Meet the Blaine Boys and Girls Club members nominated for ‘Youth of the Year’

By Taylor Nichols

Every year, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America select one club member to receive the Youth of the Year Award. Kids across the nation are selected by staff to represent their Boys and Girls Club. They write essays, give speeches and are interviewed by a panel of judges.

One young person is chosen to be an ambassador for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The award recognizes leadership and the positive impact the Boys and Girls Club can have in kids’ lives.

This year, three kids from the Blaine Boys and Girls Club are nominated for the Whatcom County Youth of the Year, Junior Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year for Athletics awards. Read on for profiles of each nominee:

Diamond Hester

For Diamond, coming to the Boys and Girls Club gave her an opportunity to step into a role as a leader.

She’s put in more than 850 hours of community service in 2018 by leading programs as a junior staff member at the club. She started coming to the Boys and Girls Club six years ago and quickly realized she had a place there.

“I had really bad anxiety when I was younger,” Diamond said. “Going to a place other than my house, another place where I could interact with different kids, kids my own age and kids that were younger than me really helped that.”

She said she loves getting to hang out with younger kids who look up to her and being a role model for them.

“Diamond was kind of a no-brainer for us,” said Blaine clubhouse director Kelsey Green. “She’s a good representation of what we do here.”

Diamond loves playing the bass drum in band at school, playing sports and drawing. But above all, she likes to cook.

When she graduates next year she wants to join the culinary arts program at Bellingham Technical College and pursue her dream: become an executive chef in New York or California, or a head baker at Carlo’s Bakery, which was featured on the TV show “Cake Boss.”

Gracie Renskers

Gracie has spent seven years at the Boys and Girls Club, where it has always been a safe place for her.

“Having all the kids here, I feel welcome, like I belong somewhere,” she said.

When she found out she was nominated for the Junior Youth of the Year award, Gracie said she was really excited, but wasn’t sure what the role would entail. After preparing her essay and writing a speech, which she’ll give in front of 300 people at the award event, she said she feels confident. “I feel like I can do this,” she said.

The Boys and Girls Club helped Gracie through hardships in the past. Her birth mother struggled with substance abuse, and exposed her to a lot of unhealthy situations which deeply affected her as a kid. Going to the Boys and Girls Club helped her make friends and be more social. She said she loves hanging out with kids younger and older than her. “It gives me a chance to see who I want to become and who I was before,” she said.

Her favorite subject in school is science – she’s endlessly curious about the way things work. She also loves making art, coloring, drawing and acting in plays. She said she wants to be a police officer when she grows up, and help keep her community safe.

Sidney Roff

Sidney is Whatcom County’s Junior Youth of the Year Award nominee for this year. She plays on the Boys and Girls Club softball and volleyball teams, and although she just started volleyball this year, she said it’s

her favorite.

Her family had a house fire at their home in Birch Bay last summer, and the Boys and Girls Club gave her the support she needed during that time.

“Coming here ... a lot of the staff and a lot of my friends helped me,” she said. “Everyone’s kind of like a big family.”

She said it felt good to be nominated for the award, especially because her mom and her teachers were so supportive and excited for her.

“Sidney is just a stand-out kid,” clubhouse director Green said. She added that a girl has not been selected for this award in some time.

Sidney is also an ice skater and avid reader. Her favorite author is J.K. Rowling. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up, because she likes teaching kids.

The annual Youth of the Year event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22 at the Ferndale Clubhouse, located at 2015 Cherry Street. The public can attend and enjoy a free dinner as well as a few words from nominees, staff and volunteers. To learn more, contact 360/738-3808, extension 309 or email jclark@whatcomclubs.org. To RSVP, visit bit.ly/2Lv76Ko.