The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wichita Falls is proud to announce November Youths of the Month. Caroline Wynne, of the Southwest Branch, is the Kiwanis Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Christian Brower, of the Central Branch, is the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls Youth of the Month. Stacee Shepherd, 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 Hannah Fryer, representing the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls and Bill Presson, 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:
- Niela Anderson, Rosewood Branch
- Isaiah Vaughn, Northeast Branch
- Logan Reser, Northwest Branch
- Caroline Wynne, Southwest Branch
- Aubriona Bolf, Southeast Branch
- Brianna Mendieta, Central Branch
Nominees for the Optimist Division included:
- Denora Leavell, Rosewood Branch
- Xiaya Canada, Northeast Branch
- Mikinzi Royalty, Northwest Branch
- Christian Gonzales, Southwest Branch
- Matthew Shepherd, Southeast Branch
- Christian Brower Central Branch
Nominees for the Rotary Division included:
- Qualyn Rockmore, Rosewood Branch
- Samuel Walker, Northeast Branch
- Williams Nzeh-Biko, Northwest Branch
- Stacee Shepherd Southwest Branch
- Jesse Land, Southeast Branch
Generous sponsors include: Raising Cain’s Chicken Fingers and Times/Record News
Caroline Wynne is the 7-year-old daughter of Eric & Kimberly Wynne. She attends the Southwest Branch Club where Ms. Tori Smith is Director.
Caroline has two sisters ages 4 and 17 as well as a 2-year-old brother. She is very helpful with her younger siblings and has been known to help in the kitchen. Caroline also folds and puts her own clothes away.
As a 2nd grader at Jefferson Elementary, Caroline is a straight A student who enjoys reading. She is also involved in “Edible Creations” as an extracurricular activity. Caroline believes school is important because “it helps me to learn”.
Caroline has been an active member of 1st Baptist Church for six years. She attends their Sunday school and Children’s Church.
The Boys & Girls Club affords her the opportunity to make new friends and demonstrate her helpful attitude. Caroline attends on a regular basis and is always a welcome sight for staff. She participates in all areas of the Club. She especially enjoys the Fine Arts and Tech educational programs offered in the Learning Center. Caroline can also be found taking part in Power Hour and the Healthy Habits Programs.
Club Director Tori Smith said, “Caroline is such a sweet young lady always befriending new members and showing them around the Club!”
Christian Brower is the 9-year-old grandson of Carlos & Esther Gomez. He has a one 11-year-old sister and two brothers, ages 12 and 13. He helps with daily chores including helping with house work and keeping his room cleaned up. He also washes dishes and helps his granddad with the yard work.
Christian’s home club is the Central Branch where Mr. Charles Lonon is Assistant Director. He has attended the Boys & Girls Club for four years. During his time at the BGCWF he has been very involved in a variety of programs. An active participant in the Torch Club, Christian regularly volunteers during the Kids Cafe program of the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank feeding children at local Boys & Girls Clubs. He also participates in many learning programs to include Reading, Arts and Crafts, and TEXSYN-SMARTMoves leadership programs. Christian is also actively participating in S.T.E.M learning programs in the Tech Lab and seems to especially enjoy Club Tech.
Christian is a six-year member of Lamar Baptist Church attending Sunday school, Children’s Church, and the church’s youth group activities. He also participates in YMCA Programs as much as time allows.
Education Director Mr. Odom said, “Christian works diligently to achieve goals. It is a joy to have him in the Tech Center.”
Stacee Shepherd is the son of Stacee & Laqueshia Barnes. He is the oldest of three brothers at 17 years old. He is a big help to his parents by keeping up with brothers who are 10, 13, and 14. Not only does he help with meal preparation and cleaning up afterward, but he also helps with whole house cleaning, yard work, and making sure the trash is taken out.
Stacee is a member of Evangel Temple where he attends with his parents. He is also active in Straight Street Programs.
As an 11th grader at Rider High School, Stacee maintains a 3.5 + GPA and says he enjoys his Math class the most of all his classes. He is interested in the field engineering and plans to attend Midwestern State University.
Stacee attends the Southwest Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where Ms. Tori Smith is Director. Ms. Smith says Stacee has been coming to the Club for eight years and has a very warm smile and is a pleasant teen member. He is involved in the Computer Tech, Junior Staff, Peer Leader Programs as well as the Triple Play Challenges and Power Hour Programs. He is a Smart Leader member of the state funded TEXSYN-Smart Moves.