BEDFORD, N.Y. - The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester (BGCNW) recently celebrated its annual Youth of the Year Awards, with Fox Lane High School senior Beberlyn Confesor being named 2025’s “Youth of the Year.”
More than 100 supporters and friends of BGCNW attended the ceremony, which included inspiring speeches given by seven extraordinary teens who earlier in the evening were interviewed by a distinguished panel of judges. After the judges’ deliberations, three winners were announced to rounds of applause.
The other six candidates were Kimberly Contreras (Fox Lane), Patrick Polese (Fox Lane), Fatima Lopez Martinez (Byram Hills), Isabel Valenzuela (Fox Lane), Adam Kamal (Fox Lane), and Katie O’Donnell (John Jay).
Katie O’Donnell received the Chris Cutri Memorial Scholarship Award and Isabel Valenzuela won the Wilfred E. Jennings Leadership Award.
For the past ten years, teens involved in Advocacy and Leadership programming, including Youth of the Year candidates, have traveled to Albany with Club leadership to advocate on behalf of critical programming impacting NYS youth and families.
An example of this impact is a 100% increase in NYS funding for mental wellness for youth.
Westchester County legislator Erika Pierce was also in attendance and said “Any day at the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester is a great day, but the Youth of the Year recognition day is the very best of days. These community youth display leadership, maturity, academic achievement and a real commitment to advocacy, not only on behalf of themselves, but on behalf of their entire community. The Club’s program is a real gem, and given their commitments to health and overall wellness for the children in their program, it is no surprise that the youth we are celebrating today, are stellar examples of healthy leadership. My congratulations to every youth taking part, and to the Boys and Girls Club, my gratitude.”
The winner of the BGCNW Youth of the Year advances to a state-level event. The winner is tasked with participating in events, public speaking, and serving as a thought leader and advocate for their Club and community. They receive the benefit of a generous college scholarship, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
For more information, visit bgcnw.com
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