BGCA's Youth of the Year:  The Best of the Best!

Read new profiles each week of Boys & Girls Club Youths of the Year from all 50 states and U.S. military bases abroad, chosen for academic excellence and service to home, Club and community.

Naquasia Pinchback
New York

Naquasia Pinchback, a three-year member of Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club (N.Y.), has been named the 2008 Northeast Region Youth of the Year.

Pinchback is a charming, unassuming young woman, whose quiet demeanor masks a strong, energetic and generous spirit with a dedication to community. She was a Glen Cove High School senior who consistently achieved academic excellence and was a member of the Select Chorale.

At the Club, her focus is on academics and she has created an innovative system to work with students who need extra help with mathematics. This tutoring program helps children in grades one through six improve their mastery of the subject.

This fall, Pinchback will attend St. John’s University to major in Law and minor in Education. When asked what the Club meant to her, Pinchback says, “The Club is an organization that motivates youngsters to succeed. It is a safe place for teens to express themselves openly.”

More About the Youth of the Year Program
Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. This program was founded 61 years ago through the generosity of the Reader's Digest Foundation.

"The Reader's Digest Foundation has been the proud sponsor of the Youth of the Year program since 1947," said Susan Fraysse Russ, executive director, Reader's Digest Foundation. "For more than 60 years, we have had the great honor of saluting amazing teens for their dedication to their families, Club and community, and for helping them achieve their academic and career goals."

"All Youth of the Year nominees offer proof that Boys & Girls Clubs across the country are fulfilling their mission of inspiring and enabling young people," said Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO, BGCA. "We are thankful to the Reader's Digest Foundation for their long-time support of our Youth of the Year program and for helping Club members reach their goals."

Regional winners are awarded a $10,000 college scholarship and advance to the national competition in Washington. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $15,000 college scholarship and is installed by President George W. Bush during a ceremony in the Oval Office.

As the founding sponsor of the Youth of the Year program, the Reader's Digest Foundation has given nearly $8 million to BGCA's leadership program, and 61 teens have been selected as the National Youth of the Year.