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Boys & Girls Club honors junior and senior Youths of the Year at Manatee school board meeting
Summary
The Manatee County School Board recognized the Boys & Girls Club Youth and Junior Youth of the Year on March 11. Taylor Bryce shared a personal testimony about turning her life around and will compete at the state level; the club said winners receive Florida Prepaid scholarships and other mentoring opportunities.
The Manatee County School Board meeting on March 11 included recognition of the Boys & Girls Club's Junior Youth of the Year and Youth of the Year.
Dawn Stanhope, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County, introduced Chandler D., a fifth grader at Virgil Mills Elementary who was named Junior Youth of the Year, and Taylor Bryce, a Palmetto High School junior and the club's Youth of the Year.
Taylor described a personal turnaround, recounting earlier drug use and repeated suspensions before being required to complete community service at the Boys & Girls Club. She credited club staff and mentors with helping her change course. "For the first time, I felt empowered to change my circumstances," she said, later introducing herself: "My name is Taylor Bryce. I am a 3.8 GPA student at Palmetto High School... I am attending FAMU to major in business administration." Taylor said she would go on to the state Youth of the Year competition next month.
Stanhope told the board the club's junior winners are invited to Take Stock in Children mentorship; the Youth of the Year winner receives a two‑year Florida Prepaid scholarship and the runner‑up receives a one‑year Florida Prepaid scholarship.
Ending: The board applauded the students and the district highlighted the Boys & Girls Club partnership as one of its valuable community relationships. Taylor will represent the county at the state competition next month.
