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BGNW Names Andrea Alarcon 2010 Youth of the Year

Mount Kisco, NY  (April 14, 2010) –The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester announced today that Fox Lane junior Andrea (Mishel) Alarcon (of Bedford Hills) has been recognized for her commitment and outstanding contributions as the Club's 2010 Youth of the Year, the highest honor awarded by the Club to a member. The National Youth of the Year Program, a Boys & Girls Club of America initiative, honors one of its members for developing superior leadership skills, overcoming personal challenges, achieving academic excellence, and performing outstanding service to Boys & Girls Club and the community. 

As a result of her commendable service, Alarcon will be granted a $1,000 scholarship from the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. She will also compete against other Boys & Girls Club youth for the New York State Youth of the Year title. Five regional winners selected among state winners will compete for the national honor in Washington, D.C., where the National Youth of the Year will be officially installed by the President in a White House ceremony in September. In addition, the winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship from The Reader's Digest Association, the sponsor of the program since its inception in 1947.

Alarcon has been involved with the Boys & Girls Club for 11 years. As a little girl she admired the teen mentors. Alarcon has since flourished into a dependable, encouraging role model herself, particularly for the younger Club members. Although English is not her native language, nor the language spoken in her home, she has succeeded in academics and is currently Vice President of the Liberty Keystone Club, the Boys & Girls Club's leadership and community service group. According to Alarcon, her involvement with the Club has provided a set of qualities for her that "helped build her character and steer her life in the right direction."

"This year's Youth of the Year recipient is a caring leader who has a strong commitment to community outreach programs. Aside from the time she spends at the Club, Mishel dedicates innumerable hours as a volunteer at Neighbors Link, the Minority Student Achievement Network and her church youth group. She also serves on the Northern Westchester Hospital's President's Junior Leadership Council," says Barbara Cutri, Youth Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. 

Alarcon is commended by the worship leader at her church who affirms she "displays discipline, diligence, and perseverance that other young teens should model." As an excellent student and community leader, she is interested in pursuing a career in Public Relations.

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester is located at 351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, NY and can be reached at (914) 666-8069 or by visiting www.bgcnw.com. To contact the Club's Teen Center, located at 317 Main Street in Mt. Kisco, please call (914) 733-0033.

About the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester

The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester was established in 1939 as a place for "boys to get off the streets." It is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and enabling young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Located in Mt. Kisco, NY, the 36,000-square-foot facility features an eight-lane pool, Child Care Center, gymnasium, games room, and two computer labs, and an additional 1,600-foot Teen Center facility. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester serves 2,000 youths, boys and girls ages 6 months to 18 years, from more than 60 Northern Westchester communities. The Club has been ranked among the outstanding Clubs in the national network of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Press Contact:

Kat McKee
Co-Communications
914-666-0066
kat@cocommunications.com

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester
351 Main Street, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549 (914) 666-8069