The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wichita Falls is proud to announce March Youths of the Month. Josiah Young, of the Southeast Branch, is the Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Allyson Hayes, of the Southwest Branch, is the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Williams Nzeh-Biko, of the Rosewood 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 Ty Graves, representing the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls, and Steve Priester, 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:
- Micaejha Byers, Rosewood Branch
- Justin Wheeler, Northeast Branch
- Cayden McKinney, Northwest Branch
- Josiah Young, Southeast Branch
- Mason Macias, Southwest Branch
- Geeziah Houston-Dorsey, Central Branch
Nominees for the Optimist Division included:
- Antwaun Dove, Rosewood Branch
- Isidro Martinez, Northeast Branch
- Sylvia Dennis, Northwest Branch
- Austin Bracken, Southeast Branch
- Allyson Hayes, Southwest Branch
- Talley Peysen, Central Branch
Nominees for the Rotary Division included:
- Williams Nzeh-Biko, Rosewood Branch
- Lawrence Gibson, Northeast Branch
- Tolu Agunbiade III, Northwest Branch
- Blake Larsen, Southeast Branch
- Kimberly Findlay, Southwest Branch
- Zion Holiman, Central Branch
Generous sponsors include: Raising Canes Chicken Tenders and Times/Record News
Josiah Young is the 7 year old son of Tamie Swinburne. He attends the Southeast Branch where Mrs. Charlene Vomastek is Club Director.
Josiah has one two year old brother. He is very helpful around the house and enjoys helping mom keep track of his little brother who is into everything. Additional duties include taking out the trash, washing the dishes, and keeping his room clean. Josiah also mops, sweeps, and is always ready to carry in the groceries when mom goes shopping.
He attends Sunday worship at Colonial Baptist Church’s Kid City.
Josiah attends Southern Hills Elementary as a 1st grade student where he proudly maintains A’s and B’s on his report card. He enjoys math class more than any other class and says, “School is important because if you don’t learn, you won’t know how to do anything important.”
As a Boys & Girls Club kid for almost a year, Josiah enjoys participating in all area of the club. He is involved in Triple Play Healthy Habits, Reading Programs, game room activities, and tournaments. He also enjoys participating in the Fine Arts Program while at the Club.
Director Charlene Vomastek said, “Josiah is well mannered, polite, and eager to help.”
Allyson Hayes is the 11 year old daughter of Amber Henry and Michael Hayes. She attends the Southwest Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Ms. Tori Smith is Director.
Allyson has a 14 year old sister and a 9 year old brother. She helps mom by keeping the house cleaned, helping with kitchen duties, washing dishes, and putting things away afterward. She also helps get the trash out for pickup and helps with the family pet.
As a 5th grader at Jefferson Elementary, Allyson maintains an above average 4.0 GPA! Math is her favorite subject. She enjoys serving on the student council, is a member of the Art Club, school choir, and plays the violin in the orchestra.
Allyson has been a Boys & Girls Club member for the past two years and is most active in the Learning/Tech Center. She participates in Project Learn, Power Hour, Club Tech, and is a member of the Torch Club. She is also a Jr. Staffer, has been to Camp Graham Bal,l and enjoys the summer swimming program at Central Boys & Girls Club.
Director Tori Smith said, “Allyson is a sweet young lady always willing to take on responsibility!”
Williams Nzeh-Biko is the 15 year old son of Mabel Eneh-waeneh. He attends the Rosewood Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Mrs. Contina McNeely is Director.
Williams is one of five children. He has two brothers and two sisters, all younger than him. He helps clean around the house as well as keeping his own room clean. Williams also helps with meal preparations, cleaning up afterwards, and supervising his younger siblings. He also takes out the trash and has enough technology skills to maintain the family’s home computer.
Williams has attended Life Tabernacle Church with the rest of his family for three years. He is a very morally upright young man and chooses to do the right thing based on his spiritual beliefs. Williams is also a civic-minded teenager who has been active in a number of events including Teens Make a Difference Days and Straight Street activities.
Williams is a 9th grade student at Hirschi High School and is maintaining a 3.5 + GPA. His favorite subject is Science and he participates in Jr. ROTC, Tennis, and runs Cross Country on the Track and Field Team. Williams believes school and education will open doors of opportunity for him. He is interested in achieving a Master’s level in education particularly Aerospace Engineering. Williams was selected by the National Academy of Future Scientist & Technologists and will travel to Boston, Massachusetts to receive this award.
Williams is proud to be a Club Kid and has been involved in a variety of Club Programs to include Club Tech, Power Hour, and reading programs. He is also a participant in Triple Play Challenges, Healthy Habits, and swimming. He has attended Graham Ball Summer Camp at Lake Kickapoo.
Club Director Contina McNeely said, “Williams is one of the smartest kids I know. He comes in every day and helps with Power Hour and works with peewees to improve their computer skills!”