FRESNO – The Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County have now announced the winners of the 2025 Youth of the Year competition.
The winners were announced on Jan. 23. First place in the countywide competition went to Julian from the Pinedale chapter. Second was awarded to Bianca from the Huron chapter while the third place winner was Onyx from the Clovis Chapter.
“The Youth of the Year title is the most prestigious honor bestowed upon a Boys & Girls Club member,” a statement announcing the winners reads. “This individual exemplifies the Boys & Girls Club mission and is proof of the impact Clubs make in transforming and changing youth’s lives.”
As the first place winner, Julian will be awarded with a $3,000 scholarship offered through the Me-n-Eds Founders Scholarship Foundation.
“I would have been grateful for even third place but this… this is amazing,” Julian said via statement. “I just can’t believe it. I want to thank my mom and Ms. Stevie, the Pinedale Unit Director, for always believing in me and my future.”
As previously reported by The Sun-Gazette, the competition involves a process of public speaking, submitting essays and other factors. The process of qualifying for the competition begins in October. Winners of the county competition have the option to move on to the state competition, and then the three winners of that competition can move on to regionals.
The three winners of regionals then go to the national competition, and the winner of the national competition earns a full-ride scholarship and other perks.
The mission statement for the Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County states that the goal of the non-profit organization is to help create productive, caring and responsible citizens.
“We see the Youth of the Year winners as Fresno’s future leaders,” president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County Diane Carbray said in the statement. “Many of the finalists have gone on to impact their communities in a better way. I’d like to thank the Me-n-Ed’s Family who have been a part of this event since the start and have supported the Boys & Girls Clubs for over 21 years.”
