Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana names Berenize Leal the 2010 Youth of the Year

Press Release: February 15,2011
Contact: Tim Hogan, 714-543-5129 (direct), thogan@boysandgirlsclub.com

Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana Announces Berenize Leal as 2010 Youth of the Year

SANTA ANA, Calif. -The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana has chosen Berenize Leal as the Club’s 2010 Youth of the Year and awarded her a $1,500 college scholarship from. Berenize moves on to represent the Club at the county level along with representatives from other Orange County Boys & Girls Clubs. County-level winners move on to state and national competitions with the chance of being named the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year.

Berenize, a junior at Santa Ana High School, continues to be an active member of the Boys & Girls Club while participating in the Academics of Advancement Via Independent Determination (AVID) program at her high school, as well as being a National Honor Society member and maintaining a 3.6 GPA. Berenize hopes to attend the University of California at Irvine to study Biological Sciences. Berenize’s ability to maintain academic success and volunteer over 250 hours at the Club, while growing up in a difficult socio-economic environment, has made her a key role model at the Club and among her peers.

“Berenize, as well as the other candidates, have been a part of the Club for two or more years and have worked hard to be positive leaders to other teens and Club members,” said Huong Nguyen, the Club’s Teen Program Coordinator. “These teens have volunteered over 200 hours each to work at Club events and assist in running programs at the Club with the younger members. Their positive guidance is invaluable to our Club.”

Berenize was joined by Juana Ramirez and Tania Camacho in the final stage of the competition. All three have participated in Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana programs like Toastmasters (public speaking) and Junior Staff (interview and career preparation) and are officers of the Keystone Club (leadership and social responsibility). Their success in these programs, in addition to their dedication to the mission of the Club, earned each the honor of being selected as a finalist for the BGCSA Youth of the Year award. All three candidates act as positive role models to the younger Club members and hope to continue giving back to their community.

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana Board of Directors convened on February 9, 2011 to conduct individual interviews with each candidate and listen to each candidate’s speech about what the Club means to him or her. Every candidate offered many great reasons to be declared the winner but only one was named BGCSA’s Youth of the Year and chosen to represent the Club at the county level.

“The Youth of the Year competition is one of the most exciting times of the year at our Club,” said Chief Professional Officer Robert Santana. “It is a chance for us to highlight the young adults who exemplify what we know each one of our younger members has the potential to become. Each of this year’s finalists has already made us very proud.”

Berenize Leal has received a $1,500 scholarship and will represent the Club at various events throughout the year. Runners-up Tania Camacho and Juana Ramirez both received $250 scholarships.

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Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana
250 N. Golden Circle, #104
Santa Ana, CA 92705
www.boysandgirlsclub.com