The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wichita Falls is proud to announce November Youths of the Month. Nia Jefferson, of the Southwest Branch, is the Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Adriana Ortiz, of the Central Branch, is the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Emma Pond, 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 Hannah Fryer, representing the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls, and Cosme Ojeda, 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:<
- Jaelia Horton, Rosewood Branch
- Donyae Bryant, Northeast Branch
- Jermaine Smith, Northwest Branch
- Madellyne Jackson, Southeast Branch
- Nia Jefferson, Southwest Branch
- Miranda Williams, Central Branch
Nominees for the Optimist Division included:
- Carrion Escort, Rosewood Branch
- Jharon Harris, Northeast Branch
- Teah Martin, Northwest Branch
- Austin Bracken, Southeast Branch
- Madison Jones, Southwest Branch
- Adriana Ortiz, Central Branch
Nominees for the Rotary Division included:
- Destiny Dotson, Rosewood Branch
- Chloe Pope, Northwest Branch
- Emma Pond, Southeast Branch
- Tatum Roman, Southwest Branch
- Sumer Bateman, Central Branch
Generous sponsors include: Olive Garden and Times/Record News
Nia Jefferson is the 6 year old daughter of Jerome and Nichole Jefferson. She attends the Southwest Branch where Ms. Tori Smith is Club Director.
Nia has one sister and one brother. She is good about keeping her room clean and helping with the house work. Additional duties include helping with yard work, taking out the trash, and helping with keeping up with her one year old brother.
Nia attends Jefferson Elementary as a 1st grade student and is proud of her straight A’s report card. She enjoys learning in Math class the most and says, “School is important because I get to see all my friends and learn more math.”
As a Boys & Girls Club kid, Nia participates in a variety of activities and programs. Some these include Power Hour Homework Help, Arts and Crafts, Computer Tech, Triple Play Challenges, and Club Tech & Reading Programs.
Nia is a 5 year member of East Side Faith Center of Wichita Falls. She also attends Sunday school!
Director Tori Smith said, “Nia is very polite and always willing to help any way she can.”
Adriana Ortiz is the 11 year old daughter of Daniel and Hilda Ortiz. She attends the Central Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Mrs. Barbara Green is Director.
Adriana is the oldest child with four sisters and four brothers. She does a great job of helping with the house chores and helps with cooking meals and cleaning up afterward. Adriana also helps with the family pet, supervises her siblings, and takes out the trash.
As a 6th grade student at Zundy Elementary, Adriana maintains a 3.5 GPA. She enjoys her Social Science class and says school is important because she intends to go on to get college education at Texas University. Adriana sings in the Choir, participates in the Tennis, Wrestling, and Volleyball programs. She has also participated as a member of the Safety Patrol and DARE Programs.
Adriana has been a Boys & Girls Club member for the past five years and has been very active in a variety of departments and programs. She has participated in the Photography and Fine Arts Programs and has won awards for artwork entered in the annual Boys & Girls Club Fine Arts Exhibit hosted at the Museum at MSU. She participates in after school Power Hour, Club Tech, Reading Programs, Peer Leaders, and is a Junior Staff. Swimming and Summer Camp, and Triple Play Challenges in the gym are other fun things he does as a member of the Club.
Director Barbara Green said, “Adriana is an energetic youth member who is always participating in Club activities and special events. She is the first to volunteer to assist our staff in any situation.”
Emma Pond is the 13 year old daughter of Tracy and Keith Pond. She attends the Southeast Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Ms. Charlene Vomastek is Director.
Emma has one sister and four brothers. She helps with the house cleaning and keeps her room cleaned as well. She washes dishes, keeps up with her younger sister, and takes the trash out to help.
Emma is a seven year member of Wichita Falls First Baptist Church whose spiritual beliefs are evident in her every day personal interactions. She is involved with the Church’s youth group and volunteers in the nursery. Emma also volunteers in the Truth Trackers Program. She has been involved in YMCA Programs and participated in the American Cancer Society’s Race for the Cure.
Emma is an 8th grade student at Allegiance Christian School where she maintain 3.5 + GPA. Her favorite subject is Science and she enjoys participating in Drama Club. She also participates in Tennis and Volleyball. She believes school is important because it becomes very useful in life as you grow older.
Emma has been involved in the Boys & Girls Club for the past seven years. She is in the Junior Staff, Peer Leaders, and Fine Arts Program. She can be found helping with the Power Hour Program.
Club Director Charlene Vomastek said, “Emma is a wonderful young lady who has been raised to be Christ-like in all of her interactions with others!”