A longtime Club member, Elijah, was named our 2025 Youth of the Year. Youth of the Year is the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County’s highest honor for youth, celebrating their leadership, service, and academic excellence. A senior at Lely High School, Elijah is considered an innovative writer and critical thinker among his peers. He has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County for 11 years. Elijah is one of the exceptional Club members who exemplifies the transformative power of the Character & Leadership initiative.
In addition to participating in the Youth of the Year program, he has been active with Junior Men of Initiative and serves as a Road Code Ambassador and Junior Culinary staff member. He aspires to attend a Florida college to study biochemistry and hopes to specialize in pharmaceutical sciences so he can start his own pharmaceutical business. The Club “is a place where I can laugh and be safe with all those who care about me. This Club has offered me scholarship opportunities, relationships and peace within myself that is rare to most,” wrote Elijah in his essay. “It was through those grand blue doors I went and lived the best years of my life and through those grand blue doors I will leave my mark on my Club and the world.”
Character & Leadership, one of six core program areas at Boys & Girls Club, is a cornerstone of the mission to empower youth and make a lasting impact in their lives. Under this initiative, a range of programs are offered that are designed to instill strong character traits, foster leadership skills, and cultivate a sense of civic responsibility among our members. Within Character & Leadership, we provide various programs such as Torch Club, Keystone Club, and the Youth of the Year program. Each is tailored to different age groups and interests to offer our members the tools they need to develop into confident, responsible individuals with a deep understanding of their potential to effect positive change.
Through active participation in the Character & Leadership programs, Club members gain essential life skills such as teamwork, effective communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. They learn the value of civic engagement and discover how they can contribute meaningfully to their communities. As they progress through the programs, Club members become equipped with the confidence, resilience, and leadership abilities necessary for success in school, work, and life.
His dedication to personal growth and community involvement extends beyond Youth of the Year. Elijah has also excelled in UPS Road Code, a program that works to educate the youth on road safety rules and procedures, earning the distinction of being named a Road Code Ambassador. Additionally, he has taken advantage of opportunities in Workforce Readiness and Culinary Club, further expanding his skill set and exploring his passions.
Elijah’s commitment to maximizing his membership experience has not gone unnoticed. He was nominated to represent The Boys & Girls Club of Collier County at the 2024’s national Summit for America’s Youth in Washington, D.C. This prestigious nomination recognizes his exceptional leadership potential and the impact the Character & Leadership initiative has had on his personal growth and development.
Elijah said, “These people (the Club staff and volunteers) refuse to let me fail and will not let go until I am the best version of myself and until all members attending this Club are the leaders of tomorrow.”