Anderson of the North Unit was selected Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Youth of the Year. The competition was held on the 20th floor of the Woodmen Tower, with judges, staff, family and friends in attendance.

DaSean, a Senior at Marian High School and a 9-year Club member, told the story of her father’s murder and her mother’s addiction and legal troubles, and the stress it put on her and her two younger brothers.

She went on to describe her discovery of the Boys & Girls Clubs at a pivotal time in her life and the presence of positive female role models that changed her outlook on life. In closing, DaSean talked about her mother’s recovery and her successful path towards earning her master’s degree.

DaSean is now set to take her passion and her story to the Nebraska Youth of the Year competition, where she will compete against other youth for the title of Nebraska Youth of the Year and a college scholarship.

Congratulations to DaSean and all of the other Youth of the Year candidates for their hard work and dedication to their Clubs and communities.

click here for photos from the competition

The National Youth of the Year Program is designed to promote and recognize service to Club and community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life. Competition begins with each Club selecting a Youth of the Year who receives a certificate and medallion, and then represents their Club at the State level competition. Below are the candidates selected to represent each of the six Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands locations, in the upcoming Youth of the Year competition on January 15, 2011.

DaSean
North Unit
9 Year Member
Marian High School
12^th Grade

DaSean is a very important part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Midlands’ North Unit.  She has participated in many programs and events at the Club.  The staff and Club members love and appreciate everything she does.  DaSean has a great attitude and a genuine love for The Club.  She is a reliable and positive role model to many.

Jesse
South Unit
8 Year Member
Omaha South High School
12^th Grade

Jesse has had to overcome various obstacles in his short seventeen years of life.  When Jesse was growing up in his neighborhood he witnessed many disturbing images that no child should ever have to witness.  With all kinds of negativity happening around him Jesse admits that he could have gone down the wrong path, but through the grace of God he was introduced to the Club.  A positive place for kids  where he could escape the problems in his neighborhood. Jesse realized that he could express himself in any positive way without having to hear other kids try and put him down with verbal or physical abuse.  Jesse now is going to graduate high school and is looking forward to joining the Marine Corps.

Devin
Carter Lake Unit
6 Year Member
Thomas Jefferson High School
10^th Grade

Devin is a dedicated and hardworking, member of the Club, brother, son, and grandson.  Devin has participated in numerous Club programs including Passport to Manhood, Smart Moves, Club Possible, Triple Play, Torch Club, Keystone Club, Image Makers, and many others.  His submission this past year in the black & white category Image Makers was a regional winner for his age group.  On top of being very active at the Boys & Girls Club in Carter Lake, he is active in his school as well.  His is involved in cross country, baseball, basketball, and track.  He also takes part in Engineering Club with his school, learning more about opportunities for his future.  Devin is an intelligent and goal oriented young man with many opportunities in front of him.

Canadi
Westside Unit
5 Year Member
Westside High School
10^th Grade

Canadi demonstrates leadership everyday at the Boys & Girls Club.  The first thing she accomplishes when entering the Club on a daily basis is helping our younger member with their homework in the Education Center.  She does an amazing job of being patient and going over things until they are familiar and have the knowledge to finish it on their own. But she doesn’t quit there. She follows that by going to the Teen Center to help out members her own age.  That’s probably the most surprising and most satisfying service Canadi does for this organization – being a role model for others.

Precious
Mount View Unit
1 Year Member
Benson High School
9th Grade

Precious is a 14 year old freshman at Benson High School and is one of Mt. View’s everyday members and mentors.  Precious is always seen helping out the front office with the coat and bag check in, interacting with the younger members. She participated in the Stock Market Challenge in 2010.  Precious is also a member of the Keystone Club at Mt. View and is looking forward to some of the fun and exciting things that they have planned for the teen center in the spring.

Cameron
Council Bluffs Unit
8 Year Member
Bellevue East High School
10^th Grade

Cameron is a sophomore at Bellevue East High School.  She is involved in many activities including forensics, the school’s newspaper, National Art Honor Society, cross country, soccer, dance and Key Club.  She is also member of French Club, student council, Future Business Leaders of America and did costuming and make up for her school’s production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.  Cameron has dedicated her summers to volunteering at her Club.  She spent nearly 40 hours a week at the Club running an art club for younger members and particularly liked working with the kindergartners and first graders.  She also ran Cooking Club, talking with the younger members about different snacks from cultures around the globe.  Cameron has competed in the Stock Market Challenge twice. She has also completed NetSmartz and Date Smart.

On Thursday, March 11^th, Chancellor Smith was named Nebraska Youth of the Year before a group of Club dignitaries, state senators, Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, friends and family. Cameron Crockrom, a member of the Offutt AFB Boys & Girls Club, received runner-up honors.

For Chancellor, Cameron and Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands YOY finalists, Jerry Geho and Brad Herring, it was a whirlwind day. At 9:00 am the candidates gave their speeches in front of a panel of judges. While the judges deliberated, Chancellor, Cameron, Jerry and Brad joined members of the Lincoln, Grand Island and Winnebago Clubs at the Nebraska State Capital to be applauded by members of the Unicam.

Following their time observing Nebraska senators debate current issues, the candidates walked across the street to the Governor’s Mansion for a luncheon in their honor. After Chancellor and Cameron were given the opportunity to speak directly to the group in attendance, Lt. Governor Sheehy stepped to the front of the room and announced Chancellor as the State’s winner.

Chancellor’s next stop is the Regional Youth of the Year Competition in Chicago this July. There he will compete against other state winners from across the Midwest Region for a $10,000 college scholarship and a chance to compete  for the national honor in Washington, DC.

Click here for more event photos.

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.