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Youth of the Year: Boys & Girls Club state honoree addresses Parkersburg City Council

Boys & Girls Club state honoree addresses council

Boy & Girls Club of America’s 2021 West Virginia Youth of the Year Yuan Uy speaks during the public forum portion of Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting at the Municipal Building. Photo by Evan Bevins

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg High School junior recently recognized as the Boys & Girls Club of America’s West Virginia Youth of the Year received a standing ovation at Tuesday’s meeting of Parkersburg City Council.

Yuan Uy was chosen from among nominees around the state for the honor, which recognizes leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle, according to a release from the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg, which nominated him as its 2021 Youth of the Year.

Uy spoke during the public forum portion of Tuesday’s council meeting, telling council members and those in attendance about what the club has meant to him since he moved to the United States from The Philippines five years ago.

“They welcomed me even though I was different,” he said. “They helped me become a leader who can help others in need.”

Uy participated in a variety of club activities, moving into the Teen program and leadership roles in Junior Staff, the Keystone Club and UPS Roadcode, the release said. He said he’s enjoyed the opportunity to mentor younger members.

“They looked up to me. I felt loved,” he said.

Uy said he plans to study city planning, business and/or political science, with a goal of making a positive impact in addressing problems like poverty and hunger.

“Growing up in a Third World country, I wouldn’t think that these problems would occur in America,” he said. “But in fact Americans do suffer from these problems. I see it in my community and my club.”

As the state Youth of the Year, Uy will receive a $2,500 college scholarship and go on to the regional competition, a precursor to the National Youth of the Year event in October.

Council had just one item on its agenda Tuesday, a budget revision that passed 8-0 with Councilman Bob Mercer absent.

The resolution allocated $36,351 from the sale of a relatively new Engineering Department truck totaled in an accident earlier this year, plus $5,000 from the unencumbered capital reserve fund balance to buy a replacement. It also allocated $11,500 from the fund balance toward the purchase of an emergency equipped pickup truck for the Fire Department.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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