Selected from among nine outstanding teens, 16-year-old Kaprice Burns has been named the Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.
The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle.
Now in its 71st year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. Kaprice will go on to vie for the Nevada Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Burns is in her junior year at Spring Valley High School and has been a member of the Lied Memorial Boys & Girls Club for six years.She aspires to attend Pepperdine University and intends to pursue a career as a pediatric surgeon.
Burns credits being a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs for helping her escape the overwhelming problems that surrounded her at home. She credits the mentorship and direction she received from Club staff members for the positive path she is on today and for helping her find her voice. Burns has become a mentor to the younger Club members and her goal is to help them change the world for the better and to assist them to find their voices.
If Kaprice wins at the state competition, she will compete for the title of Pacific Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C. in September 2018, to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year up to $100,000 and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org.
