from trusted adults. This continued learning program suppliments  in-school education and provides a needed avenue for Club members to learn at their own pace.