On to regionals after Bedford senior named NH Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Club of America

    Zainab B. (center) flanked by staff members from the Boys & Girls Club Manchester.

    MANCHESTER, NH – Selected among six outstanding youth, Zainab has been named the New Hampshire Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

    The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures. As the New Hampshire Youth of the Year, Zainab will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and will advance to the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national event.  

    Zainab is an active member of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester. She has been a Club kid for several years, and currently serves as the President of Manchester’s Keystone Club. Keystone is a leadership program for BGC high school students, and under Zainab’s leadership, Manchester’s Keystone Club has successfully put on several impressive community events this year. 

    “We are so proud of Zainab and all of the other Youth of the Year nominees. Being named Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor and accomplishment. Zainab is an inspiration and an incredible mentor to her peers,” said Diane Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester.

    Zainab B. is a senior at Bedford High School and serves as president of the Manchester Boys & Girls Club Keystone Club.

    Zainab is a high school senior at Bedford High School and will be attending Louisiana State University in the fall.

    “In my lifetime I have overcome many challenges and in spite of that, I have continually grown as a person and a student and already have started making a difference in my community. I’m outgoing, not afraid to speak my mind, and already have experience of being an advocate for others,” said Zainab B., BGCM’s Youth of the Year

    Founded in 1947 as Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community, and Boys & Girls Club. The Youth of the Year program is supported by Toyota and Mondelēz- International. As the Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, Toyota is committed to partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to ensure local Clubs provide life-enhancing opportunities for kids and teens to explore, develop and apply the essential skills they need to be successful in life and work. As the Lead Sponsor of Youth of the Year, Mondelēz International, will engage with local Clubs year-round to help foster a new generation of leaders prepared to live in and lead a diverse global economy. Youth of the Year representatives are the workforce leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow. 

    This summer, Zainab will join other state Youth of the Year to vie for the Northeast regional title. If named the regional Youth of the Year, they will be awarded an additional $20,000 college scholarship. The five finalists along with the National Military Youth of the Year, will advance to the National Youth of the Year event, to vie for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional scholarship of $50,000 and a brand-new Toyota Corolla. 

    For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org. 


    About Boys & Girls Club of Manchester

    Stewards of a long and proud history, we do whatever it takes to deepen the impact of our work. The Boys & Girls Club of Manchester (BGCM) is one of the 53 founding organizations of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, established in 1907. Operating throughout 4 sites in Greater Manchester, there are no barriers to membership and no limits to what our kids can achieve. Learn more about BGCM at www.mbgcnh.org.