A teenager from Ballard has been awarded Youth of the Year by the King County Boys & Girls Club.
The annual award goes to teens from around the region for leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. This year, the Youth of the Year award went to Piper S., a Ballard High School student and six-year Boys & Girls Club member. Adam W. of Sammamish was awarded the Quincy Robertson Service & Leadership Award.
Piper maintains a 4.0 GPA, and in her spare time, volunteers at the Ballard Boys & Girls Club. She’s also the President of Keystone Teen Leadership program, and is a writer and Features Editor for the Ballard Talisman. She hopes to attend the University of British Columbia, majoring in Forensic Science and becoming a lab analyst.
“I was not expecting to win this award – but very cool – great self confidence booster,” Piper said in a statement. “Being a part of this process has been amazing – phenomenal – for me. It has been incredible to meet the other candidates and realizing these are the people who will lead the next generation and create change in the world.”
In addition to the title, Piper receives a $2,000 scholarship plus donated items from club partners. She will go on to participate in the Washington State Youth of the Year competition on March 28.
Katie Hanover, Teen Director of the Ballard Boys & Girls Club said she’s proud of Piper’s achievements: “She represents everything Boys & Girls Clubs aims to help our youth achieve: she is motivated, kind, responsible, and never takes herself too seriously. I’m so happy she’ll have a chance to be recognized as a role model for young people everywhere.”
Photo courtesy Ballard Boys & Girls Club
Binary genders are oppressive.
“Boys and Girls” Club? Really? it’s 2019!