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Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City- Youth of the Year

Congratulations Cristal!
Congratulations to Cristal Millan for winning the New Jersey State Youth of the Year competition. She received $22,500 in scholarships from Walmart ($20,000), the Wally Barr Scholarship Fund ($1,500) and the Reader's Digest Foundation ($1,000). Cristal went on to compete at the Northeast Regional Youth of the Year competition and made us all proud.  She will be representing club kids throughout New Jersey over the next year at special events, media gatherings and speaking engagements. Way to go Cristal!  Click here to watch NBC 40's story.

The Youth of the Year program, which has been nationally sponsored by the Reader's Digest Foundation since 1947, recognizes a youth's outstanding contributions to family, community, Boys & Girls Club as well as a commitment to academic excellence and overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City award recipient goes on to compete for the National Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year award.

Since the program’s inception in 1947, each National Youth of the Year has met with the President of the United States to formally accept the award and begin a one-year term as the teen spokesperson for all Boys & Girls Club members. The young people who earn recognition as Youth of the Year are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs work. Indeed, there is no stronger testimony that Clubs are truly “The Positive Place for Kids.”


2008 Award Recipient
Cristal Millan

Cristal Millan is a native of Atlantic City. She is a junior at Atlantic City High School who aspires to become an Early Education Teacher. Cristal has been a member of the Boys and Girls Club for six years. She was chosen to be a member of the Boys & Girls Club prestigious Champions of Youth program and earned enough program points to be awarded one of three member reward weekends in New York that included seeing a Broadway play and a gift from Tiffany’s.  Cristal also earned enough points to go with the program to California in 2008!

As the member clerk for the Chelsea unit, Cristal is the smiling face you see everyday when you enter the club. In addition to being employed by the club, she is in training to be an advisor to the Torch and Keystone Clubs. Cristal relaxes by reading, running and shopping.



ACBGC Finalists

Jonathan Cotto

Jonathan Cotto is the youngest of our candidates for the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City’s Youth of the Year national competition. Only a 9th grader, Jonathan exhibits outstanding leadership abilities and character. Born in New York City, he has been a faithful member of the Chelsea unit for three years.

A member of R.O.T.C. and the Boy Scouts of America, Jonathan is also active in the Keystone Club, and a member of the Junior Staff. Planning to become a computer engineer upon graduation from college, Jonathan has already decided the University of Illinois at Chicago is where he wants to go to further his education. He loves sports but his favorite pastime is making people smile.

Saymara Nieves

Saymara is one of the first members of the Chelsea unit of the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City. Before it was a club, she attended Saturday morning art classes in the same building. She’s grown up here, having joined when she was only six years old.

Born and raised in Atlantic City, Saymara has attended Atlantic City schools all her life. When she graduates next year she plans to pursue a career in Criminal Justice at Richard Stockton College. Her interest in law enforcement led to her receiving a scholarship for a summer CSI training program at Stockton.

Saymara has grown from club kid to employee, first as a membership clerk and on to become the arts and crafts instructor. Over the years she has participated in every program she possibly could, both as part of the class, then as instructor. These days though, if you’re looking for Saymara check the ball field first. In the afternoons, you’ll probably find her playing softball for Atlantic City High’s Girls Softball Team.

Kevin Ocasio

Kevin Ocasio has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club for two years. Born in Newark, N J, Kevin moved to Atlantic City at age 15. He is a junior at Atlantic City High School. Among the many things Kevin is involved in are R.O.T.C. and the Boys Scouts of America where he is a Junior Scout Master and a 2nd class Boy Scout.

Kevin enjoys sports and mentoring the younger children at the club. One of his favorite activities is teaching Kids in Control, a safety program for 6 to 9 year olds. Kevin often cooks and brings treats to the club with him. After serving in the NAVY, he would like to become a Culinary Arts teacher.

 

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