The New Jersey State Youth of the Year is the premier youth leadership program which honors and recognizes the extraordinary achievements of Club teens. Youth of the Year finalists embody the values of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle; they exemplify the critical and life-saving impact Boys & Girls Clubs make in transforming and saving kids’ lives.

Each year, local Boys & Girls Clubs select an exceptional young person, ranging in age from 14 – 18, to represent his/her Club in an exciting and inspiring journey. With hard work, dedication and support from Club staff, nominees progress towards their goal of being selected as the New Jersey State Youth of the Year or Military Youth of the Year. Throughout the process, candidates work with mentors and attend trainings to improve and develop public speaking, interviewing skills, and writing skills to prepare them for the state competition and beyond. The New Jersey Youth of the Year program celebrates the most outstanding Boys & Girls Club teen leaders from across the state, and selects two outstanding individuals to represent New Jersey in the regional and national competitions. These amazing young people will serve as ambassadors for Boys & Girls Club youth, as well as a voice for all young people.

Youth of the Year finalists participate in a formal interview in front of a distinguished panel of judges. Each youth is evaluated on their public speaking, essays, interview, and overall application quality. Based on these criteria, the judges select the New Jersey State and Military Youth of the Year to be announced at the New Jersey Youth of the Year Reception and Award Ceremony on May 13, 2025 at Montclair State University. With support from Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the State Youth of the Year winner receives a $12,500 scholarship and the State Military Youth of the Year receives a $6,000 scholarship. The top three runners-up each receive $3,500 scholarships and succeeding finalists each receive a $2,000 scholarship from the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey.

The Youth of the Year program honors America’s most inspiring young people on their path to a great future and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. Toyota and Kohl’s are the Signature Sponsors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year program sharing a dedication to America’s youth.

The journey to being named National Youth of the Year begins locally and progresses to state, regional and national competitions, with an additional military phase. In June, the New Jersey State Youth of the Year will vie for the title of Northeast Regional Youth of the Year, alongside eleven other State Youth of the Year winners. The Northeast Regional winner will receive an additional $5,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $20,000 from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In September, six teens, including five regional winners and a national military youth winner, will advance to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $12,500, renewable each year up to $50,000.

The Youth of the Year Program is a truly memorable and rewarding experience. Youth of the Year honorees are shining examples and living proof that GREAT FUTURES START HERE – at Boys & Girls Clubs.