Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County is pleased to announce Monisola Omole as the 2017 Youth of the Year. Monisola, 18, is a senior at Union High School, with a focus on advanced science and math. She has been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs for seven years and is currently the President of the Union Keystone Club. At the Club, she participates in Girl Talk, Stand and Deliver, and Lords and Ladies. Monisola has worked as a peer tutor in the Buddie Program and helps the younger members with homework. Monisola is planning to be a Biomedical Engineer or Reproductive Endocrinologist.
Monisola was chosen by a panel of 7 judges. “Youth of the Year is the highest honor for Club members”, Russell Triolo, CEO, proudly stated. “Members are recognized for their contributions in promoting service to our clubs, community and family, academic success, strong moral character, life goals, and poise and public speaking ability. It is a joy to see these youth grow and develop as young adults.”
Outside of the club, Monisola also dedicates her time to her schoolwork and clubs in school, such as Senior Class Advisory Board, Peer Diplomat Leadership Program, Red Cross Club, Future Medical Leaders and the International Outreach Club. She is also the captain of the Girls Basketball team at Union High School. In Keystone Club, Monisola has organized and participated in fundraising for Children’s Specialized Hospital, as well as hosting children at the Club for a special night of fun, as well community engagement activities.
“Boys & Girls Clubs has helped me find myself,” said Monisola. “In middle school, I was getting in trouble but the Club helped me with Keystone and programs. If I waited until high school, it may have been too late.”Her career interests stem from other family members in similar career paths and she hopes to follow in their footsteps. She has been accepted to five colleges: Rutgers, NJIT (partial scholarship), Bethune Cookman (full scholarship), Delaware State University (partial scholarship) and North Carolina A & T.
Chris Hillmann, President of Hillmann Consulting, has continued with his generous sponsorship of the Youth of the Year Program and will award each of the three finalists with a $2,000 scholarship, Monisola will receive a $4,000 scholarship.
The Youth of the Year Program is the premier recognition program for Club members, promoting service to Club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals and poise in public speaking. This year’s Youth of the Year finalists were: Jalynn White, 16, (Union Club); Anandah Gomez, 17, (Plainfield Club); Najiyyah Dunn, 17, (Elizabeth Club); and Monisola Omole, 18, (Union Club).
Next, Monisola will compete for the Boys & Girls Clubs New Jersey State Youth of the Year title in June. We wish her the best of luck now and in her future.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County seek to inspire and enable young people, who need them most, to realize their full potential and have provided opportunity for youth since 1955. They are part of a national network of some 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which serves more than 4.6 million young people annually, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach.
(above l-r) Russell Triolo, CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County; Monisola Omele, 2017 Youth of the Year; Robert Poles, President Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County
(above) 2017 Youth of the Year Winner, Monisola Omole Announced
