{"id":41182,"date":"2026-02-19T11:57:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T18:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/?p=41182"},"modified":"2026-02-19T12:14:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T19:14:33","slug":"meet-the-2026-youth-of-the-year-city-winners-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/about\/news\/meet-the-2026-youth-of-the-year-city-winners-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the 2026 Youth of the Year City Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Every year, we have the privilege of watching young people in our Clubs step into their potential, but this year\u2019s 2026 Youth of the Year City\u00a0winners have truly inspired us. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, the Youth of the Year program is more than an award;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a celebration of character, resilience, and the leadership our Metro Denver kids and teens show every day. As part of this nationally recognized youth leadership program through Boys & Girls Clubs of America, these remarkable young people went through a competitive application and interview process, earning their place as standouts in service, academics, and personal growth. Now, our Senior City Winner,\u00a0Jalonna-Marie,\u00a0will go on to\u00a0represent\u00a0Metro\u00a0Denver in the Colorado Youth of the Year competition\u2014with the chance to shine even brighter on the regional and national stage!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to meet the inspiring young leaders who are shaping the future of our community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Jalonna-Marie | Age 17\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h6>\n
Senior Denver City Youth of the Year Winner<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

Club de Ni\u00f1os y Ni\u00f1as de los Denver Broncos\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Club Member for: 4 years <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything happens for a reason, and finding the Club has allowed me to find my forever home.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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From the moment Jalonna-Marie stepped into the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club in Montbello, she found something she had been missing\u2014a 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\u2011discovery, Jalonna\u2011Marie has become a standout member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and one of our inspiring 2026 Youth of the Year City winners.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\n\t\t\"Jalonna-Marie,\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Today,\u00a0Jalonna\u2011Marie leads with empathy\u2014uplifting younger girls on the cheer team she created\u00a0and\u00a0connecting with teens nationwide at the National Keystone Conference, sharing her story with courage and purpose. Her journey has shaped a powerful dream: to become a\u00a0pediatric nurse, offering the same compassion and steadiness she once needed herself. As she prepares to compete for the Colorado Youth of the Year title,\u00a0Jalonna\u2011Marie\u00a0represents\u00a0the resilience\u00a0and hope of\u00a0Metro\u00a0Denver teens\u2014and the incredible impact a Boys & Girls Club can have on a young person discovering who they are and who they want to become.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Justin | Age 15<\/span><\/b><\/h6>\n
Junior Denver City Youth of the Year Winner<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

Club de ni\u00f1os y ni\u00f1as William E. Cope <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Club Member for: 6 years <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>It\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0a great honor. I\u00a0<\/span>have to<\/span>\u00a0stand up and be a leader in my community and serve as a role model.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Justin\u2019s path to becoming a Youth of the Year winner <\/span>no<\/span>\u00a0unfold all at once\u2014it grew slowly, shaped by both the challenges he\u00a0<\/span>carried<\/span>\u00a0and 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. \u201cEveryone here is rooting for your success, whether it\u2019s in your personal life or your professional goals,\u201d he wrote.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Justin transformed from a quiet\u00a0Club kid into a leader who now helps guide the very community that supported him. The Club became a launchpad\u2014where 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\u2019s hard work and sacrifices.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\n\t\t\"Justin,\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Today, Justin is driven by equal\u00a0parts\u00a0ambition and purpose. He dreams of becoming an engineer, entrepreneur, or even a professional athlete\u2014paths that reflect both his creativity and determination. \u201cI try hard because my parents work hard for me every day,\u201d he shared. Justin stands as a powerful example of resilience: a young leader committed to honoring his family, uplifting his community, and building a future shaped by perseverance and possibility.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Pamela | Age 10<\/span><\/b><\/h6>\n
10-13 Denver City Youth of the Year Winner<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

Club de ni\u00f1os y ni\u00f1as de Crawford <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Club Member for: 3 years <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m sad or upset after a day of school, this Club makes me feel better and makes my mood\u00a0<\/span>lighter<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Some kids discover their spark in unexpected places,\u00a0<\/span>and for<\/span>\u00a0Pamela, 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 \u201cMs. Maya (The Tall One),\u201d and even appearing on the news for a cooking segment. Over her three years at the Club,\u00a0<\/span>ella es<\/span>\u00a0explored everything from arts and crafts to community events, learning skills that make her feel both creative and capable. Whether\u00a0<\/span>ella es<\/span>\u00a0sculpting, dancing, or practicing table manners at the Club\u2019s 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\u00a0<\/span>Metro\u00a0<\/span>Denver youth leadership.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What makes Pamela shine\u00a0<\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0just her enthusiasm\u2014<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0her heart. She talks openly about how the staff \u201cbring me joy and laughter,\u201d and how even a playful moment, like jokingly being called \u201cenemies\u201d after winning a game against\u00a0<\/span>a staff member<\/span>, made her feel connected and encouraged. When school days feel heavy, the Club is where her mood\u00a0<\/span>lifts<\/span>. S<\/span>he feels safe<\/span>\u00a0y\u00a0<\/span>soportado<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>And if her early years are any\u00a0<\/span>indication<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Pamela\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>future is as bright and full of possibility as the energy she brings into every room she enters.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\n\t\t\"Pamela,\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Angelique | Age 13<\/span><\/b><\/h6>\n
10-13 Denver City Youth of the Year Winner<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

Club de ni\u00f1os y ni\u00f1as Suncor <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Club Member for: 7 years <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn life there are several lessons we must learn even if they are horrible or extremely good. We<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>all go through problems, but there will always be a solution and lesson to them.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Some young leaders\u00a0grow into\u00a0their 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\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0learned\u2014 \u201ceven if they are horrible or extremely good\u201d\u2014and how the Club helped her move through moments that once felt impossible.\u00a0When she was hurting and\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0think she could\u00a0open up\u00a0to anyone, the Club staff stood beside her, reminding her she\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0alone. With their support, she found the courage to heal\u00a0and\u00a0smile again,\u00a0seeing\u00a0the Club as her \u201csecond home.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Metro\u00a0Denver youth leadership, excelling in school\u2014taking advanced algebra as an eighth grader\u2014and committing herself wholeheartedly to every sport she plays, from volleyball to flag football. Today, she feels \u201chonored and glad\u201d to be part of the Youth of the Year program, and deeply grateful for the Suncor Boys & Girls Club, which she says has made \u201cnumerous things possible\u201d for her and her future. Angelique\u00a0has a way of carrying\u00a0lessons\u00a0from her story\u00a0with\u00a0remarkable\u00a0heart.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\n\t\t\"Angelique,\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Arcey | Age 13<\/span><\/b><\/h6>\n
10-13 Denver City Youth of the Year Winner<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

Josephine Hodgkins<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Club de ni\u00f1os y ni\u00f1as <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Club Member for: 3 years<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I like most about Club is that I can be myself. I feel safe sharing my thoughts and opinions, and I\u00a0<\/span>don\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0feel judged.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Not every kid can pinpoint the moment they began to feel safe being themselves. For\u00a0Arcey, that turning point came at the Josephine Hodgkins Boys & Girls Club \u2014 a place that helped her navigate one of her biggest personal challenges: learning how to express her emotions instead of keeping everything inside.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before joining the Club,\u00a0Arcey\u00a0often bottled up her feelings, whether she was sad, overwhelmed, or even excited. She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want to burden anyone or risk being misunderstood. But carrying everything alone took a toll. What she needed was a space where her thoughts mattered\u00a0and\u00a0where she could speak freely.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Club became that place.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can be myself\u2026 I feel safe sharing my thoughts and opinions, and I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0feel judged,\u201d she shared \u2014 a simple sentence that reflects a huge shift in confidence and self\u2011trust.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a creative kid who finds joy in reading, rollerblading,\u00a0writing\u00a0stories, and building things with her hands, discovering a space where her voice was encouraged rather than\u00a0quieted\u00a0was transformative. Little by little, she began to\u00a0open up. She learned it was okay to ask for help. She learned she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0have to hide when she was hurting. And she learned that her emotions were not weaknesses but part of her strength.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What makes\u00a0Arcey\u00a0such a compelling Youth of the Year is how she now uses that hard\u2011earned emotional insight\u00a0into\u00a0her relationships with others.\u00a0Sometimes\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0as simple \u2014 and thoughtful \u2014 as making a personalized playlist that matches someone\u2019s personality.\u00a0In a Club community rooted in connection and compassion,\u00a0Arcey\u00a0is\u00a0emerging\u00a0as exactly the kind of grounded, understanding leader other kids naturally look up to.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every year, we have the privilege of watching young people in our Clubs step into their potential, but this year\u2019s 2026 Youth of the Year City\u00a0winners have truly inspired us. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, the Youth of the Year program is more than an award;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a celebration of character, resilience, and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":41201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/YOYWinners_McLeod9Creative-1086-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41182"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41202,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41182\/revisions\/41202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bgcmd.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}