Boys & Girls Club Blog

Youth of the Year

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh is pleased to announce the 2016 Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh Youth of the Year winner – Georice Thomas.

Each year a local Youth of the Year committee interviews a number of high school students at the Club judging them on their service to the Club, community, and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability before selecting a Youth of the Year winner for the organization.

In January, Georice competed against two other local Club members for the title and ultimately won. As the Oshkosh Club’s 2016 Youth of the Year, Georice was awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Boys & Girls Club’s Charles F. Hyde, Jr. Youth of the Year Scholarship Endowment.

From here, Youth of the Year winners from local Boys & Girls Clubs across the state will travel to Madison to vie for the state title in March. Georice will compete against a total of sixteen other Club members for the title of Wisconsin State Youth of the Year. If she wins the state title, Georice also would receive a $5,000 scholarship from BGCA and Disney and a $1,500 scholarship from the Boys & Girls Clubs Wisconsin Area Council.

Georice is a senior at Oshkosh North High School and plans to pursue higher education at Fox Valley Technical College to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. She has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh for nearly eleven years, since she was six years old. During her time at the Club, she’s been involved in many programs including Keystone, Volleyball, Power Hour Homework Help, Girls Fit, Career Launch, Money Matters, Computer Safety and Teen Cuisine. She has served as both the Volleyball captain and the Keystone President.

In addition to participating in numerous Club programs, Georice has also given back to her community in a number of ways over the years through her involvement with the Club and the Salvation Army. She participates in Creative Movement which is a dance and puppet team through The Salvation Army that shares the word of Christ through expressive music and dance around the community. At the Boys & Girls Club she has helped with the annual haunted house, wrapped gifts for those in need, and assisted with younger Club members in the Radford Center.

In Georice’s own words:

“I have been a part of many organizations and clubs but none have touched my heart in a way the Boys & Girls Club has. I am truly honored to be a part of such a great family.”

 

 

“I feel very fortunate to have known Georice over the years. She has a huge heart and she’s always looking for ways to make her Club and community better.”

said Teen Center Director, Tiffanie Bolling.

“She’s constantly looks for ways to help others in need and everyone around her really looks up to her and respects her strong leadership. We are so proud of Georice and look forward to all that she will accomplish academically and professionally in the next few years and most of all to how she ultimately will give back to her community”

added CEO, Marc Dosogne.