http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/boys-girls-club-chippewa-s5.jpgWinners Receive $25,000 in Scholarships, Advance to National Competition.

Madison, WI – On Monday, fifteen regional champions compete on Capitol Square for Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year, the highest honor given to a member. Bally Sports -- in conjunction with the Packers, Brewers and Bucks -- will award $20,000 in scholarships. These young leaders are from clubs in Rhinelander, West Bend, Baraboo, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Berlin, Wausau, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Kenosha, La Crosse, Milwaukee, the Chippewa Valley, and Dane County.

One winner will represent the 117,000 Wisconsin youth who use clubs every year, and go on to compete at Midwest and National competitions. Wisconsin clubs employ 2440 staff at 203 club sites across 77 communities, and local competitions recently narrowed the field down to just fifteen finalists. As they meet Monday with seven esteemed judges, their interviews and speeches will be scored on youth leadership, public service, academic excellence and contributions to family.

While in Madison, youth also meet with the Governor, Supreme Court Justices, and other government leaders.  On Tuesday morning, winners will visit with state senators, assembly members and staff from their home districts, and discuss top areas of concern to youth. Finalists will speak from the Assembly Chambers in the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 14th at 9:00 a.m. These three-minute inspiring stories will share triumphs of thriving through the pandemic, and will be live streamed on WisconsinEye.

The competition culminates in an Awards Gala at the Premier Park Hotel at 6:30 Monday evening. The Co-Hosts of the Award Dinner include FeAnna Vang, the 2020 Wisconsin Youth of the Year, who won a full four-year Scholarship to UW Madison.  Bianca Martin, alumni of the West Central Wisconsin Club, is a former NPR podcast producer and current host for CityCast Madison.

Wisconsin clubs serve more kids per population than any other state in the country, and more youth than any other organization outside of the public school system. Clubs also serve two million meals and snacks each year at no cost, because it’s hard to learn and grow when you’re hungry. For more information, visit www.bgcwisconsin.org

To interview a youth finalist at the Park Hotel after 5 pm Monday, or outside the Assembly Chambers after 10 am Tuesday, contact Andy Gussert at 608-213-8585. Reach out to your local club for more information about covering regional winners. https://www.bgcwisconsin.org/find-a-club