MONTHLY SPOTLIGHTS
SHARING OUR STORIES OF IMPACT.
2025 Junior Youths of the Year Showing Promise
Every year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America reaffirms its mission to inspire and empower today’s youth by celebrating exemplary youth in Clubs across the nation through the Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year programs. The Youth of the Year journey begins locally when youth, nominated by Club staff and peers, accept the challenge to rise above and make positive changes in their lives, Club and community. The Youth of the Year program in Greater Southwest Michigan is supported by the American Electric Power Foundation.
To help young Club members understand the leadership journey, the Club also has a Junior Youth of the Year program for youth ages 10-13. This year, three Clubs in Greater Southwest Michigan participated in the program, naming a Junior Youth of the Year: Rhyli Pritchard, Benton Harbor; Jace Snodgrass, Sturgis; and Grace Keolisack, Bridgman.
Junior Youth of the Year gives younger youth the training and practice they need to develop their leadership skills and be considered for Junior Youth of the Year at the local (Club and organizational) level. The program cultivates junior leaders, giving them the foundation they need for more advanced leadership development, academic excellence and post-secondary success.
Rhyli is a 14-year old student at Countryside Academy in Benton Harbor. She’s in the 8th grade and has been a Club member for eight years. Her favorite program is SMART Girls because it’s where she learns new things about life.
Even though she doesn't remember why she first came to the Club, Rhyli is glad she did. The Club helped her though the loss of her father and showed her that she was never alone. She had friends and trusted adults she could talk to who would help her through, hand-in-hand.
Rhyli says, "I will represent the club in the best way that I can, using everything that I've learned at the Club. It will all shine through!"
Grace is a 10-year-old student in 4th grade at Bridgman Elementary School. In her Junior Youth of the Year speech, Grace shared a moving story about her time in foster care and being placed with her parents.
“I learned that with a strong will supporting me, I’m able to accomplish anything,” said Grace.
She shared that she comes to the Club because it’s a safe space for her to be while her parents are working. Grace always looks forward to her time at the Club and said that nearly everyone feels like family to her.
Grace is passionate about helping kids in foster care with access to food, toys, clothes and books. “I hope to be able to help the community in several different ways. I hope to continue to guide with leadership and compassion while helping others around me,” said Grace.
Jace is an 11-year-old student in 5th grade at Eastwood Elementary School in Sturgis. He hopes to be an Inventor in the future and plans to use his persistence and creative thinking to achieve his goals. “I often like to think about people’s struggles and what I can invent to help them,” said Jace.
Through the Club he has learned not to doubt himself and to try and find inspiration in everything around him.
Jace shared, “I’m always encouraged to be a leader at the Club. This makes me want to show others respect, become more responsible for my own actions and work hard toward any goals I have.”
