The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County introduced its 2025 Youth of the Year winner Mildred C. to the community during the June 17 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. From left are Cole-Clark Club Post Secondary Manager Michael Bouzi, BGCMC Director of Marketing and External Affairs Meghan Shirey, Mildred and Commission Chairwoman Sarah Heard. By Donald Rodrigue For Hometown News STUART — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County introduced its 2025 Youth of the Year winner, Mildred C., to the community during the June 17 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. BGCMC Director of Marketing and External Affairs Meghan Shirey began the presentation with a brief history of the organization’s Youth of the Year program, which is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s annual competition. All county winners compete in regional and statewide events, and the Florida winner advances to the national competition. “The Youth of the Year event recognizes the incredible achievements of some of its most distinct and inspiring members,” she said. “Youth of the Year candidates are celebrated for their academic discipline, spirit of good citizenship and record of volunteerism; commitment to making healthy choices, avoiding vaping, drugs and other dangerous patterns; exhibiting leadership and support to their peers; and pursuing education, training and career paths to contribute to a better world.” Shirey noted that the BGCMC serves nearly 1,000 children daily across its five clubs in the county, and about 7,000 children annually through additional programs. “It should be noted that to earn even consideration for Youth of the Year, the candidates must make extraordinary efforts consistently, comprehensively and with an unquestionably clear commitment to excellence,” she explained. “Local winners advance to regional, state and national competitions, and I’m honored to say that our Youth of the Year placed in the top four in the entire state of Florida. So, it is my honor to introduce to you Mildred C.” Mildred, an incoming junior at South Fork High School this fall, began her speech by describing how a family tragedy led her from Palm Beach County to the Cole-Clark Club in Hobe Sound. “Throughout my time on this Earth, I’ve learned the further you travel down the road of life, the richer your journey becomes, with wisdom, strength and growth,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges I encountered was when my dad tragically passed away after getting deported. It was a very hard time for my family. My mom had to support my two brothers and me, playing both parental roles. Despite the hardships, she always stayed strong for us.” Mildred told the board how her mother’s decision to move the family nearly threw her for a loop. “When she made the decision to move from Jupiter to Hobe Sound, I was devastated,” she explained. “I felt we were finally figuring things out, and now we’re leaving our home. But this was where the Boys & Girls Club became my second home. I’ve been going to my club since fifth grade, and it changed me for the better. My club environment gives people a new beginning and a helping hand when needed.” Emphasizing that the staff at the Cole-Clark Club were “all so kind and people you can always go to,” Mildred described how she arrived an introvert but wasn’t permitted to remain that way. “Not long ago, I was a shy person. I’d never talk,” she said. “I’d just go to the club, sit on my phone, and that’s it. I was afraid of what people might think of me, so I found it easier to stay in my own bubble. However, the staff would motivate me to participate in fun, engaging activities to find myself and make new friends. Even though I didn’t make it easy for them, they never gave up on me.” This year’s Youth of the Year winner insists that Boys & Girls Clubs are much more than what some describe as an after-school babysitting service. “My club provides opportunities that go beyond a simple daycare,” she said. “For instance, my mom is a single mother raising three kids, so money was tight. I feared not going to college but didn’t want to put that burden on my mother. However, in sixth grade I earned my very first scholarship in my club, covering four years of college. This meant the world to me and my family. ‘Great futures start here’ is a phrase I’ve often heard throughout my club. I am living proof that the Boys & Girls Club wants to ensure that this happens.” At age 14, Mildred joined the club’s culinary team, which has enabled her to learn new skills while also earning a paycheck. Now, she can not only buy her own personal items but also help her mother financially. “There are so many different paths I could have taken — some maybe better than others, but some could have been a real catastrophe for me,” she concluded. “But the path that led me to the Boys & Girls Club has placed me down a brighter path toward my dreams and aspirations. I know if I ever get knocked down, I can count on my club to pick me right back up.” After the applause died down and Commission Chairwoman Sarah Heard posed for a photograph with Mildred, she offered a final comment. “Mildred will go far, won’t she?” Heard said to her colleagues on the dais. “Yes, she will,” Commissioner Stacey Hetherington responded. The Youth of the Year program was established by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 1947 to honor the achievements of outstanding young people and recognize their community service efforts, academic success and commitment to healthy lifestyles. Its goals are to promote character building and leadership qualities in youth. The competition culminates each year with the selection of the National Youth of the Year. Read the whole article, here.

HOBE SOUND—The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County is proud to announce the newest addition to its senior leadership team. Dr. Timothy “Tim” Aitken starts as Director of Club Operations & Experiences July 1. An established leader with a proven record of turning around underperforming schools, he will bring to the role more than 25 years of experience as an educator—encompassing positions as diverse as classroom teacher, middle-school principal, district administrator and adjunct professor. “I am thrilled to be a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County family,” says Dr. Aitken. “It’s a blessing to join a team with a vision and mission—to improve the life trajectories of the children, families and communities we serve—that deeply resonates with my core values. This opportunity represents more than just a job to me; it aligns with my calling. I’m honored to help advance these initiatives, which are genuinely transforming lives.’ In addition to overseeing club operations on a day-to-day basis, Dr. Aitken will handle the clubs’ safety and security procedures, school-based partnerships and mental-health programs as well as oversee several moves to new facilities as various clubs’ expansion plans get underway. “The great thing about an educator and leader of Dr. Aitken’s caliber is that he has the background and history of achievements to make an immediate impact upon arrival,” says Keith “Fletch” Fletcher, president and CEO of BGCMC. “He’s turned around struggling schools and earned statewide recognition for outstanding student performances in math. Best of all, he embraces a constructive approach to leadership that aligns nicely with the culture of encouragement that we instill in our staff and uphold at our clubs.” While principal of David L. Anderson Middle School in Stuart, Dr. Aitken led a comeback campaign that lifted the school from a state rating of “D” to an “A.” Under his leadership, the school received the Governor’s Award for Math Student Achievement, placing in the top five percent statewide for improved learning gains. Serving as District Administrator for School Improvement at Martin County School District, Dr. Aitken worked with colleagues on the design and implementation of data-driven action plans to streamline operations. He also scaled key practices to improve outcomes for learners at every level. Holding a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy and a doctorate in educational leadership, Dr. Aitken serves as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University’s ELITE Program, mentoring future school leaders. A graduate of the esteemed Florida’s Chancellor’s Leadership Academy and the National Institute of School Leadership, he’s given presentations at local, regional and national conferences. He frequently speaks about systemic school reform, improving instructional protocols, cultivating professional learning communities and building collective efficacy. “We’re thrilled to add Dr. Aitken to the BGCMC team and know he’ll continue making a positive impact on the lives of many Martin County children,” says Fletcher. About Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County is committed to enabling all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Through a wide range of programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character, BGCMC provides a safe and nurturing environment where youth can thrive and build a great future.