Youth making a difference. It’s something that should always be celebrated. That’s why the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County is always proud to announce its annual Youth of the Year! This year, that honor went to Gavin Clifton, who attends the Sedro-Woolley location.
“Gavin stood out for his dedication to his community, resilience, and passion for creating positive change,” Jaime Colon, director of marketing for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County.
The Youth of the Year Competition
The Youth of the Year award is not something just handed out randomly. It is actually a national competition put on by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The annual winner at the county level will go on to compete at the state level, and if successful, the regional and finally the national level. The competition was created to encourage club members to develop leadership skills such as communication, goal-setting and teamwork.
“Youth of the Year is the organization’s highest honor, recognizing an outstanding young person who demonstrates leadership, academic excellence, service to others, and a strong commitment to personal growth,” shares Jaime.
“Each of [our Youth of the Year Finalists] has a story shaped by mentors, families, teachers, staff, and supporters who chose to show up, to listen, and to believe.” Shares Jeremy Hiatt, chief executive & operations o?cer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County. “When we invest in young people, we invest in stronger communities and a better future for all of us.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County Youth of the Year Gavin Clifton
“I love the Club members, the staff, all the fun activities we do inside and outside,” says Gavin Clifton, Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County youth of the year, when asked what he loves about being a club member. He is a sophomore at Sedro-Woolley High School and has been going to the Boys & Girls Club since 2021.
He considers the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County a second home, where he has made friends, and had “cool” opportunities and experiences.
Thanks to the Barrett Financial Community Caring Project, this year’s Youth of the Year at the county level is the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship for post-secondary education and/or training
“Scholarships are traditionally reserved for youth who win state, regional, or national levels,” shares Jaime. “This new scholarship program ensures that Skagit youth have further support. This scholarship was developed by Barrett Financial’s owner, Amy Hong, who has a deep passion for the role education plays in building great futures.”
Gavin says the scholarship money will help get to the college he really wants to attend, the University of Washington. He wants to study architectural engineering.
As for the state competition, he and his Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County mentor are hard at work in preparation. “My mentor and I are working hard to ensure my essays are correct and my public speaking is enough for me to win,” shares Gavin. “It involves a lot of hard work and dedication, along with some repetition to ensure everything is correct.”
Though hard, Gavin is looking forward to it. “I look forward to meeting new people and getting to know others’ journeys on how they were selected for Youth of the Year for their county,” he shares. “Just getting the overall experience at a state-level competition.”
In addition to competing in Seattle for the state competition, Gavin will participate in multiple Youth of the Year events throughout 2026.
To learn more about the club and its offerings, visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County website.
