Shelton teen to compete for National Youth of the Year title

Brooke Grand will vie for a national title in Washington, D.C.

SHELTON - Brooke Grand, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s 2015 Youth of the Year, is headed to Washington, D.C., to vie for the title of National Youth of the Year. 

She will be representing the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, the great State of Connecticut, and the entire Northeast region next week. 

Grand and five other regional winners from across the U.S. will gather in our nation’s capital Tuesday where a winner will be chosen. 

Grand has gone through a series of local, state, and regional events over the last several months. 

“Being selected as the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s Youth of the Year was such a great honor to me,” she said. 

“Being selected as the Connecticut State Youth of the Year has been my dream for the past four years, a dream that I never believed would come true. 

"Being selected as the Northeast Youth of the Year was never even a thought in my mind. I am so honored to be representing my amazing Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, and the Northeast Region.
"I will do my very best at nationals to make everyone proud. I can’t thank everyone enough for never giving up on me, especially my Boys & Girls Club.”  

The Boys & Girls Club of America’s 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. 

The program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring youth on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed, and inspire. 

Grand has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley’s Raymond P. Lavietes Unit for 12 years. 

It became her home-away-from home and her sanctuary, offering her endless opportunities to keep her mind off home life and focused on where her future was headed. 

She is a hardworking, highly motivated young woman with a willingness to help others and a positive attitude despite the obstacles she has faced. She has earned honors in school and was the top athlete in every sport she participated in. 

In addition to serving as Keystone Club officer, she also runs the Happy Hoopers health program and works as a staff member. 

Grand recently began her freshman year at Southern Connecticut State University, where she is majoring in business. Her charismatic and compassionate nature has given her the opportunity to win up to $100,000 in renewable, four-year scholarships if she wins the national title. 

This is a press release from the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. For more information, visit www.BGC-LNV.org.

I wish Brooke the best of luck in the national competition Tuesday!