Youth of the Year - Boys & Girls Club of NW Colorado

Youth of the Year

2027 Youth of the Year event TBD - stay tuned!

Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Club kid can achieve. Held each February, this event is a unique opportunity to hear about the Club's impact through personal stories told by these young mentors and leaders. Each nominee receives an impactful scholarship funded by individual donations. The winner receives the $10,000 Jim Dodd Memorial Scholarship and represents the Club at the Colorado Youth of the Year competition.

The 2026 Youth of the Year Event

The 2026 Youth of the Year Event was held on February 25th at 6 pm at Colorado Mountain College’s Allbright Auditorium. We have not yet conducted the public relations interview for the finalist, but as soon as we do, we will update this page with their photos and bios. This year, we had eight outstanding Youth of the Year nominees, each of whom attended the Club as a child and worked at the Club for 2 – 4 years.

Donate to the 2026 Youth of the Year Scholarship Fund
2025 Youth of the Year Program Recording

2026 Nominees:

Barbara

Steamboat Springs High School Junior

Joined Club: Kindergarten

As a junior staff I have loved helping the kids learn skills from tying shoes to multiplication and making paper airplanes. During my time at the Club I have watched the Club grow, now offering more opportunities, diverse programs, and bilingual support. My proudest moment was a child saying he felt safe with me. I always felt safe with the staff so this was what I had been aiming for. In middle school I stepped away from the Club and I am so happy I have found my way back, the Club is one of my happiest places. I am only a junior and have not yet narrowed my future path yet but I know it will involve helping children.

Sofia

Moffat County High School Senior

Joined Club: 1st Grade

The Club has taught me leadership and confidence. Once shy, I have learned how to communicate with both the kids and other staff members. I have learned how to advocate for myself and believe in my abilities. I often can be found encouraging children who might sit out, showing them that the Club is a place to try new things without judgement. I admire Espy, Lindsey and Erin who help guide me and offer me advice. I plan to attend college to study nursing or education and hope to continue to help others grow and find confidence and acceptance.

Karson

Moffat County High School Senior

Joined Club: Kindergarten

I joined the Club at the age of six and discovered a sense of community I had not found at school. Now as a staff member I try to always help the younger kids build confidence and connections. The Boys & Girls Club has helped me find success, my voice and myself. I am so thankful to everyone at the Club. I plan to study environmental policy and political science at Colorado State University so I can advocate for rural communities.

Haley

Moffat High School Junior

Joined Club: Kindergarten

I love how the Club brings kids from different backgrounds together to belong, play and grow forming a unique community. As a staff member, I help strive to help children gain confidence, find their voice, and step into leadership roles. I grew up with my mom as the Club director so I have seen the dedication it takes to make the Club succeed. From crafts to gym games to fundraisers and cleaning the gym floors I have experienced every aspect of the Club and am constantly in awe and joyful to be a part of it. I plan to study speech-language pathology or nonprofit management.

Jordan

Steamboat Springs High School Senior

Joined Club: 1st grade

I first entered the Club as a shy child and now as a junior staff member I strive to make every member feel at home. I love teaching art, beadwork, and crafts inspiring kids to try new things without fear. Often, I see pieces of my own siblings in the children I mentor. I have three younger siblings who live far away so in a way when I connect with the kids I feel like I am connecting with them or visa versa. This year as a senior I am balancing a heavy academic schedule with many duel enrollment classes while working at the Club. I have learned through this and my life experiences to be resilient and focused at the tasks at hand. Though my future is not set in stone I know wherever I go I will bring the kindness and patience I have learned from the Club both as a member and now as a staff.

Lindsey

Moffat County High School Senior

Joined Club: Kindergarten

At the Club I lead a program called Positive Action. The program was once dreaded by Club members however I have made it something they love. My creative, hands-on approach brings excitement and fun, teaching important messages in empathy, confidence, and making positive choices. The program has truly come alive under my guidance and not only are kids learning important lessons but realizing that learning can be fun, magical and inclusive. This is what the staff taught me when I was younger and it is an honor to now be the staff and be the one who inspires participation, curiosity and personal growth by modeling leadership and kindness. I plan to pursue a degree in education to continue empowering youth.

Sam

Senior Yampa Valley High School

Joined Club: 4th Grade

I moved to Steamboat as a quiet, shy fourth grader, and my first day at the Club was hard because it was loud and chaotic. I soon made friends and found mentors in the staff who made me feel seen, and one staff member even taught me how to skateboard, encouraging me to try something new. Now, as a junior staff member, I try to do the same by helping kids try new things and showing them how to be calm and patient through gym games, conversations, and everyday moments—pausing, breathing, and responding thoughtfully. These are lessons I learned at the Club and practice with kids every day. I loved being part of the Club because as a high schooler it gave me something to do every day after school. In the future, I’m not totally sure what path I want to take, but my interests include mechanics, food service, and music.

Brooke

Steamboat Springs High School Junior

Joined Club: 3rd Grade

I was an extremely shy child, and the Club helped me find my voice. Over time, I gained confidence through the relationships I built and the encouragement I received from staff and peers. Now, I try to do the same for quiet kids at the Club who might otherwise go unnoticed, making sure they feel seen and supported. I especially love working in the gym, where I get to watch kids build confidence, friendships, and teamwork skills through the many games we play together. One particularly hard day, everything felt lighter the moment I walked through the Club’s front door and the youngest members screamed my name and ran toward me for a group hug. That moment reminded me how important the Club is—not just for the kids, but for me too. The Club is where I always feel safe, welcomed, and like I truly belong. I am currently a junior and am leaning toward a future career in medicine.

2027 Youth of the Year event TBD - stay tuned!

The 2026 Youth of the Year Event

2026 Nominees:

Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado