HOUSTON, February 26, 2021 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH) announces that Robert Ellis, a member of the Johnny Mitchell Club in Galveston, was named 2021 Youth of the Year (YOY) during the virtual “Watch Party” streamed live on YouTube on Feb. 25. Due to the pandemic, the organization was unable to hold the annual Youth of the Year dinner in person, as has been the tradition in past years.
The Youth of the Year program honors and celebrates inspiring teens and their incredible journeys and is based on outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. The event was generously underwritten by Chevron, a valued partner and supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston. Leyha Williams, the 2020 Greater Houston Youth of the Year, served as emcee for the evening.
Ellis will compete in the state Youth of the Year competition in March and will receive a $5,000 college scholarship which he will use for Xavier University, where he plans to study neurology and go into the medical field. As Youth of the Year, Robert will use the platform to make a difference in the lives of his peers and motivate all of America’s youth to be more productive citizens. He says, “be an arrow in a world full of boomerangs.”
The virtual attendees, including BGCGH board members, staff and supporters, got to hear from BGCGH’s top three YOY finalists as they gave inspiring speeches about their personal journeys with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston. The runners up for 2021 Youth of the Year are Khai H. also from the Johnny Mitchell Club and a senior at Robert Turner College and Career High School, along with Casey E., a sophomore at Yes Prep White Oak and a member of the Houston Texans Teen Club in the Houston Heights area.
“We congratulate our Youth of the Year, Robert Ellis, for his outstanding leadership and dedication to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston,” says Kevin Hattery, President and CEO. “He represents the values of Boys & Girls Clubs and has continued to inspire and motivate others during a challenging year in which the COVID pandemic has impacted youth and their families alike. I want to thank Chevron for its ongoing support of our mission and in making youth development a priority.”
BGCGH Chairman of the Board Julius Young says, “I was a Club kid myself, so I appreciate the hard work, dedication and character traits that made Robert shine as 2021 Youth of the Year. Robert has a bright future as catalyst for good in the world. He validates that our programs are helping to make a difference in the lives of our members and their families.”
To choose one youth to represent BGCGH at state, judges were recruited to hear from all the YOY candidates. They had the difficult job of narrowing it down to only one. A special thank you goes to the following individuals for volunteering their time as judges:
- Brant Baird, Momentum and BGCGH Board of Directors
- Sidney Evans, Reliant Energy
- Sarah Joseph, The Houston Rockets and BGCGH Board of Director
- Kerry Nicholas, BHP
- Amber Tierce, Chevron
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, please visit www.bgcgh.org.
To learn more about Chevron in Houston, please visit chevron.com/houston or follow @ChevronHouston on Twitter and Instagram.
Link to event photos here. Photo credit: Henrich Perez, Tumivision
Photo caption: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH) announces that Robert Ellis, a member of the Johnny Mitchell Club in Galveston, was named 2021 Youth of the Year during the virtual “Watch Party” streamed live on YouTube on Feb. 25. Runners up are Khai H., also from the Johnny Mitchell Club and Casey E. of the Houston Texans Teen Club.
About Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston
Our mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. Our vision is to put success within reach for our Club members and keep them on track to graduate high school. We help them realize a positive plan for the future that includes good character, citizenship, workforce readiness and a healthy lifestyle. Each year, more than 30,000 youth ages 6 to 17 walk through our doors for our after-school and summer programs. At our Clubs, youth are provided meals, strong role models, homework assistance, organized athletics, character development and access to the arts. Membership costs just $5 per school-year and $20 for the entire summer. We are a United Way agency. Great Futures Start Here.