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This fall, the Starke County Youth Club began their search for the first annual SCYC Youth of the Year. Youth of the Year is an effort to foster a generation of leaders who are ready to thrive personally and in their community. This project pairs students with local mentors to coach them and help them build real world and workplace skills of communication, goal-setting, and teamwork. The Youth of the Year program recognizes youth leadership, character, academic success, and citizenship. The Youth Club member chosen for this honor each year will become the role model, leader, and advocate for the Starke County Youth Club.
Each candidate was asked to meet with a community mentor over the timespan of a month to build a resume, cover letter, and essay/speech to be presented to a selection committee. After careful consideration and much deliberation, the panel chose McKenzie Vanderhoef as the 2024 SCYC Youth of the Year.
McKenzie is an 8th grader at Knox Middle School with dreams of attending business school. She is a long-standing member of SCYC, is part of National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, plays sports, and volunteers her time working at the concession stand during games. McKenzie’s dream is to graduate from business school and come back to Starke County to open a daycare as she values the need for quality childcare in our community.
The Starke County Youth Club would like to especially thank the mentors that worked directly with the candidates and the selection committee.
