Kayla was selected among 15 outstanding youth and has been named the Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 72nd year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. Kayla Smith will go on to contend for the Arkansas Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Kayla is well deserving of this title and I believe she will do well at the state competition,” said Chief Executive Officer, Nyeshia Aldridge of the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County Kayla, daughter of Germaine and Shaun Smith and the late Reginald Smith is currently a sophomore at Watson Chapel High School holding a 3.5 GPA and has been an active member of the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County for 8 years. Smith participates in the Junior Staff program an easy-to-use program for Club teens ages 13 to 18. This program's purpose is to guide young people in preparing for a career in Boys & Girls Clubs and/or other service professions. Through participation in Junior Staff, teens will develop interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic and a sense of community engagement while experiencing on-the-job Club work. She is also a member of the SMART Girls program which is a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program designed to meet the developmental needs of girls in three age groups. Through dynamic sessions, highly participatory activities, field trips and mentoring opportunities with adult women, Club girls explore their own and societal attitudes and values as they build skills for eating right, staying physically fit, getting good health care and developing positive relationships with peers and adults. Smith enjoys volunteering and playing the trombone in the WCHS Band. After high school, she plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and seek a career in Sports Medicine or Forensic Science. If Kayla Smith wins at the state competition she will compete for the title of Southwest Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C. in September 2019, 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 $25,000, renewable each year up to $100,000. The Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by The Walt Disney Company, who has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than 50 years, empowering young people to reach their full potential and providing youth with access to the tools they need to build the great futures they imagine. Toyota is the Signature Sponsor of the national Youth of the Year program. For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org. The Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County's mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as responsible, caring and productive citizens Today, we have 2 club sites which serve over 300 young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in Pine Bluff, AR and serve 4 school districts and a charter school in Jefferson County. These locations provide a safe place, are overseen by caring adult mentors and provide fun, friendly, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a National Youth Outcomes Initiative (NYOI) Survey, 100% of Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County’s members said that they feel safe in the Club and they plan to graduate from high school. The Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County is seeking support in the form of donations to supplement the cost to send Kayla to the YOY State competition. If interested, please contact us atinfo@boysgirlsclubjc.org or mail payments to PO Box 6027, Pine Bluff, AR 71611. Please like us on facebook @bgc.jefferson.county

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.