Boys and Girls Club of Evansville Honors 2025 Youth of the Year

Celebrating Outstanding Club Members

It was a room full of pride, applause, and some pretty inspiring young people at the recent Boys & Girls Club of Evansville luncheon. More than 30 outstanding Club members were recognized for the positive impact they’re making – not just inside the Club, but at home, at school, and in our community.

What Youth Of The Year Represents

One of the biggest moments of the afternoon was the announcement of the 2025 Youth of the Year – the highest honor a Club member can receive. The Youth of the Year program, created in 1947 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, celebrates young people who demonstrate leadership, academic success, service, and strong character. It’s not just a local award, either. Winners move on to compete at the state, regional, and even national levels.

Evansville Teen Earns the Club's Top Honor

And this year, 16-year-old Samantha Blackwell earned the title of Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville!

Samantha was recognized for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to both the Club and our community. She’ll now represent Evansville at the Indiana state competition in April in Indianapolis. From there, winners advance to regional competition, and ultimately, one young person will be named National Youth of the Year – serving as a spokesperson for Clubs across the country for an entire year.

Executive Director Andrew Backes says the program is about more than just an award. It’s about helping young people make healthy choices, chase big dreams, and grow into the next generation of leaders through dedication and community engagement.

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The mission behind it all is to help all youth – especially those who need it most – reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.