Sportsmanship award winners, from left, Matisse Edwards, 11, Ayden Unit; Shaft Parker Jr., 11, Farmville Unit; Rafael Garcia, 11, Jarvis Unit; Terrance Holloway, 14, Minges Unit; and Jaquavion Latham, 8, North Greenville Unit.
Click here for a slide show from the clubs' annual dinner.
The Boys & Girls Club Youths of the Year, from left, Qunesha Jones, 17, Farmville Unit; Ce’Nedra Dillard, 13, North Greenville Unit; Mackenzie Anderson, 10, Jarvis Unit; and Victoria Johnson, 16, Minges Unit. Ashley Dillahunt, 14, of the Ayden unit was also an award recipient.
Contributed photos
Boys & Girls Clubs names youth award winners
The Daily Reflector
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Pitt County have named their Youth of the Year and Sportsmanship winners. Winners, named at the annual dinner, were selected by each of the five club units. Criteria for selection include having a positive attitude, being confident and acting as a role model for other youth.
Recipients for Youth of the Year included: Ce’Nedra Dillard from North Greenville; Mackenzie Anderson, Jarvis Club; Qunesha Jones, Farmville Club; Victoria Johnson, Minges Club; and Ashley Dillahunt, Ayden Club.
Qunesha, 17, of Farmville, is an honor student and has been a member of the club since she was 6 years old. She said the club “has enhanced my decision-making skills and has given me a true place to belong.”
Ce’Nedra, 13, has been one of the original members since the North Greenville club was opened. This past summer she was part of the junior staff. “The Club is like a second home,” she said. “When I am here, I get the support I need to be a better person.”
Mackenzie, 10, from the Jarvis unit, has been an original member since the unit opened in 2007. “The Boys & Girls Clubs help keep the youth out of trouble,” she said, “and the services will help us go far in life.”
Victoria, 16, from the Minges unit, spoke of how the Boys & Girls Club has changed her life. She said the club has taught her to deal with many issues. “I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be my guide and lead me down the right path,” she said.
Ashley, 14, from the Ayden unit, was unable to attend the dinner due to a basketball event.
The five students acknowledged as the Sportsmanship recipients included: Jaquavion Latham, North Greenville; Rafael Garcia, Jarvis; Shaft Parker Jr., Farmville; Terrance Holloway, Minges; and Matisse Edwards, Ayden.
The Youth of the Year Program was founded more than 60 years ago through sponsorship by the Reader’s Digest Foundation. The winners receive a certificate and medallion, and then move on to the state competition against other winners from Boys & Girls Clubs across North Carolina.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Pitt County serves more than 2,000 members from 6 to 18 years of age.