Our 2022 Youth of the Year Celebration is two weeks away (Nov 11), and our Youth of the Year (YOY) candidates have been working hard to prepare for the big event. This year is even more special because we are finally back to conducting in-person YOY workshops. The whole process has been remote since the onset of COVID-19. Being physically present has allowed candidates to form strong connections with each other, their mentors, and our College and Career Readiness (CCR) team, who are leading the weekly sessions.
“The Youth of the Year workshops provided our talented youth with opportunities to express themselves verbally, creatively, and professionally,” said Dr. Anna Jones, Senior Director of CCR. “We’ve been able to observe the amazing journey of YOY candidates during this process. We’ve watched as their natural abilities took shape, their self-confidence soared, and their dedication to being successful gave rise.”
Tyler Reid, Program Manager for CCR, intentionally made the first in-person YOY workshop series memorable for Club teens. “While planning this workshop series, I was determined to bring our YOY candidates together in person again and design elements that made it a worthwhile experience. To transition from school to Club to bus and then through rush-hour traffic…it requires a lot from these teen members to make an in-person experience possible…so ensuring a good payoff was important.”
As part of the YOY workshop series, candidates were paired with at least one mentor. This mentor coaches and guides their candidate in a variety of skill-building practices. These include public speaking, speech writing, essay writing, interviewing, networking, and presenting oneself with professionalism and authenticity. Regardless of how the YOY competition plays out, candidates can use these skills in their academic and professional pursuits, equipping them for future success.
Jaden Faunce, a Strategy Analyst for Accenture, and a first-time mentor shared, “My mentee is a fantastic all-around candidate. From our first session, I knew they would be a strong contender. They were not afraid to speak up and volunteer to go first, even winning the weekly Millionaire of the Night Award,” said Faunce.
The Millionaire of the Night Award is given to a YOY candidate who demonstrates qualities that align with the “most valuable player.” Superlatives like this one are awarded at the end of each YOY workshop. Faunce said, “Throughout the process, Trey has known exactly what he wants his personal story to convey and has many great experiences to draw from in bringing his story to life.”
Returning to an in-person YOY workshop series has set the tone for a fantastic Youth of the Year Celebration. Reid summarized the experience by saying, “I believe it’s safe to say we’ve successfully brought our kids back together after being separated for two years. And it was clear from watching their journey that it was the right time – they needed to experience that kind of connection again.”
Want to contribute to our 2022 Youth of the Year Celebration? Click here.