The path to a successful future is rarely defined by one narrow road but instead includes many, perhaps even a few detours.
Along the way, we sometimes look back on our lives and ask, “What really shaped me? What had an impact in my life?” For Dr. Sylvia Huff, director of research, assessments and grants for St. Cloud Area School District, the answer is Girls Inc.
“I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri, born and raised, and I didn’t leave until I moved here to Minnesota,” says Huff. “Growing up, my mom was one of the directors of Girls Inc., a national non-profit. And given that I was the daughter of one of the directors, I naturally grew up around it and was a part of it, so it was a very important part of my childhood.”
Huff participated in the programs and activities from an early age. As time passed, she became a tutor to younger students and her peers, and this is where her passion for education developed. She started to spend time on weekends volunteering for activities and events, even if it was just to greet at the front doors.
“[Volunteering] was just a really good way to foster friendships, meet people and come into my own. With Girls, Inc., their motto is to teach young ladies to be strong, smart and bold. I think you can really see young ladies start to embody that as they grow into women.”
Which is why when the Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota (BGC) approached her to be a judge at this year’s Youth of the Year event, there was no hesitation on her part to say yes.
Director of BGC, Tom Wicks, knew Huff would be a good fit. Her background experience with Girls Inc., (an affiliate partner in many areas across the nation to BGC) in addition to the knowledge that Huff’s husband benefited from BGC as a child and her sister-in-law was a Youth of the Year recipient, made Huff a perfect match.
“The mission of the Boys and Girls Club is to enable all youth, especially those that need us most, to become caring, productive and responsible adults,” says Wicks. “Our three primary goals for kids are economic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyle.”
Children are able to start attending BGC in kindergarten and continue on through 12th grade. Anyone who has been a member for two or more years and is at least 14 years old is eligible for the Youth of the Year award. Ideal candidates exhibit leadership qualities and soak in as much as BGC has to offer.
Apollo senior, Kennethia Riley, winner of the 2018 Youth of the Year award, exudes those qualities.
Riley, along with two other challengers, competed for the area Youth of the Year award. Each student compiled essays, transcripts, letters of support or articles showcasing their accomplishments. In addition, students were required to prepare a speech and interview with judges.
The over-arching theme of the submission is “How has the Boys and Girls Club helped with your achievements?” Riley’s speech centered on her goals and motivation.
“I feel like my goals get me to go to where I want to be in life,” says Riley.
The BGC has helped shape those goals.
Riley attended the BGC at its Roosevelt location from the time she was nine years old. She began volunteering in 2015.
“When I started going,” explains Riley, “we did everything in the same room. I love to see it grow. It’s expanded and we even have a gym now.”
Now Riley spends her time at the club with the youngest students. She enjoys helping them with school work, concentration and goals. By volunteering at BGC, she’s realized that she looks to find those who need help the most.
“I really want to help those in need. I want to go into nursing and possibly be a physician’s assistant,” explains Riley. “I want to start with my two-year degree, then my four-year degree. Once that is done, I’d like to take some time to travel to every state in the United States. From there, I want to travel to different countries helping people in need.”
Before she accomplishes those goals, she’s focusing on the State Youth of the Year competition coming up in March. The prize is a $10,000 scholarship that will help her complete her first degree.
The entire process was a great experience for both Huff and Riley.
“My favorite part of the entire day was throughout the conferring process,” says Huff. “We [judges] were all asked to identify one candidate that we connected with, whether it be something they stated in their application materials or that came out during the one-on-one conversation. It was easy for each of us to say, ‘I connected with this person.’ The person I connected to the most was Kennethia.”
Looking back at her life, Riley will easily be able to answer the question, “What has really helped to shape me?” She can say with confidence that her experiences with the Boys and Girls Club and with mentors like Huff helped guide her onto a path for success.