BGCM - Youth of the Year
February 05, 2010
On February 4, 2010 a group of five young ladies and gentlemen from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis gathered at the Hampton Inn & Suites to compete at the 7th Annual Youth of the Year competition. The five contestants were Clatoyrea Bills of the John Dustin Buckman Branch, Diamond Brown of Downtown Porter Branch, Elijah McClain of the Ira Samelson, Jr. Branch, DaVonte McCraven of the Hickory Hill Branch, and Elizabeth Walls of the Goodwill Branch. DaVonte McCraven, 17 year-old Junior at the Memphis Health Careers Academy, was announced the 2010 Youth of the Year
The five contestants were scored by 15 judges on home and family, school, obstacles overcome, service to clubs, service to the community, life goals, poise, and public speaking.
On asking what Mark Amrein, the President of University of Phoenix, thought about the contestants, he said "Very impressive! The poise, accomplishment and determination of these young adults provides so much promise to the future of Memphis. They are far and away ahead of where I was at their age and I consider myself a success. Memphis Boys & Girls Clubs are making a fantastic and lasting impression on these kids’ lives."
The 15 judges selected were (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Mark Amrein - University of Phoenix
- Delta Cheung - Evergren Packaging
- Lisa Cook - First Tennessee Bank
- Christin Crawford - Accredo Health
- Tracy Ford -
- Richard Harlow - U.S. Secret Services
- Rebecca Hopp - Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
- Stephanie Jones - Shelby County Commission
- David Jordan, Jr. - Shelby County Schools
- Patti Kesler - Medical Education & Research Institute
- Frank Lamanna - Decomsimo, CPA
- Brittany Meeker - Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
- Ryan Perry - Wachovia
- Isaac Singleton - Spotlight Productions
- Ben Weiss - Memphis Redbirds
To view DaVonte's speech, click on the video below.
P1060414 from Isaac Singleton on Vimeo.
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