BGC recognizes Outstanding Youths of Portage County

Metro Wire Staff

Exceptional youngsters from the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County were honored on the evening of Thursday, April 8, during a special “drive-thru” Youth of the Year Banquet at the Noel Group Hangar.

Each month, the Boys & Girls Club honors a single child at each of their locations, chosen for their “exemplary leadership at the club,” according to a news release from the BGC. They are then considered for Youth of the Month.

Each Youth of the Month was celebrated at the April 8 event, and the Youth of the Year, Ty Portzen, was honored with a $2,000 scholarship to help support his post-secondary education.

The Boys & Girls Club Junior Youth of the Year, identified only as Megan, was also celebrated as being “a humble, caring person that [sic] appreciates the Boys & Girls Club’s resources.”

“We are so thankful that we are still able to celebrate these wonderful children this year, under different circumstances,” said Kevin Quevillon, executive director. “It has been wonderful to see these children beaming with pride as they received their trophies. We could not be more proud of our Youths of the Month.”

The club also honored Community Award winners, including Business of the Year, Len Dudas Motors; Champions for Youth, Bob & Mary Berard; Volunteers of the Year, Emily Katz & Brian Will; and Community Partner, The Beloved Community Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Nearly 50 vehicles packed with family members drove through the hangar last week.

Rockman’s Catering provided grab ‘n’ go dinners for each family and each Youth of the Month received a party pack with noisemakers, bubbles, a family game, streamers, and more.

The event was sponsored by CoVantage Credit Union, Rockman’s Catering, TDS Fiber, Old National Bank, and Buffalo Wild Wings helped make the Youth of the Year event possible and memorable for the Club members.