The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wichita Falls is proud to announce March Youths of the Month. Totyonna Barrow, of the Northwest Branch, is the Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Tirsa Zuniga, of the Central Branch, is the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Fernando Villagomez, of the Northeast Branch, is the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls-Youth of the Month.
Service clubs sponsor three age divisions. Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls sponsors ages 6-8. Optimist of Wichita Falls sponsors ages 9-11. Rotary Club of Wichita Falls sponsors ages 12-18.
Interviewers Steve Priester, representing the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls, and Rex Parsons, representing the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls, considered the following categories 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:
- Cartel Whitlow, Rosewood Branch
- No submission, Northeast Branch
- Totyonna Barrow, Northwest Branch
- Jonathan”Crew”Bailey, Southwest Branch
- Katie Baggett, Southeast Branch
- Olivia Clark, Central Branch
Nominees for the Optimist Division included:
- Tariea Johnson, Rosewood Branch
- Analisa Gander, Northeast Branch
- Xaine Day, Northwest Branch
- Preslee Tucker, Southwest Branch
- Sarah Grace Gibson, Southeast Branch
- Tirsa Zuniga Central Branch
Nominees for the Rotary Division included:
- Albright Nzeh-Biko, Rosewood Branch
- Fernando Villagomez, Northeast Branch
- Nadir Senghor, Northwest Branch
- Tearyn Holliman, Southwest Branch
- Nigyl Read, Southeast Branch
- David Brower, Central Branch
Generous sponsors include: Chicken Express and Times/Record News
Totyonna Barrrow is the 7-year-old daughter of Muhona Smith. She attends the Northwest Branch Club where Mr. Jerry Taylor is Director.
Totyonna has three sisters and two brothers. She attends Kate Burgess Elementary where she is a 2nd grader making straight A’s. Her favorite subject is math. She also sings in the choir.
Totyonna is very happy and active when at the Boys & Girls Club. She participates in all areas of the Club, but especially enjoys the Fine Arts and Photography programs. She is a Peer Leader taking part in Power Hour, Computer Tech, and Reading programs. Totyonna is also a participant in Triple Play Healthy Habits and Challenges in the gym.
Totyonna‘s behavior while at the Club is exemplary and she is always a welcome sight for staff and members alike. She attends the Club on a regular basis. While at the Club she enjoys helping out and serving as “peace maker” using the principle of showing kindness to others as you want them to toward you.
Director Jerry Taylor said, “Totyonna is a leader continuing to make a difference for her Club and community.”
Tirsa Zuniga is the 10-year-old daughter of Henry and Tirsa Urbina. She has two sisters ages 6 and 9. Her home club is the Central Branch where Mr. Charles is Assistant Director. Tirsa helps her mom by keeping the house and her room clean in addition to helping mom with meals and washing dishes.
As a 5th grader at Zundy Jr. High, Tirsa maintains a 3.5 GPA. Her favorite class is Social Science. She says, “Education is important because it helps me to be a better person.” Tirsa hopes to eventually attend Law School in New York to become a Lawyer.
Tirsa has attended the Boys & Girls Club for two years. During her time as a member she has been very involved in a variety of programs. She is an active participant in the Torch Club and TEXSYN-SMART Moves leadership programs. She is also involved in the Texas AIMS-Sylvan learning program and a new Computer Tech assistance in our Tech Lab.
Tirsa has attended Betel Asembia de Dios Church with her family for the past three years and is involved with the church’s Youth Group. Tirsa is also active in the local soccer and campfire programs.
Assistant Director Mr. Lonon said, “Tirsa is a bright and fun-loving youth who loves to make a different in other people’s lives by her action. Her commitment to her family and friends will give her the strength to be all she can be to this world. She’s such a great asset to the club’s youth, staff, and her community.”
Fernando Villagomez is the 15-year-old son of Manuel & Maria Villagomez.
He attends the Northeast Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Mr. Kim Ball is Director. Mr. Ball says Fernando has been coming to the Club for years and “has an easy-going attitude which other members and staff admire about him”. The Club is like a second home to Fernando. He is involved in all areas of the Club from Computer Tech, Arts and Crafts, Passport to Manhood, and Triple Play Challenges. He attended dove hunting with the Field & Stream Association where he went through a hunter’s safety course and attained his hunting license.
At home, Fernando is a big help to his parents by cleaning his room, helping in the kitchen, and taking out the trash. He has been a member of Cathedral Power House for the past three years. Other organizations like the city’s Parks and Recreation Departments, Campfire, and Teens Make a Difference Day benefit from Fernando’s participation. He has also committed to participating in the TEXSYN Program which utilizes Smart Moves Principles and helps him to develop an intelligent understanding of the many challenges and temptations that face a teen these days.
Fernando is in the 10th grade and has maintained 3.5 + GPA at Hirshi High School. He wants to go to MSU and intends to become a Doctor.
Northeast Boys & Girls Club Director Kim Ball said, “Fernando is a great leader and always impressively cool, calm, and collected.”