Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey Wednesday announced the 2025 New Jersey Youth of the Year finalists, representing 16 clubs across the state. The 16 club teen leaders will compete for the New Jersey State and Military Youth of the Year title on May 13. The event will take place at Montclair State University’s Conference Center Ballroom in Montclair.
Each year, two teens are recognized as the New Jersey State and Military Youth of the Year — the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can achieve – serving as ambassadors for Boys & Girls Club youth and representing the next generation of leaders.
The Boys & Girls Clubs recognize teens’ leadership, dedication to service, academic excellence, and commitment to healthy lifestyles. The honorees hope to make an impact in their communities and establish careers in law, psychiatry, engineering, and data science among other fields.
“Earning the title of New Jersey Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor and achievement,” said Susan Haspel, state director of Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey. “Our New Jersey State and Military Youth of the Year winners will serve as influential voices for Boys & Girls Club youth and inspiring role models for young people everywhere.”
Jacquelyn A. Suárez, commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, will give the keynote address. She is the first Hispanic commissioner to lead the DCA.
Violeta Yas, Emmy Award-winning meteorologist and member of NBC4 New York’s Storm Team 4 weather team, will again serve as master of ceremonies. She was a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garfield. Yas was inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Wall of Fame in 2022.
For more than 75 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year programs have recognized young people for their outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to health and wellbeing.
The program is supported by Kohl’s as the signature sponsor. Kohl’s is partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help local clubs and youth centers provide staff training and curriculum focused on trauma-informed care, fostering practices kids and teens will need to build their futures. Sponsorship support comes from Amazon, Comcast and the BRAM Auto Group.
This June, the winners join other state Youth of the Year winners to vie for the Northeast regional title. If named the regional Youth of the Year, they will be awarded an additional $20,000 college scholarship.
Then in September, the five regional finalists, along with the National Military Youth of the Year, will advance to vie for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year, receiving an additional scholarship of $50,000.
Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey is a statewide alliance of 21 Boys & Girls Club organizations, serving more than 59,000 youth ages 5-18 across the Garden State.
