The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley has named Canyon High School sophomore Lluvia Partida the 2018 Youth of the Year.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year program is designed to promote and recognize service to the club and community, academic performance and contributions to family/home life. Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a club member can receive through the Boys & Girls Club.

Partida dreams of attending the Berklee School of Music in Boston. She is currently taking four classes thru CalArts and playing for Canyon’s basketball team.

She says her love of music production was sparked two summers ago when she attended a music production workshop at the Boys & Girls Club and then went on a career exploration field trip to Westlake Recording Studios.

She plans on trying out for the Canyon track team, something she says she never would think of if it weren’t for the club’s Athletic Director, Cecil Hammock.

Lluvia joined the Boys & Girls Club in 2013. She is currently a member of the club’s Keystone leadership program, where she and other teens learn leadership skills and public service.

“We are fundraising to attend the National Keystone Conference in Denver this summer,” Partida said.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Lluvia and all she has accomplished and overcome,” said Club President Ann-Marie Bjorkman.

“Lluvia is an amazing young woman,” said club CEO Matthew Nelson. “She has a huge heart. In 2014, her first year as a member, she baked more than a hundred cupcakes then brought them to club to sell to members, parents and volunteers, and gave all the money to the club because she wants the club to have enough money to be here forever.”

Partida now moves on to the Los Angeles County Youth of the Year competition along with Youth of the Year from each of the Los Angeles area Boys & Girls Clubs. She will participate in two pre-sessions at the Memorial Space Center and ABC7 Studios to help her prepare for her L.A. County interview. Partida will then represent the Santa Clarita Valley at the NOVO Theatre in Los Angeles where the LA Youth of the Year will be named.

The process will help to grow her confidence and provide opportunities to make connections while developing leadership and public speaking skills.

Founded in 1968, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley provides a second home, academic support and build leaders for more than 5,000 local youth. Membership is just $60 a year for the first child and $45 for each additional sibling (scholarships available).

To learn how to get involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, contact Resource Development Director Ali Campbell at 661-254-2582 ext. 114 or alic@scvbgc.org.