The community of Benton Harbor actually gained two State Championships on Saturday night, and while one of them is tied to a single young man, both major victories were a true team effort.
While the whole basketball world is abuzz with the Benton Harbor Tigers’ amazing closing seconds championship win for the State Title in Class B on Saturday night at Michigan State University, there is tremendous excitement for everybody involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor as well, as they are all beaming with pride over Quincy Sulton, the new Michigan Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Sulton, who was already his local clubs’ Youth of the Year, emerged from a field of 15 outstanding youth from all over Michigan on Saturday night to win the state title of Youth of the Year, the most prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary Boys & Girls Club member in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle.
Clearly, the local Benton Harbor clubs are doing a remarkable job of preparing teens like Qunicy inasmuch as he is the third Youth of the Year from Benton Harbor to be recognized with the state title since 2012.
Now in its 71st year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to Great Futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. As the Michigan Youth of the Year, Quincy will serve as an ambassador for Clubs all across the state. He also received a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and an additional $3,000 scholarship from the Michigan Boys & Girls Club Area Council, and will go on to vie for the Midwest Regional Youth of the Year this summer. The regional Youth of the Year progresses to a national celebration to select the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year.
Sulton is a 17-year-old junior at Benton Harbor High School. He is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor’s Joel E. Smilow Teen Center and is employed by the Club as a junior instructor for the dance/drama program at the Fettig Youth Campus where he encourages the youngest members of the Club to dream and set goals. He says, “The Club laid the foundation that taught me compassion for others.” Quincy adds, “Through all of my challenges, the Boys & Girls Club helped me change my world. The staff taught and empowered me. They gave me the place to be myself.”
Sulton’s passions play into his vision for America’s youth, as he plans to increase mentorship programs and create a deeper appreciation for the performing arts. His goal is to attend Michigan State University after high school graduation to study youth development with the intent of leading a Boys & Girls Club in the future.
Brian Saxton is CEO of the Benton Harbor Club. He tells us, “Quincy, as are all the local and state Youths of the Year, is proof that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor is inspiring and enabling young people to prepare for their Great Futures.” Saxton points out that, “Youth of the Year is a life-changing honor for Quincy. As the Benton Harbor and Michigan Youth of the Year, Quincy serves as a spokesperson for young people locally and across Michigan, telling his inspiring story about how the Clubs impacted him and encouraging young people to accept challenges and become leaders who change their communities for the better.”
United Federal Credit Union, local Youth of the Year program sponsor for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor, has served its Members since 1949 by helping them to build a sound financial future and is committed to strengthening the communities it serves. Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by Disney, who has supported the youth advocacy organization for more than 50 years, empowering young people to reach their full potential and providing youth with access to the tools they need to build the great futures they imagine. Toyota, the Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of engineers, thinkers and leaders who drive the American economy.
Quincy will join thirteen state Youth of the Year winners later this summer for the Boys & Girls Club of America Midwest Regional celebration in Chicago. If named the regional winner, he will be awarded an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Six youth, including five regional winners and a military youth winner, will advance to Washington, D.C. in September 2018, 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 $25,000, renewable for four years up to $100,000 and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, you can visit www.youthoftheyear.org.
Located at 600 Nate Wells Senior Drive, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor has served the youth of Benton Harbor since 1998. The Club provides after school and summer programs promoting educational and career development, character and leadership development, and healthy lifestyles for nearly 1,800 youth and teens at the Fettig Youth Campus and Joel E. Smilow Teen Center. Learn more at www.bgcbh.org.
