The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wichita Falls is proud to announce July Youths of the Month. Tristan Edmond, of the Southeast Branch, is the Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Gage Cullum, of the Southeast Branch, is the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Kynyara Lewis, of the Southeast Branch, is the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month.
Service clubs sponsor three age divisions. Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls sponsors 6-8 year olds. Optimist of Wichita Falls sponsors 9-11 year olds. Rotary Club of Wichita Falls sponsors 12-18 year olds.
Interviewers were Kathie Forehand/Chaddick, representing the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls and John Luig, representing the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls considered the following attributes while selecting the City Wide Youths of the Month:
- Home & Family Involvement
- Community Contributions
- Academic Achievements
- Boys & Girls Club participation
- Spiritual Values
Nominees for the Kiwanis Division included:
- Kamin Hamilton, Rosewood Branch
- Isaiah Vaughn, Northeast Branch
- Kloe Delvalle, Northwest Branch
- Tristan Edmond, Southeast Branch
- Kylie Smith, Southwest Branch
- Evren Herrera, Central Branch
Nominees for the Optimist Division included:
- Leonardo Robinson, Rosewood Branch
- Shaun Burns, Northeast Branch
- Casaya Wise, Northwest Branch
- Gage Cullum, Southeast Branch
- Katherine Saavedra, Southwest Branch
- Litzzy Espinoza, Central Branch
Nominees for the Rotary Division included:
- Jamie Robinson, Rosewood Branch
- Tarion Cook, Northeast Branch
- Desiree Tovar, Northwest Branch
- Kynyara Lewis, Southeast Branch
- Stacee Shepherd, Southwest Branch
- Victor Gonzalez, Central Branch
Generous sponsors include: Taco Casa and Times/Record News
Tristan Edmond is the 7-year-old son of Airyana Mendiola. He attends the Southeast Branch where Ms. Charlene Vomastek is Club Director.
Tristan has a two brothers and one sister all of which are younger. Tristan helps his mom by keeping up with his brothers and sisters as well as helping out with the housework. He also helps in the kitchen with meal preparations and cleaning up afterward. Additional duties include taking out the trash and keeping the yard picked up.
Tristan attends Southern Hills Elementary and is in the 1st grade. He has all A’s on his report card. He enjoys his spelling class most and says, “School is important because it helps you be able to read and helps you make better friends.”
As a Boys & Girls Club kid, Tristan is continuing a long standing tradition as his mom, stepdad, uncles, and granddad were all members of the Club. Tristan gets involved in activities and programs all over the Club. Some these include Arts and Crafts, Power Hour Homework Help, Computer Tech, and Reading Programs. In the gym he participated in Triple Play Challenges and Healthy Habits, and swimming at Central. Tristan’s football team won the Toy Bowl and he was nominated for MVP of the Toy Bowl!
Tristan attends the Cowboy Church with his folks. He also attends Sunday school.
Director Charlene Vomastek said, “Tristan is his mom’s right hand man and is kind, caring, and positive.”
Gage Cullum is the 12-year-old son of Sean & Chelsy Cullum. Representing the staff at Gage’s home club of Southeast is Mrs. Cheryl Horner, Director of Education.
Gage has one 10-year-old brother. He does a great job of helping with the house chores and can sometimes be found helping with meals and cleaning up afterward. He also helps with the family pet and takes out the trash. Gage has also been known to go shopping with his great grandmother, pushing her cart and carrying her bags.
Gage is a 7th grade student at Barwise Academy where he is maintaining a 3.5 GPA. He enjoys his Science class and says, “School is important because some people don’t even have schools. We need to value it (education) and not take it for granted.” Gage has served on the Safety Patrol. His interests are in the music field. He aspires to learn how to produce electronic music and hopes to attend the Dub Spot School of Music in New York.
Gauge has been a Boys & Girls Club member for the past four years and has been a very active in a variety of departments and programs. He has enjoys participating in the Photography & Fine Arts Programs, Power Hour, Club Tech, Reading Programs, Peer Leaders, and He’s a junior staff. Swimming, Summer Camp, and Triple Play Challenges in the gym are other fun things he does as a member of the Club. As a Club leader he is always there to help manage special events and daily tournaments.
Director Charlene Vomastek said, “Gage is extremely intelligent and willing to help everyone!”
Kynyara Lewis is the 16-year-old daughter of Johnny and Teeshia Lewis. Representing the staff at Kynyara’s home club of Southeast is Mrs. Charlene Vomastek, Branch Director.
Kynyara has two adult sisters, one 23 and the other 25 years old. Kynyara helps her mom by cleaning around the house and keeping her room clean and picked up. She also helps with meal preparations, cleaning up afterwards, laundry, and taking care of the family pet. She also takes out the trash for pick up and helps with elderly family members.
Kynyara attends Life Tabernacle Church and considers herself to be a very morally upright young woman who chooses to do the right things based on her spiritual beliefs. She is also a civic minded teenager who has been active in a number of organizations including Girls Scouts, Campfire, Southside Youth Center, and been a regular at the annual Teens Make a Difference.
Kynyara goes to Wichita Falls High School where she is an 11th grade student and maintaining a 3.5 + GPA. Her favorite subject is her English Class. She participates as a class representative on the student council, is a member of the Human Practicum Club, debate club, and drama clubs. She is also active in volleyball, softball, and basketball teams. Kynyara believes “education insures a higher quality of life and is key to every child’s success”. She hopes to become a military nurse.
Kynyara Lewis is proud to be a Club Kid and has been involved in a variety of Club Programs over her 11 years of membership to include Torch and Keystone Club, Club Tech, Power Hour, and Reading Programs. She has also been a participant in Triple Play Challenges, Healthy Habits, swimming, and won several awards in the Fine Arts and Photography Exhibits! Kynyara has attended Graham Ball Summer Camp at Lake Kickapoo and enjoying a vast variety of outdoor programs while learning.
Club Director Charlene Vomastek said, “Kynyara’s maturity and leadership have been helpful in all areas of the Club over a span of 11 years!”