Junior Youth Honored for Leadership

Junior Youth of the Year nominees were honored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside at a banquet at the Burrage Mansion earlier this month. The five Junior Youth of the Year nominees were picked for their leadership, character and attitudes, and were chosen from the Members of the Month at the Clubs’ various locations. Each member of the month got a certificate and was recognized by Club Vice President Mark Davis. The families of the Junior Youth of the Year and Members of the Month were treated to a spaghetti dinner from Angelo’s before the awards ceremony. Additionally, the Clubs debuted the five teenage Youth of the Year nominees – Shane Johnson, Makayla Pennix, Kevin Ponce, Kamryn Coleson and Chyna Phillips. Each gave a speech on the impact the Club has had on their lives. Joshua Ramirez, 10, of the Bryn Mawr site, Loma Linda was a Junior Youth of the Year honoree. A five-year member, he has also participated in many Club activities and enjoys art and soccer most. According to staff, he “has been a great example of leadership before his peers” by helping staff, having a good attitude, and leading and helping other kids. “He also shows commitment in academics by insuring he completes his homework on site and seeks help to understand math problems he is struggling with," according to site staff. According to his mother, Ramirez’s grades and reading skills have also improved since coming to the Club. He hopes to play soccer in high school, and attend college. Another Junior Youth of the Year honoree, Serena Granillo, 12, of Casitas del Valle, Moreno Valley has come to the Clubs’ Moreno Valley location since it opened three years ago. According to staff, she “always arrives with a smile on her face and is constantly looking for ways to help staff, whether it be passing out snacks or helping our younger members with their homework.” She enjoys participating in programs like Kids in the Kitchen and Explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). She has a “natural drive” to learn, and lead group activities, and isn’t afraid to make mistakes, according to staff. At home, she helps with the laundry and cooking, and takes care of her younger sister. Junior Youth of the Year honoree Jeffrey Schroepfer, 12, comes from the Dennis Hansberger Clubhouse, Redlands. His introduction to the Club was at Bryn Mawr in 2009, where he had trouble adjusting to the program rotations. But since then, he has improved and “shown his dedication and passion in various ways to staff and his peers,” according to staff. He is a member of the Club’s “tween” group and volunteers to take care of the patio garden His short-term goal is to improve his grades, and his long-term goal is to be a staff member at the Boys & Girls Club “to ensure fun at the Club,” or become a police officer to help and protect the community. Larissa Lugo, 11, of the Waterman Gardens site, San Bernardino, was another Junior Youth of the Year honoree. A five-year Club member, Lugo has participated in many programs, helps staff set up, and helps younger members do activities. According to Club staff, she “has been at the Club every day with a positive attitude and willingness to participate in the programs and activities offered.” She says the Boys & Girls Clubs is her second home, and her favorite thing about coming to the Club “is how they are running the programs and seeing the end results of projects.” Lugo, who wants to be a pediatrician, helps out at home with cleaning and cooking. Her short-term goal is to get all As in school. Junior Youth of the Year Christian Zarate, 10, of the Mentone site, is a three-year member and a junior assistant at the Mentone site, where he helps others with a variety of tasks and tends the garden. According to staff, he is “a friend to all, and definitely leads by example... Christian even surprised (us) when he voluntarily joined Drama Matters and participated in our December play performance. Since Christian joined the club, he has broken out of his ‘timid’ shell and has developed into a positive role model.” Zarate says that at the Club, he likes making friends with kids he doesn’t see at school. He wants to work with computers when he’s older, and said, “I would also really like to come back to Boys & Girls Club and help the staff.” At home, he helps his mother with the chores and watches out for his little brother.