Boys & Girls Club Blog

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh is pleased to announce its 2023-2024 Youth of the Year representative – Mercy A. The Club announced Mercy as this year’s local winner at the Youth of the Year Dinner, sponsored by Amcor, on October 26.

Each year a local Youth of the Year committee interviews several high school students at the Club. Mercy competed against seven other Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh teens: Henry B., Gabriella F., Ryley G., Gwendolyn K., Madison S., and Zachary S. They were judged on their involvement in their Club, including participation in the Club’s community engagement and service efforts, leadership, personal growth and life goals, and their academic success. As the Oshkosh Club’s 2023-2024 Youth of the Year, Mercy receives $10,000 from the Charles. F. Hyde, Jr. Scholarship Endowment towards higher education. In March, Youth of the Year winners from local Boys & Girls Clubs across the state will travel to Madison to compete for the state title and additional scholarships.

Mercy, a Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh member for the last six years, can be seen around the Club daily, where she participates in Club programs, serves as President of the Club’s Keystone Leadership Club, volunteers, and works as a part-time staff member. Among Mercy’s many accomplishments, she is top of her senior class at Oshkosh North High School with a 4.0 GPA and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, Boys & Girls Clubs of America recognizes the positive impact Mercy has had on Keystone members and the Boys & Girls Club Movement and has selected her to serve on the 2024 National Keystone Conference Steering Committee. Mercy aspires to be a geneticist in the future.

Mercy says, “My experiences at my Boys & Girls Club are what shaped me to become who I am today. The memories I have from my Club are embedded in my heart, and I look forward to seeing how my Club can help more people. As a leader in my Club and now the Youth of the Year, I’m happy to be a small part of helping others just like my Club helped me and my family. I want to help bring people together no matter what race, gender, ethnicity or culture they have or belong to.”

“We are very proud of Mercy,“ added CEO Tracy Ogden. “She is immersed in her Club and is a passionate, young leader who is dedicated to doing good for her community. She has a bright future ahead, and we’re excited to see her compete for the Youth of the Year state title in just a few months.”

In addition to announcing Mercy as Youth of the Year, Club families along with donors, teachers, mentors, and alumni celebrate members ages 5-18 in their accomplishments in the areas of Health & Wellness, Academic Success, and Character & Leadership during their time at the Club. The event, Halloween-themed this year, was a fun evening where Club families got to enjoy dinner together and celebrate their kids.

Thank you to the following for supporting this event:

Our 2023-2024 Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh Youth of the Year Judging Committee:

Mark Delveaux (CR Meyer), Noah Hinrichs (Thrivent and BGCO Board Member), Megan Lang (First Weber), Jessica Muller (The Grand and Leadership Oshkosh Adjunct Board Member), Paul Nugent (Amcor and BGCO Board Member), Peg Wachtel (Charles F. Hyde, Jr. Scholarship Endowment Fund), Carey Sharpe (The Howard and Acton Academy Oshkosh), Susan Stearns (Friend of the Club).

Our event sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: Amcor, Achievement Sponsor: MARCO Promos, Dinner Sponsor: ThedaCare, Red Carpet Sponsor: Shea Electric & Communications, LLC, Lead, Succeed and Inspire Sponsors: Kwik Trip, Pinnow Sheet Metal, Inc., Great Futures Sponsors: Block Iron & Supply Company, OEC Graphics, Oshkosh Freemasons, Club Member Sponsors: Bright Orthodontics, Fox Valley Metrology, Winnebago County Democratic Party.

Learn more about the Youth of the Year Dinner here.