Youth of the Year is our flagship leadership development program. Implemented year-round across our service centers, it recognizes the academic achievement, leadership, character, and commitment to community service demonstrated by our members.
Each year, outstanding young people from our Clubs participate in the selection process for Youth of the Year for the organization, representing their service centers in youth forums and leadership spaces.
Before reaching that stage—and prior to evaluation by a judging panel—candidates participate in a series of workshops that prepare them in areas such as storytelling, interview skills, emotional management, stage presence, and the writing of a three-minute speech. Through this speech, each participant shares part of their personal story and how their experience at our Clubs has transformed their life.
The winner is announced during an annual event that brings together partners from multiple sectors, including government, private companies, and philanthropic foundations.
Inspired by the theme “Walk in Their Shoes,” the event invites attendees to see the world from the perspective of our youth, better understand their realities, and recognize the value of supporting them on their path toward a promising future.
Participants in the Youth of the Year program reflect our mission of helping children and youth reach their full potential. Their stories represent the experiences and challenges faced by more than 19,000 children and teens who participate in our programs each year.
Being selected as Youth of the Year represents a unique opportunity to serve as an ambassador for Puerto Rican youth in forums across Puerto Rico and the United States, to speak about the challenges facing young people, and to demonstrate what youth can achieve when they have access to opportunities to grow, lead, and build a future with greater possibilities.
Each Youth of the Year represents far more than an individual recognition: they represent the strength of a new generation of leaders that is both strong and hopeful—young people who, when given support, opportunities, and adults who believe in them, transform their present and help open the path toward a future with greater possibilities for all.
Meet our Youth of the Year
Dimari Peña
Boys & Girls Club of Las Margaritas
Dimari grew into her voice at the Club, finding mentors who saw her potential and helped her build confidence. On our courts, she discovered her passion for volleyball, where she now leads with discipline, heart, and the steady presence of a true team captain. Her desire to support others also guides her academic goals: studying mental health and interior design to create spaces where people feel valued and at peace. Her journey reminds us that with consistent support, dreams become direction.
Carlos G. Sánchez
Boys & Girls Club of San Lorenzo
At the San Lorenzo Club, Carlos strengthened his ability to guide others with purpose. Through Keystone program, he learned that leadership grows from empathy and consistency. His experiences shaped a clear ambition: to study aerospace engineering and pursue a future fueled by innovation. Carlos’s story highlights that success is built not only by achieving personal goals, but by helping others move forward, too.
Yenzielys A. Estrada
Boys & Girls Club of Bayamón
Yenzielys’s story is one of resilience and transformation. She joined the Club facing academic hurdles and emotional challenges, and found a space that met her with patience, care, and structure. Project Makers program awakened her creativity; Job Ready helped her build essential workplace skills; and Keystone and Juntos Sanamos strengthened her desire to support her peers. Her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist reflects her commitment to giving others the same guidance that shaped her path.
Reaisymar Cruz
Boys & Girls Club of Aguas Buenas
Reaisymar’s experience at the Club allowed her to rebuild her confidence and find direction. Through Keystone program, she discovered the joy of serving others, and through dance, she found a powerful medium to express her emotions. Her goal is to pursue emergency medical services and serve with courage, empathy, and heart. Her journey shows that growth happens step by step, with perseverance and the right support.
Zeneyshka Pérez
Boys & Girls Club of Loíza
A natural creator, Zeneyshka found guidance at the Club that helped channel her ideas into meaningful artistic work. Under the mentorship of Sylnic Cruz, she developed her visual storytelling and design skills. Her talent led her to projects like “Reporterxs Ciudadanos: Historias Orales de Loíza,” presented at the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art. She aspires to study liberal arts at Bard College in New York, carrying the culture and identity of Loíza into every creation. Her story shows how creativity becomes purpose when youth have support and opportunity.
Tayna Rolón
Boys & Girls Club of Arecibo
Tayna’s path reflects strength and perseverance. During the pandemic, she faced an academic and emotional setback, but with tutoring, technology access, and steady guidance from the Club, she regained her confidence and momentum. Today, she is an active leader in the Club’s Keystone program, a team captain in soccer, and a strong voice advocating for emotional well-being. She has already begun her university journey by taking early college credits in the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo and dreams of becoming a psychologist.
Jonathan Rosario
Boys & Girls Club of Luis Llorens Torres (San Juan)
Jonathan transformed difficult experiences into resilience and creative expression. Through Acceso 5 program, he reached important academic milestones; in Juntos Sanamos, he learned to understand and communicate his emotions; and in the arts program, he discovered his identity as an artist. His involvement as one of the authors of the book “De aquí somos: los del case” created through a Club initiative, reflects his pride in representing his community. Jonathan dreams of studying culinary arts and continuing projects like his business brand, where he blends visual art, urban culture, and skateboarding.
Lakeysha Burgos
Boys & Girls Club of Mayagüez
Art has always been Lakeysha’s voice. Through the Club’s programs, she strengthened her craft, discipline, and sense of purpose. Currently, she is studying information technology, and committed to building a future in the visual arts and contributing to her community through meaningful creative projects. Her dedication, leadership, and sensitivity in Keystone program show the power of young people who transform their talent into impact.
Kritzia Pérez
Boys & Girls Club de Isabela
At the Club of Isabela, Kritzia found an environment that drove its integral development. Programs like Acceso 5, Job Ready, Money Matters, Healthy Habits and Project Makers expanded their academic, social and emotional opportunities. Instead, the Keystone program became the space where its leadership flourished, organizing initiatives and supporting its peers with sensitivity. Her professional north is between law and psychology, professions from which she wants to defend and accompany those who face challenges similar to those she overcame.