Soraya Rose represents BGCFDL at State YOY Competition

Soraya Rose was recently selected as our Club’s 2025-26 Youth of the Year (YOY), and earned the title through her extraordinary leadership, volunteering, and being an example of what it means to be a dedicated Club member. Soraya continues to not only participate in all Club programs but actively takes initiative to go above and beyond.

She spent a lot of time preparing for the Wisconsin Youth of the Year competition by working extensively to complete her application, resume, cover letter, three essays, and 3-minute speech. The competition took place during the Youth of the Year Conference and Advocacy Days in Madison from March 8-10. It consisted of 15 youth from Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state, one of whom has been selected to represent Wisconsin at the regional Youth of the Year competition.

The first day of the competition consisted of team building exercises and networking so Soraya could meet and get to know the other members from Clubs around the state. The following day was competition day where she delivered her speech detailing her experiences as a member of our Boys & Girls Club and our community and interviewing for a chance to become the Wisconsin State Youth of the Year.

Samantha Fabian, Director of Life & Workforce Readiness for the Boys & Girls Club, stated, “Watching Soraya represent our Club at the Youth of the Year competition was incredibly inspiring! She stepped into the State Capitol with courage, authenticity, and strength, and we could not be more proud of the way she represented herself and our community. Soraya’s voice, resilience, and heart remind us exactly why this program matters, and we are excited to see all the incredible things ahead of her!”

We want to congratulate Evangelina from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley who delivered an amazing, powerful speech. We wish her the best of luck as she represents our state in the regional competition. 

During Soraya’s final day in Madison in the Capitol building, she met with State Senator Dan Feyen, Representative Jerry O’Connor, and Governor Tony Evers where she was able to tell her story and sit in the Assembly Chamber. Soraya stated, “Youth of the Year was really an unknown journey for me at first. I wasn’t sure what it would bring or what it would even look like, but along the way I learned so much about myself. I never thought of myself as a public speaker or a leader, but through Club I’ve realized that I can do anything, even if it’s scary.”

Soraya further added, “This experience meant so much to me because it showed me how much I’ve grown and howmany opportunities are out there for me. There were so many cool parts of Youth of the Year, but one of my favorites was spending time with Miss Sam and Miss Lexi, they took me to explore Madison, which I had never been to before, and they never stopped treating me like a winner. Because of Club, I got to visit a new city, compete alongside kids who inspired me, and have so much fun. I’m so thankful for this experience and for everything the Club has helped me discover about myself.”

“We are so proud of everything Soraya has accomplished the last few months. She is so inspiring in everything she does, and when we think of someone who embodies leadership and hard work, it’s her. We know that Soraya will continue to use her voice for good and to speak up, not only for herself, but for others. We can’t wait to see her grow and cheer her on along the way,” stated Lexi Ernst, Teen Center Site Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club.

To learn more about Soraya as our Youth of the Year, check out the announcement article.

For more information about our Club programs or how to sign up, visit our Become a Member page!