Mayor Michael McCabe with all of the 2025 Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year nominees from left, Amiyah Smith, Keira McArdle, Youth of the Year Gianna Beluzo, Ru Nguyen and Elijah Folkes.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
WESTFIELD — The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield announced its Youth of the Year, Gianna Beluzo, at a dinner at Tekoa Country Club on April 9.
Before the announcement, all five candidates for the honor, including Beluzo, who is a sophomore in home school; Westfield High School sophomore Elijah Folks, Westfield High School sophomore Keira McArdle, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts freshman Ru Nguyen and Westfield High School freshman Amiyah Smith spoke about what the Boys & Girls Club has meant to them, the groups they participated in and their involvement in youth leadership.
“The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield has been crucial in helping me to grow as an individual. It has provided countless opportunities for me to explore and discover my interests and passions, build meaningful connections with club members and staff and develop essential skills. The club is a place that has shaped me as a dancer, artist, actor, volunteer and leader, and I look forward to upcoming experiences there that will help me continue to grow and shape my future,” Baluzo said in her speech before the announcement was made.
Everyone said the selection was very difficult this year because of the outstanding qualities of all of the candidates. “This was an amazing year. All five of them really deserved to win,” said Chief Executive Officer Bo Sullivan.
Beluzo, who was introduced by her club mentor Ashley Miehm, has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club for 10 years.
After being named Youth of the Year, Beluzo expressed her appreciation. “It’s such an honor. I’m so grateful,” she told the gathering, and thanked her family for supporting her and her mentor, who helped to guide her through the process.
“To the staff — every day, you are making an impact on children like me. I will proudly represent the Boys & Girls Club of Westfield,” Beluzo said.
“I’m very proud. She deserves it. She is a leader among the kids in the club, and is very involved in the performing arts, Drama Club and fine arts. She’s an overall great kid,” Miehm said.
Since the early 1970s, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield has run the national youth recognition initiative that promotes good moral character, leadership and service qualities in today’s youth. The Youth of the Year program has been sponsored by the Sardinha Family and Dunkin’ of Westfield since 2003.
A year-round program for youth ages 14-18 that promotes and celebrates members’ service to the club; community and family; academic performance; moral character; life goals; poise and public speaking abilities, it is the cornerstone of the organization’s character and leadership development program, helping young people focus on the personal development attributes needed to successfully transcend into adulthood.
Youth of the Year nominees are paired with a Club mentor who guides them through the entire application process. The candidates have to write essays, collect support letters and be interviewed by a panel of local community leaders. Each candidate then prepares a short speech to deliver at the annual Youth of the Year dinner in front of upwards of 200 guests.
The winner will go on to compete at the state level. If the youth wins, they have the opportunity to expand their personal growth by competing at the regional and national level. It is an experience of a lifetime for individuals who are awarded because they are able to proudly represent their own Club alongside other Clubs from across the country.
Sullivan said all of the Youth of the Year nominees receive a $1,000 gift towards their education, which can go to tuition, computers, room and board or school supplies. The winner receives $2,000.
Beluzo will now compete against Youth of the Year nominees from the 40 Boys & Girls Clubs in Massachusetts for the statewide title. The state winner receives a $5,000 scholarship, and goes on to compete in regional and national competitions.
Chief Operating Office Kellie Brown also said the decision for Youth of the Year was difficult this year due to the outstanding group of nominees. “What can I say; I’ve been doing this for 20 years,” she said, adding, “Gianna is very worthy of the honor. It’s an honor for me to be a part of this organization and to be able to mentor these kids.”
Former Club CEO Bill Parks also came to the dinner.“He hasn’t locked me out yet,” Parks said jokingly about current CEO Bo Sullivan.
“It’s fun to come back and see this. [The Youth of the Year nominees] show what the Boys & Girls Club is. Hearing it from them lets us know it’s working,” Parks added.
Also present at the dinner were members of the Westfield Kiwanis Club, who presented a check for $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield.
“We’re big contributors to the Boys & Girls Club,” said Westfield Kiwanis President Colleen Powers-Andrews, who said most of the fundraising they do goes to the Club.
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield located at 28 West Silver St. has been serving the city since 1969, and today reaches 1,300 youth in the city from preschool to high school offering a safe place to learn and grow, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life-enhancing programs and character development experiences, hope and opportunity.
For more information about the club and its programs, visit bgcwestfield.org or call 413-562-2301.
