The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wichita Falls is proud to announce February Youths’ of the Month. Alyssa Biffle, of the Southwest Branch, is the Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Olivia Eich, of the Southwest Branch, is the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Jasmin Vazquez, of the Southwest 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 Bob Hampton, representing the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls, and Paul Hopkins, 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:
- Lejordan Byers, Rosewood Branch
- Kamiah Robinson, Northeast Branch
- Ashton Payton, Northwest Branch
- Jaydah Smith, Southeast Branch
- Alyssa Biffle, Southwest Branch
- Joseya Perez, Central Branch
Nominees for the Optimist Division included:
- Tre’Auna Wherry, Rosewood Branch
- Jamiya Robinson, Northeast Branch
- Adrianna Garcia, Northwest Branch
- Madelyn Land, Southeast Branch
- Olivia Eich, Southwest Branch
- Shannon Williams, Central Branch
Nominees for the Rotary Division included:
- Cameron Whitehead, Rosewood Branch
- Melquayvous Walker, Northeast Branch
- Johnniah Williams/White, Northwest Branch
- Jesse Land, Southeast Branch
- Jasmin Vazquez, Southwest Branch
- De’Mitrius Williams, Central Branch
Generous sponsors include: Taco Casa and Times/Record News
Alyssa Biffle is the 7 year old daughter of Wanda Williams and her stepdad Paul Russell. She attends the Southwest Branch where Ms. Tori Smith is Club Director.
Alyssa has four sisters and seven brothers. She is very helpful around the house where she helps keep her room and the house clean and enjoys helping her mom with sweeping, vacuuming, and laundry. She also helps keep up with her younger brothers and the family pet.
Alyssa is maintaining all A’s on her report card as a 2nd grade student at Fowler Elementary. Her favorite class is math and she says school is important, “so you can get your good grades!”
The Southwest Branch Club has been a great place to, “hang out with her friends” for the past two years. Alyssa enjoys participating in Power Hour, Computer Tech, Photography, Fine Arts, and Healthy Habits. In addition, she is in the Sign Language Club and Learning for Life.
Club Staff agree that “Alyssa is a helpful, happy, and outgoing little girl who is always seeking ways to be leader while at the club.”
Olivia Eich is the 10 year old daughter of Matt and Candice Eich. She attends the Southwest Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Ms. Tori Smith is Director and Ms. Cara Herr is Asst. Director.
Olivia has three brothers and two sisters. She helps her mom keep up with two of her younger brothers in addition to other responsibilities at home. She helps with kitchen duties including helping to prepare meals, cleaning up afterwards, washing dishes, and putting things away afterward. The family has pets which Olivia takes care of feeding and watering daily! She also sees that the trash is put out for pick up each day.
Olivia has attended the 1st Baptist Church for five years. She attends with her parent every Sunday. She is a member of the children’s choir and active with the youth group.
As a 5th grader at Jefferson Elementary School, Olivia maintains an A/B average. Science is her favorite subject and she is a member of the Cool Math Dudes Club. She is also in the gifted and talented program called L.E.A.D., sings in the Choir, and serves as a representative for the Student Council. She hopes to become attend college and become a Veterinarian so she can help animals.
Olivia has been a dependable Boys & Girls Club member for the past five years and is active in a variety of programs and activities. One of her favorite past times is participating in the Torch Club Program where she has a chance to develop her leadership skills and serve her fellow members through the Jr. Staff Program. She enjoys Smart Girls, Reading, and swimming at the Central Branch. Olivia is a cheerleader, in the Sign Language Club, Learning for Life, and Olivia has won several Camp Awards at the Boys & Girls Club Camp at Lake Kickapoo.
Assistant Director Cara Herr said, “Olivia is always seeking new ways to get involved!”
Jasmin Vazquez is the 15 year old daughter of Rafael and Elena Vazquez. She attends the Southwest Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Ms. Tori Smith is Director.
Jasmin has one brother who is 22 years old. She enjoys helping around the house and cooking in the kitchen. She is a one year member of Fountain of Living Water Church which she attends with her parents. She is a very morally upright young lady and chooses to do the right thing based on her spiritual beliefs. As community minded teenager, Jasmin has been very active in a number of events to include 5K Zombie Crawl, Campfire, YMCA, and Straight Street activities. She also has been involved with The Race for the Cure and Teens Make a Difference Day events.
Jasmin is a 9th grade student at Hirschi High School and is maintaining a 3.5 + GPA. She is a member of ROTC, Spanish, Creative Writing Clubs, and is a member of Hirschi’s IB Program. She is interested in attending college at Texas Tech University and plans on becoming a bilingual English teacher.
Jasmin is going on nine years as a Club kid and has been involved in a variety of Club programs and activities including Sign Language Club, Learning for Life, Torch Club, Keystone Clubs, and mentoring.
Club Director Tori Smith said, “Jasmin is a great leader! She sets the example and loves to help others.”