Albert Chege set to receive college scholarship and vie for regional title this fall Birmingham, AL, July 22, 2020–Selected among 10 outstanding youth, Albert has been named the2020 Alabama Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 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 live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 73rd year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures. As the Alabama Youth of the Year, Albert will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a$2,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Toyota, National Youth of the Year corporate sponsor, a $10,000 college scholarship from the Beverly Burton Memorial Trust, and will go on to contend for the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national title.
Albert is a recent graduate of Shades Valley JCIB High School where he maintained a 3.8 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society and the school’s German Club. Albert is heavily involved in community service through his local Club. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Albert has spearheaded and coordinated volunteer opportunities for other youth at the Central Alabama Community Food Bank and is a Club Counselor for the John A.Williamson Clubhouse.
Albert has been a member of the John A. Williamson Clubhouse for ten years. He is involved in a myriad of Boys & Girls Club programs including: Power Hour, a homework education initiative; Smart Moves, a small-group health and wellness program; and Passport to Manhood, a character and leadership development program.
Albert will attend the University of Alabama at Huntsville where he plans to study computer engineering and hopes to pursue a career in Cyber Security.
“We are incredibly proud of Albert and all the Youth of the Year nominees,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Being named Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor. As the Alabama Youth of the Year, Albert will serve as a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Club kids across the state who need more role models that they can admire and emulate.”9
Founded in 1947 as Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club. The Youth of the Year program is supported by Toyota. As a Signature Sponsor of Youth of the 10Year, Toyota is committed to partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to ensure local Clubs provide life-enhancing opportunities for kids and teens to explore, develop and apply the essential skills they need to be successful in life and work. Youth of the Year representatives are the workforce leaders, innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.
This Fall, Albert will join other state winners to vie for the Southeast regional title. If named the regional winner, he will be awarded an additional $20,000 college scholarship. Six youth, including five regional winners and a military youth winner, will advance to Washington, D.C. in October 2020, to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $50,000.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama (BGCCA)
BGCCA exists to provide boys and girls ages 6 to 18 with a place to learn, grow, and succeed. The oldest Boys & Girls Club in the Southeast, BGCCA has been serving youth in Birmingham and surrounding communities for 119 years. The Club currently has 8 clubhouses in 4 counties providing a safe, positive environment promoting Education, Character and Leadership Training, and Healthy Lifestyle Habits. Learn more about BGCCA at www.bgcca.org or Facebook.com/BeGreatBGCCA.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,600 Clubs serve over 4.7 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at on Facebook and Twitter.
