Youth Programs encourage giving back!
Teens can join clean-ups, holiday drives, and community events to earn service hours and scholarship credit.
Active volunteers can earn recognition through BGCA’s Military Youth of the Year and other awards.
The Military Youth of the Year
A national recognition initiative by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) that honors outstanding military-connected teens for their leadership, service, and academic achievements.
What it is
- Military Youth of the Year is part of BGCA’s broader Youth of the Year program, which has celebrated exceptional young people since 1947.
- It specifically recognizes teens affiliated with military Youth Centers or BGCA-affiliated programs on military installations.
- Winners serve as ambassadors for military youth nationwide, sharing their stories and representing the resilience and strength of military-connected teens
How Youth Are Selected
- Eligible teens apply through their local Youth Center or BGCA-affiliated program.
- The application includes essays, letters of recommendation, and documentation of leadership, service, and academic performance.
- Candidates are evaluated using a scoring framework that considers character, leadership, and communication skills.
- Selected youth advance through local, regional, and national levels, culminating in the announcement of the National Military Youth of the Year.
How Youth Benefit
- State or garrison winners receive a $2500 scholarship and participate in the regional competition.
- Six regional winners compete for a chance to win $20,000, the winner of the National Military Youth of the Year receives an additional $20,000 for a total award of $42,500.
- The National Military Youth of the Year receives an additional $20,000 for a total award of $42,500.
- The National Military Youth of the Year serves a one-year term as military connected youth spokesperson for the Defense Department, military services and BGCA
The National Military Youth of the Year advances to compete in the BGCA National Youth of the Year where the winner receives a $25,000 scholarship renewable for four years or up to $100,000
