Youth of the Year is BGCN’s premier youth recognition program, celebrating service to Club, community and family as well as accomplishments in academic performance, moral character, life goals and public speaking. Each of our Club Units selects one member between the ages of 14-18 who demonstrates these characteristics. A Youth of the Year is then chosen for all of Newark and is awarded an academic scholarship. BGCN’s Youth of the Year competes in the Boys & Girls Clubs of New Jersey’s state competition and has the potential to move on to regional and national competitions. The National Youth of the Year is installed by the President of the United States in the Oval Office of the White House.
Johnathan Colon
2011 BGCN Youth of the Year
For twelve years, Jonathan Colon has been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark, first at the Broadway Unit and currently at the Central Ward Clubhouse.
Jonathan has participated in a host of programs at the Club that have helped him grow into the respectable and responsible individual that he is today. Programs he attended included Torch Club, basketball teams, Keystone Club, Teen Leadership Academy and Teen Council. He was also involved in SMART Moves, Career Launch, Money Matters, Passport to Manhood and many more.
As a member of the Keystone Club, Jonathan served as Vice President. He attended the first ever Regional Keystone Summit hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark. He also attended the National Keystone Conference in Atlanta in 2009. At the club Jonathan has helped to plan the Annual Haunted House Halloween Party as well as the Thanksgiving Dinner and the yearly Christmas Party. In addition to the activities a the Club, Jonathan has participated in many community service projects, including the Aids Walk in New York City, the March of Dimes Walk (his sister was born prematurely), and the Branch Brook Park National Volunteer Day where he helped in the planting and trimming of Cherry Blossoms.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark has been a home away from home for Jonathan. He comes from a Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark family. Jonathan's mother Mary and her many brothers and sisters grew up in the BGCN's Broadway Unit long before he was born. His father was a member as well.
Jonathan feels that the club has opened many doors of opportunity for him. He said that the club has given him a promise for his future. Jonathan also said that without the club, he honestly cannot say where he would be, but he feels that with his involvement with his club he is where he is suppose to be and wants to be in life. If you were to ask Jonathan if education is important he would respond by saying "without a college degree, its hard to find a well paying job." Plus he feels that in order to pursue his career choice in Industrial Design a college degree is required.
Jonathan feels that if he didn't further his education he would be letting a lot of people down and that he would not be following all of the positive teachings that he learned from his Boys & Girls Club family.
He is planning on attending Essex County College for two years and then going on to Montclair State University.
Regional Youth of the Year Winners:
- Shavar Jeffries, 1992
- Felix A. Rouse, 1990
State Youth of the Year Winners:
- Dachel Martinez, 2009
- Jarrett Cato, 2003
- Ameer Washington, 2000
- Vaughn Crowe, 1998
- Sharice Williams, 1999
- Daniel Aldea, 1993
- Shavar Jeffries,1992
- Felix A. Rouse, 1990
BGCN Youth of the Year Winners:
- Johnathan Colon, 2011
- Martin Salley, 2010
- Dachel Martinez, 2009
- Aasa Harris, 2008
- Danyee’ Griffin, 2007
- Kalia Murray, 2006
- Musu Walker, 2005
- William Francis, 2004
- Jarrett Cato, 2003
- Julio Rivera, 2002
- Eric Marshall, 2001
- Ameer Washington, 2000
- Sharice Williams, 1999
- Vaughn Crowe, 1998
- Al-Malik Williams, 1997
- Gail Allen, 1996
- Raquel Conyers, 1995
- Kevin McClease, 1994
- Daniel Aldea, 1993
- Shavar Jeffries, 1992
- Danah Foster, 1991
- Felix A. Rouse, 1990
- Dequaindra Fradkin, 1989