Boys & Girls Clubs in Maryland (BGCMD) announced their 2024 Maryland State Youth of the Year Winner. Chandice Hood from Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County was selected as Maryland State Youth of the Year. The title was awarded based on outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. As Maryland State Youth of the Year winner, Chandice will serve as a representative for Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Maryland and will compete in the regional and potentially national competition.
Chandice, a junior at Winters Mill High School, is the fourth teen from Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County (formerly known as Boys & Girls Club of Westminster) to receive the state title. Her dedication to Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County, where she discovered the positive impact of mentoring, has led to her goal of pursuing a future career as a social worker. Throughout her membership at the Club, Chandice has served as a leader and mentor, embodying the Club’s mission of helping all kids to reach their full potential. She actively contributes to programs like SMART Girls and Power Hour that promote wellness, leadership, and empowerment. Chandice’s goal is to help kids develop a positive mindset, where they view challenges as opportunities for growth.
“Chandice embodies all of the qualities we look for in our young leaders.” said Sean Davis, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County. “She will be an exceptional advocate for youth across the state of Maryland.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) places priority on developing leadership skills such as communication, goal setting, and teamwork for young people preparing to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood. Youth of the Year is a hallmark program of BGCA and is the highest honor any Club member can achieve. Individual Boys & Girls Clubs in Maryland who have a Youth of the Year program, selected, and nominated a candidate to represent their organization as a finalist at the State Youth of the Year event. A panel of judges reviewed the candidates’ applications and selected the winner based on ongoing participation and leadership in Club events, academic achievement, a written essay, an interview and a speech presentation of their essay.
The Maryland State Youth of the Year winners then advance to regional events. Six teens, including five regional winners and a national military youth winner, advance to the National Youth of the Year Celebration, where one outstanding young person is named BGCA’s national teen spokesperson. The National Youth of the Year is a role model, leader, and advocate for over 4.6 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year.
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Information and photo above is from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carroll County
Chandice was also recently named as one of the Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Maryland’s 2024 class of 18 Under 18 winners. https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/profile/chandice-hood/
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