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Outstanding Cedar Rapids Teen Named Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Youth of the Year

Posted on: Thursday, 21 September 2006, 06:00 CDT

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) today announced that Stacey Walker, a five-year member of the Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been named 2006-07 National Youth of the Year.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060921/NYTH061 ) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050921/CLW030LOGO )

In addition to the title, Walker, who was honored at a Congressional Breakfast held today in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, will receive a $15,000 scholarship from the Reader's Digest Foundation and the opportunity to meet the President of the United States.

The Youth of the Year program, which has been nationally sponsored by the Reader's Digest Foundation since 1947, recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club; academic excellence; and personal challenges and obstacles overcome.

"I'm very proud of the accomplishments of Stacey and all the nominees, "said Roxanne Spillett, president, BGCA. "We've now selected 60 National Youths of the Year thanks to the Reader's Digest Foundation, and as we move into our next century of service, I'm looking forward to seeing the great results the Youth of the Year program will continue to deliver."

In order to compete for this prestigious national honor, Walker, as well as the four finalists garnered the Youth of the Year title at their respective local, state and regional levels. The other finalists were Kelly Barefield (Seattle, Wash.), Alyse Eady (Fort Smith, Ark.), Montorie Lee (Camilla, Ga.) and David Shelly (Pittsburgh). The Reader's Digest Foundation awarded each state finalist a $1,000 college scholarship and each regional finalist a $10,000 college scholarship.

Walker's loss of his mother at the age of 4 was definitely a tragedy, but the wisdom and strength of his grandmother carried him through, shaping him into a stellar young man.

The Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids also provided a means for Walker to excel. He started out as a member, but quickly transitioned into a mentor, role model and staff member. Through Passport to Manhood, a program that teaches young boys how to become responsible young men, he helped others escape their dim surroundings in hopes of pursuing a brighter future.

In addition to being an avid football player at his alma mater, Washington High School, Walker excelled in academics and was very active in student government and the debate team. He was presented with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award and selected as member of the National Council on Youth Leadership.

Moreover, Walker used his athletic talents to help those in his community by coaching and starting the Student Athlete Mentoring program, in which he and other athletes mentored at-risk youth in the areas of sportsmanship, academics and everyday life.

Walker is a freshman at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he is studying business law and communications.

"The Reader's Digest Foundation has been the proud sponsor of the Youth of the Year program since 1947," said Susan Fraysse Russ, executive director, Reader's Digest Foundation. "We are thrilled that we can honor amazing teens, like Stacey, for their dedication to their families, Club and community, and help them achieve their academic and career goals."

As the founding sponsor of the Youth of the Year program, the Reader's Digest Foundation has given nearly $8 million to BGCA and 60 teens have been selected as National Youth of the Year.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (http://www.bgca.org/) comprises a national network of more than 3,900 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.6 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060921/NYTH061http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050921/CLW030LOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN5PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

CONTACT: Brian Hill, +1-404-487-5798, Cell: +1-404-434-7039,bhill@bgca.org, Tikia Young, +1-404-487-5894, +1-334-201-8099,tyoung@bgca.org, both of Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Web site: http://www.bgca.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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