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Marissa Kappus, Public Relations Manager
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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL: For the second year in a row, St. Lucie County has a state Youth of the Year winner in local teen, Mia Morrison. Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County hosted the annual event on Friday, April 21st at Sandpiper Bay where hundreds of Boys & Girls Clubs representatives gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of teens from across the state. Taking home the distinguished honor of being named 2023 Florida Youth of the Year was St. Lucie County’s very own Lincoln Park teen and Boys & Girls Westside Club member, Mia.

The rigorous Youth of the Year process and steps to earn this prestigious title involve academic achievement, panel interviews, community service projects, advocacy platforms and so much more. After representing the entire state throughout 2022, Mia’s leadership will continue and she will move forward to compete at the regional level in Atlanta this summer.

“I have worked so hard over the past two years to get to this point. With the support from my community, I know I can make it all the way to Nationals and represent my county and my Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Mia.

The national Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year program started in 1947 with hopes to “foster a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy.” Being named Youth of the Year is considered the highest honor within the organization and recognizes the Club member’s hard work, leadership within their Club, and their ability to exemplify the Boys & Girls Clubs mission.

Leading up to each competition, Mia prepares numerous essays, polishes her resume, collects letters of recommendation, and works with local mentors and businesses to perfect her speech. Simply competing at the state level requires months of hard work and dedication to the program.

“At Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, we are all about our community,” said Will Armstead, CEO. “It has been incredible to watch Mia, our Club Youth of the Year representatives, and all of the teens throughout Florida tell their stories and represent their communities so passionately. We know Mia will do big things in her future and we will be cheering her on the entire way.”