Hadleigh F., with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg, right, was named the West Virginia Junior Youth of the Year during the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Virginia Spring Summit in Charleston. She is shown with Katie Lee, left, Director of Organizational Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — A member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg was named the West Virginia Junior Youth of the Year last week.

Hadleigh F. was recognized with the award during the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Virginia Spring Summit in Charleston on Friday.

After completing a speech about her experience at the Club and participating in an interview with community leader judges, Hadleigh brought home the title as the statewide Junior Youth of the Year.

In her speech, Hadleigh spoke about the sisterhood and support she found at Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg, and how staff and peers helped her gain a sense of belonging after moving to the area in second grade.

“Every day, I would watch other kids in town make memories and bond over things that felt so out of reach for me. It was lonely,” she said. “It wasn’t until my mom signed me up for the Boys & Girls Club that my life really started to change.”

Hadleigh kicked off Friday’s event by sharing her speech with individuals representing several Boys & Girls Clubs organizations in West Virginia: Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Eastern Panhandle, John W. Hereford Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington and across-the-river partners Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County.

Also in attendance were several staff members from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and representatives of Wellpoint, the event’s signature sponsor.

“There were nearly 150 people in the room, including the four judges and a few representatives from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. To memorize and perform a speech in front of all of those people at Hadleigh’s age is so brave, and we could not be more proud,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Parkersburg CEO Lynn Reins.

“It was so fulfilling to hear how Clubs truly help build Great Futures, and we know without a doubt that Hadleigh has a bright one ahead of her. We would love to see her compete in the Youth of the Year competition when she’s old enough in a few years.”

Hadleigh’s participation in the state event was the culmination of months of hard work, including competing against other Club members at the local competition earlier this year.

“To the Boys & Girls Club, thank you. Thank you for giving me the courage to be myself, for showing me that I’m not alone, and for teaching me that no matter where I come from or how far away I live, I can still have a voice in the world,” she said. “The Club didn’t just change my life; it gave me a future. And for that, I will always be grateful.”