Meet the 2026 Youth of the Year City Winners

From the moment Jalonna-Marie stepped into the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club in Montbello, she found something she had been missing—a place where she felt safe and free to be herself. After navigating trauma, pandemic isolation, and the constant fear of school lockdowns, the Club became a turning point in her life. Surrounded by friends who became family and mentors who helped rebuild her confidence, she discovered that difference is something to celebrate. Through four years of leadership, and self‑discovery, Jalonna‑Marie has become a standout member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and one of our inspiring 2026 Youth of the Year City winners. 

Justin’s path to becoming a Youth of the Year winner didn’t unfold all at once—it grew slowly, shaped by both the challenges he carried and the community he found inside the walls of the Cope Boys & Girls Club. When he first arrived as a fourth grader, he simply hoped for a place to have fun with friends. But growing up with a background marked by major transitions and cultural adjustments came with its own set of hurdles, including moments when he felt singled out or misunderstood. At the Club, he found something different: belonging, encouragement, and a place where he could build confidence rather than have it shaken. “Everyone here is rooting for your success, whether it’s in your personal life or your professional goals,” he wrote. 

Over the years, Justin transformed from a quiet Club kid into a leader who now helps guide the very community that supported him. The Club became a launchpad—where he excelled in gifted and advanced academics, earned a 4.0 GPA in eighth grade, and discovered his talents in soccer and basketball, winning trophies in both. More importantly, it gave him the tools to rise above moments of self-doubt and the pressure he felt to honor his family’s hard work and sacrifices. 

Some kids discover their spark in unexpected places, and for Pamela, that spark lit up in the middle of a cooking class at the Crawford Boys & Girls Club. She still remembers the joy of making food with her peers, laughing with “Ms. Maya (The Tall One),” and even appearing on the news for a cooking segment. Over her three years at the Club, she’s explored everything from arts and crafts to community events, learning skills that make her feel both creative and capable. Whether she’s sculpting, dancing, or practicing table manners at the Club’s Thanksgiving dinner, she sees every moment as a chance to grow. These experiences, paired with her natural curiosity and kindness, are part of what earned her recognition as a rising Youth of the Year and a standout example of Metro Denver youth leadership. 

What makes Pamela shine isn’t just her enthusiasm—it’s her heart. She talks openly about how the staff “bring me joy and laughter,” and how even a playful moment, like jokingly being called “enemies” after winning a game against a staff member, made her feel connected and encouraged. When school days feel heavy, the Club is where her mood lifts. She feels safe and supported.  And if her early years are any indication, Pamela’s future is as bright and full of possibility as the energy she brings into every room she enters. 

Some young leaders grow into their confidence slowly, but Angelique seems to have bloomed right in front of the Suncor Boys & Girls Club community. When she reflects on her journey, she talks about the lessons she’s learned— “even if they are horrible or extremely good”—and how the Club helped her move through moments that once felt impossible. When she was hurting and didn’t think she could open up to anyone, the Club staff stood beside her, reminding her she wasn’t alone. With their support, she found the courage to heal and smile again, seeing the Club as her “second home.”  

What makes Angelique such a powerful Youth of the Year is the light she now turns outward. Once a shy girl who struggled to speak up, she now helps other kids find their voices, guiding them the same way the staff once guided her. She also embodies the spirit of Metro Denver youth leadership, excelling in school—taking advanced algebra as an eighth grader—and committing herself wholeheartedly to every sport she plays, from volleyball to flag football. Today, she feels “honored and glad” to be part of the Youth of the Year program, and deeply grateful for the Suncor Boys & Girls Club, which she says has made “numerous things possible” for her and her future. Angelique has a way of carrying lessons from her story with remarkable heart. 

Not every kid can pinpoint the moment they began to feel safe being themselves. For Arcey, that turning point came at the Josephine Hodgkins Boys & Girls Club — a place that helped her navigate one of her biggest personal challenges: learning how to express her emotions instead of keeping everything inside. 

Before joining the Club, Arcey often bottled up her feelings, whether she was sad, overwhelmed, or even excited. She didn’t want to burden anyone or risk being misunderstood. But carrying everything alone took a toll. What she needed was a space where her thoughts mattered and where she could speak freely. 

The Club became that place. 

“I can be myself… I feel safe sharing my thoughts and opinions, and I don’t feel judged,” she shared — a simple sentence that reflects a huge shift in confidence and self‑trust. 

For a creative kid who finds joy in reading, rollerblading, writing stories, and building things with her hands, discovering a space where her voice was encouraged rather than quieted was transformative. Little by little, she began to open up. She learned it was okay to ask for help. She learned she didn’t have to hide when she was hurting. And she learned that her emotions were not weaknesses but part of her strength. 

What makes Arcey such a compelling Youth of the Year is how she now uses that hard‑earned emotional insight into her relationships with others. Sometimes it’s as simple — and thoughtful — as making a personalized playlist that matches someone’s personality. In a Club community rooted in connection and compassion, Arcey is emerging as exactly the kind of grounded, understanding leader other kids naturally look up to.