DAR Boys & Girls Club names Koesling as Youth of the Year

MENOMINEE, MICH. – The Marinette/Menominee DAR Boys & Girls Club has selected Olivia Koesling as the club’s 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 live a healthy lifestyle.

Now in its 77th year, the Youth of the Year program honors the nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures.

Koesling is a freshman at Saint Thomas Aquinas who stays busy both in school and in her community. She is an active volunteer at her school, in the club and with several local charities. Koesling loves sports and competes in volleyball, softball and basketball.

She has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club for eight years and enjoys giving back by volunteering at club events, coaching Little Hitters and spending time with her friends there.

“We are incredibly proud of Olivia 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 and accomplishment. [As] Youth of the Year, Koesling will serve as a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Club kids and teens across the state who need more role models that they can admire and emulate.”

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 and Mondelēz-International.

As the signature sponsor of Youth of the Year, Toyota is committed to partnering with the 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.

As the lead sponsor of Youth of the Year, Mondelēz International will engage with local clubs year-round to help foster a new generation of leaders prepared to live in and lead a diverse global economy.

Youth of the Year representatives are the workforce leaders, innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.

Koesling will go on to vie for the Michigan Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs. If named the regional Youth of the Year, she will be awarded an additional $20,000 college scholarship.

The five finalists, along with the National Military Youth of the Year, will advance to the National Youth of the Year event in October to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional scholarship of $50,000 and a brand-new Toyota Corolla.

For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org.

For more information on the DAR Boys & Girls Club, please call (906) 863-9512.