NEWS RELEASE — Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area Member Feanna Vang was named Wisconsin’s Youth of the Year at a statewide competition last week.
Feanna was selected out of 144,000 Club Members across 159 Clubs in 58 Wisconsin cities and shows what it means to achieve success in the face of life’s challenges. Feanna is a senior at D.C. Everest Senior High and is attending UW-Madison in the fall.
“To me, winning Youth of the Year means I will be representing the voices of all young people in Wisconsin,” Feanna said. “I will listen to them and speak for them the best I can. It was an honor to be considered in a fantastic group of candidates who have all worked hard to get where we are today with the support of our local Club.”
Becoming Wisconsin’s Youth of the Year is an exciting journey that starts at the local level. The Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area recognizes stand-out Members each month. From those winners, our Club picks a Youth of the Year through a selection process involving a committee of esteemed community partners. From there, Feanna went onto the statewide competition, where she participated in a number of interviews in front of a panel of judges and presented her speech in front of 300+ people.
“Feanna is an incredible representative of our Club—and now all the Clubs in Wisconsin,” said Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area CEO Matt Jameson. “She has grown exponentially since walking through our Club doors for the first time seven years ago and we are very proud of her. She shined on the statewide stage. It’s extremely gratifying to hear how the Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area has impacted her life in such a positive way.”
Her journey doesn’t end here. Feanna will represent Wisconsin at the Midwest Youth of the Year competition in June. The regional winners advance to the National Youth of the Year Gala and Celebration in Washington D.C.
Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club Members. The National Youth of the Year serves as an ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, as well as a voice for the nearly four million youth served by Clubs nationwide each year.
Through the Youth of the Year program, young people showcase their talents and achievements, share their hopes and dreams, and work toward a bright and positive future.
