Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley announces Hailu Waithaka as the 2022 Youth of the Year and Los Angeles County Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year. 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 by honoring outstanding Club teens as Youth of the Year at their local Club. Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Club member can receive through the Boys & Girls Club.
A junior at Hart High School, Waithaka’s dream is to attain a law degree from Stanford. He balances his leadership role as the Club’s Keystone Vice President with practices and games for his travel soccer team and schoolwork. At 16 years old, Waithaka has a passion for helping others dealing with mental health challenges. He is concerned about the stigma of talking about mental health issues and how that is exasperating the mental health crisis young people are facing. He is particularly interested in shining a light on mental health struggles in sports and ensuring there are more resources for athletes to understand their emotions and how to seek support.
“The mental health crisis facing the Youth of America today is not being addressed with enough support and urgency,” Waithaka said. “Mental health issues are being dealt with by individuals through bad coping mechanisms like drug abuse and isolation because of either a lack of resources or hesitancy to ask for help because of the stigma. What matters to me is advocating for eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health in relation to athletes and ensuring mental health resources are widely available to all young people.”
Waithaka joined the Boys & Girls Club in 2017 shortly after moving to Santa Clarita from Kenya. He found the Club, just across the street from Placerita Junior High School, after his friends Gabe and Dylan were called in to finish their homework by Club staff one day.
“They invited me in, and I was in awe,” Waithaka said. “There was so much to do, and all the children were happy and busy with homework, friendship, and games. I went home that day and asked my mom to sign me up as a member.”
Hailu has attended the Club nearly every day since, learning the game of basketball, making new friends, getting help with homework, and taking on a leadership role amongst his peers. During the pandemic, he stayed connected with friends and staff thru the Club’s virtual program.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Hailu and all that he has accomplished,” said CEO Matthew Nelson. “Hailu is incredibly humble and kind. He has a generous heart and one of those smiles that lights up a room. We’re so proud of him. We are excited to see all the amazing things he will do with his life.”
Board President Matt Carpenter piled more praise on for the Club’s Youth of the Year, “Hailu is an exceptional human being. He is hard-working and exudes endless optimism. We had several teen members worthy of the award, but Hailu really stood out. I want to applaud our amazing Club staff for continuing to help develop and shape youth into the leaders of tomorrow- right here in our Santa Clarita Valley community.”
After receiving the award of Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley Waithaka immediately began preparing for the Los Angeles County round of the process. After two rounds of online interviews, was named L.A. County Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year. He then went on to the State level competition, serving as inspiration and a role model to his Club peers. While his journey ended there, he now has time to celebrate and embrace his role in public speaking engagements on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club.
Founded in 1968, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley helps local youth reach their full potential by providing a second home, supporting academic success, and building leaders. 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 visit the website at www.scvbgc.org.
Hailu with board members Jenny Ketchepaw, Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Matt Carpenter.
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
Raising the Curtain Foundation, through their Grand Ovation program, honored Jim Sudik and Paco Vela on Thursday, June 1 by naming the dressing rooms at the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts after the duo.
The Salvation Army Santa Clarita Corps is excited to welcome the community to a free open house on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at their local headquarters at 22935 Lyons Avenue.
Santa Clarita residents can learn hands-only CPR at the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital main entrance and at Henry Mayo Fitness and Health during a special county-wide event on Monday, June 5.
The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 507 Newhall will host the Fourth Annual Castaic Lake RV Park Car and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, June 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Santa Clarita Arts Commission will meet on Thursday, June 8 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd. First Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Raising the Curtain Foundation, through their Grand Ovation program, honored Jim Sudik and Paco Vela on Thursday, June 1 by naming the dressing rooms at the Newhall Family Theatre for the Performing Arts after the duo.
The Santa Clarita Library's annual Summer Reading challenge will kick off on June 12. The event, sponsored by Friends of the Santa Clarita Public Library, will boast the theme "Find Your Voice!"
Join instructor Katie Pinto at Bouquet Canyon Park on Tuesday, June 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a fun and interactive Hula Hoop class for adults and seniors.
The city of Santa Clarita Planning Commission will meet June 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd. First Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
City Cinemas in the Park will screen the film "The Little Rascals" on June 23 at 8:30 p.m. The film will be shown in Newhall Park, 24923 Newhall Ave., Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
The city of Santa Clarita is seeking artwork for an upcoming exhibit located in the First Floor Gallery of City Hall. This art exhibition is seeking artwork depicting the theme of "Pop Culture."
By now you have no doubt heard about the waste hauler transition coming to the city of Santa Clarita. Beginning July 1, all residents in our city will begin the process of switching over to Burrtec Waste Industries for their trash service.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) successfully passed eight bills off the Assembly Floor, bringing her total number of bills now in the Senate to 11. Notably, more than half of her bills received bipartisan support.
In collaboration with the Saugus Unified School District, the city of Santa Clarita is excited to announce playground construction plans for Northbridge Park. The project aims to provide recreational space for Charles Helmers Elementary School students and the surrounding Northbridge community. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.
The Salvation Army Santa Clarita Corps is excited to welcome the community to a free open house on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at their local headquarters at 22935 Lyons Avenue.
California State Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, issued the following statement Thursday regarding the decision by the State Water Resources Control Board to re-notice CEMEX’s application for a water right permit.
RICK Engineering Company, a multidisciplinary planning, design and engineering firm serving the western United States, has opened its 11th office in Santa Clarita.
The Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center Spotlight Series will feature an eclectic lineup of talented musicians and performers, as well as family-friendly programs as part of its Fall 2023 programming.
Beginning Saturday, June 3, residents can once again board Santa Clarita Transit’s Summer Beach Bus to travel to Ventura Harbor on Saturdays and Sundays.
Adding a powerful local voice to policies and decisions that directly affect residents, Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Marsha McLean has been tapped for leadership roles with the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments and Southern California Association of Governments.
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, in partnership with the Association of California Water Agencies, is proud to announce that the first Edward G. “Jerry” Gladbach Scholarship has been awarded to Elizabeth Peña.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday 50 new cases and one new death from COVID-19 in the Santa Clarita Valley within the last week.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted Thursday a Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony and reception at the California Department of Education to mark the first day of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.