Boys Girls Clubs Of America Youth Of The Year Award
Before you spend hours on this
Will this scholarship actually lower your cost?
Not always. Many colleges reduce your financial-aid package when you win an outside scholarship — sometimes dollar-for-dollar — so the money can end up saving the school instead of you. It's called scholarship displacement. Two free tools tell you where you actually stand:
General guidance, not financial advice — your school's financial aid office is the only authority on how they treat outside awards. Always confirm with them before deciding.
Best fit for
Boys & Girls Club members ages 14-18 with strong leadership records at their club. NOT for kids not affiliated with BGCA — there's no application without club membership.
What they actually look for
Youth of the Year is BGCA's most prestigious award — and it's a PROGRESSIVE competition: you advance through CLUB, STATE, REGIONAL, and NATIONAL rounds, each with its own essay + speech + interview component. National Youth of the Year (one kid/yr) wins $250,000+ in scholarships and lifelong network access. Regional finalists get $25,000-$50,000. State winners get $5,000-$10,000. Even being your CLUB's Youth of the Year (the lowest level) puts you on the candidate list for BGCA-affiliated college scholarships.
What you'll need
- Active Boys & Girls Club member, age 14-18
- Demonstrated leadership in your local Boys & Girls Club
- Strong academic record + service contribution
- Multiple speeches at competition levels (club → state → regional → national)
- Essays + interview at every advancement level
- Nomination by your local Club staff
When to start
Club-level competition happens in spring of each year. Get involved with your local Club's leadership programs by 14-15 to be a serious candidate by 17-18. Reach out to your club director in fall to express interest.
Watch out for
The Youth of the Year competition heavily weights PUBLIC SPEAKING — you'll give a 3-5 minute speech at multiple levels. If public speaking isn't your strength, you can still win at club / state level on your essays and interview, but you'll need to practice the speech component seriously to advance further.