Boys & Girls Club Blog

November 15, 2024

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh is thrilled to announce Zachary (Zach) S. as its 2024-2025 Youth of the Year representative. The announcement was made during the Youth of the Year Dinner, sponsored by Amcor, on November 13th.

Each year, high school students from the Club compete for the prestigious title of Youth of the Year. This honor celebrates their active involvement in the Club, highlighting their commitment to community service, leadership, academic excellence, and personal growth. Zach competed against five exceptional peers—Mercedes B., Ayden C., Amiyah T. (Oshkosh West High School), and Caleigh S. and Isabel V. (Oshkosh North High School)—to earn the title.

As the 2024-2025 Youth of the Year, Zach will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Charles F. Hyde, Jr. Scholarship Endowment to pursue higher education. He will also represent the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh at the state-level competition in Madison this March, vying for the Wisconsin Youth of the Year title and additional scholarships.

A Decade of Dedication to the Club

Zach has been a proud Boys & Girls Club member for 10 years. Reflecting on his journey, Zach shared how he eagerly asked his mom for “just 10 more minutes” to stay at the Club during his first summer—a sentiment that still holds true.

Zach’s leadership extends beyond the Club, where he actively participates in the teen Keystone Leadership group. He excels academically as a 4.0 student at Oshkosh North High School, a member of the Polaris National Honor Society, and a two-time recipient of the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. Zach’s extracurriculars include the varsity bowling team, junior varsity tennis team, and math team. He also gives back to the community through volunteer efforts with Father Carr’s holiday meal deliveries, the Celebration of Lights, and the Club’s e-recycling drive.

A Vision for Safer Transportation

Zach is passionate about improving transportation safety, inspired by the efficient, car-free systems of the Netherlands and their impact on reducing vehicle-related fatalities. He aspires to pursue a degree in civil engineering and work for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to “help make our roads and the transportation of people from place to place safer for everyone.”

Celebrating Excellence

“We are incredibly proud of Zach,” said Tracy Ogden, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh. “He has been an integral part of our Club for many years, always ready to lend a hand and inspire others with his leadership and dedication. Zach’s future is exceptionally bright, and we are excited to see him compete for the state title this spring.”

The Youth of the Year Dinner also celebrated the achievements of Club members ages 5-18 in areas such as Health & Wellness, Academic Success, and Character & Leadership. Families, donors, mentors, and alumni joined in applauding these outstanding youth during an inspiring evening, where the kids proudly took the stage to receive medals recognizing their accomplishments.

Gratitude to Our Sponsors

This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors:

• Presenting Sponsor: Amcor
• Achievement Sponsor: MARCO Promos
• Dinner Sponsor: Pinnow Sheet Metal, Inc.
• Red Carpet Sponsors: Jeff & Ann Trembly, Shea Electric & Communications, LLC, and ThedaCare
• Lead, Succeed, and Inspire Sponsors: Beats 2 Go LLC
• Great Futures Sponsors: Block Iron & Supply Company, Bock Insurance, OEC Graphics, Reworld Solutions LLC, Werner Electric Supply
• Club Member Sponsors: Advantage Pest Control, Bright Orthodontics, Fox Valley Metrology, Phil & Sandy Weston

A special thank-you to our Youth of the Year Judging Committee: Hillary Anderson (Werner Electric Supply), Noah Hinrichs (Thrivent), Megan Lang (First Weber), Paul Nugent (Amcor), Kevin Ralofsky (Verve, A Credit Union), and Peg Wachtel (Charles F. Hyde, Jr. Scholarship Endowment Fund).

For more information about the Youth of the Year Dinner and other Club programs, visit bgcosh.org.