Ridgefield, CT – March 17, 2023 A bit of magic was in the air when the Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield (BGCR) members and their families, as well as community leaders, Club supporters, and the Board of Directors, gathered at the Amber Room Colonnade to honor and celebrate the BGCR’s youth and all they have accomplished over the past year. The Youth Leadership Dinner recognized Club members of all ages for their various significant achievements over the past year, including honoring the Club’s Character and Leadership Program members in Gem Club (for 5th grade members), Torch Club (for middle school members), and Keystone Club (for high school members).
The evening started off with the announcement of the 2023 Keystone Award winners - awards given to Club members recognized for their outstanding contributions to their respective Character & Leadership programs over the past year. This year’s winners included: Gem Club Members of the Year Kenzie Polo and Georgia Ross; Torch Club Members of the Year Logan Molony and Ravi Natarajan; Character Award winners Sophia Rodriguez and Claire Zhang; Outstanding Leadership Award winners Kayla Dewing and Sydney Rossi; Volunteer of the Year Award winners Aidan Byrne, Melody Jones and Skyler Schappert; and Outstanding Service Award winners Max Barlow, Dylan Kratz and Devon Noonan.
The highlight of the night began after dinner, when attendees had the opportunity to hear from the 2023 Junior Youth of the Year and Youth of the Year candidates about the impact the Club has had on their lives. For many of the youth speakers, the Youth Leadership Celebration is a culmination of “growing” up at the Club.
The Club also named their third Junior Youth of the Year in BGCR history, Ridgefield High School Sophomore Sophia Murray. A two year Club member, Murray said “The Club has been a guiding force in my life, helping me to build my self confidence and has taught me how to positively impact my community.”
“In her time at the Club, Sophia has quickly emerged as a leader amongst her peers and younger Club members, demonstrating all of the positive character traits . We are excited to watch her grow into her full potential as a leader and know that she has great things ahead of her” said Mike Flynn, Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield’s Chief Executive Officer.
The evening concluded with the announcement of seven year Club member, and John Jay High School Senior, Sydney Rossi being named Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield’s 2023 Youth of the Year. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 76th year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures.
Rossi was selected among 13 outstanding Club youth by a committee of local community leaders who interviewed all of the candidates and worked with the professional staff to select both the Junior Youth of the Year and the Youth of the Year. This year’s Junior Youth of the Year judging panel included Laurence Briody, Executive Vice President, CBRE and BGCR Board Member; Kerry Anne Ducey, Founder, and Editor of HamletHub; and Christopher Leonard, Attorney and BGCR Board Member. The Youth of the Year judging panel consisted of Dr. Susie Da Silva, Superintendent of Schools for Ridgefield; Chief Jeffrey Kreitz, Ridgefield Police Department; First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Town of Ridgefield and BGCR Board Member Kelly Molony.
“Sydney has grown up at the Club, and has truly emerged as a leader amongst her peers. She is mature beyond her years, has overcome adversity while always having a positive attitude, and we couldn’t ask for a better mentor and role model for our younger Club members” stated Mike Flynn. “It’s been a privilege to watch her mature into the incredible young lady she is today. We are extremely proud to call Sydney our 2023 Youth of the Year.”
As the Club’s Youth of the Year, Rossi will receive the Couri Family Scholarship Fund’s $5,000 Youth of the Year scholarship. In May, she will go on to vie for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title and an additional $2,500 scholarship from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
“All 19 of these young people are extraordinary leaders in our Club and around our Community. Their resilience and ability to adapt to change has been nothing short of inspiring and we are beyond proud to call them Boys & Girls Club kids.” exclaimed Jeff Goncalves, Senior Program Director and Keystone Advisor at the Club. “I can confidently say that all of these youth will continue to create positive change as they grow into remarkable human beings!”
Youth of the Year honorees are shining examples and living proof that ‘Great Futures Start at the Boys & Girls Club’. Noteworthy BGCR finalists for the 2023 Youth of the Year are: Max Barlow, Kayla Dewing, Dylan Kratz, Devon Noonan, Sophia Rodriguez, Sydney Rossi, Will Scheffel, Nora Schoenherr, Briony Sekelsky, and Claire Zhang. Noteworthy BGCR finalists for the 2023 Junior Youth of the Year are: Eliza Fitzgerald, Melody Jones, Zoe Munoz-Rojas, Sophia Murray, Alex Salley, and Milo Staples.