Atlanta, GA- March 23, 2022 Boys & Girls Clubs of Georgia named Aliayah S. of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Georgia Youth of the Year and Ahsha B.of Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base Military Youth of the Year. The girls will each receive a $5,000 scholarship gift from Georgia Power & Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Boys and Girls Club of Central Georgia, Central High School senior Aliaya S. will be representing the state of Georgia at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Southeast Regional Youth of the Year competition in June. Aliayah has been a member of the “Murphy Felton Tindall Club” for over a decade, and has participated in several organizations including Key Club, FBLA, and Student Council. Simmons plans to attend Georgia State University, to major in journalism.

Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's signature effort to foster a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy.

Military Youth of the Year, a distinct component of the Youth of the Year program, was introduced In 2013 to recognize outstanding teens served by BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. 

Kings Bay Boys & Girls Clubs Youth Center member Ahsha is a senior in high school and has completed 564 hours of volunteer service. She has been a member of the Kings Bay unit for over 4 years and has learned “The very essence of who I am today has come from facing my insecurities and imperfections. The Boys and Girls Club programs have been the catalyst for building me into the confident young woman I am today”. She plans to attend Regent University and major in Marketing with a minor in Communications.

In the 21st-century world and workplace, leadership skills such as communication, goal-setting and teamwork are essential for everyone - especially young people preparing to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood. With a grassroots beginning in 1947, Youth of the Year has evolved into a comprehensive leadership development program.

Congratulations to both Aliayah and Ahsha!