Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Announces 2025 Youth of the Year Finalists

November 5, 2024 / Around the Web, News, Update

Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Announces 2025 Youth of the Year Finalists

On Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Kravis Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County will host its 2025 Youth of the Year dinner. This annual event will feature seven remarkable youths who have earned a four-year college scholarship by becoming a finalist, all competing for the ultimate honor of Youth of the Year and a four-year university scholarship plus room and board from The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation.

Anthony D. Collins

“When you run into a problem, don’t run away from it but conquer it”

Florence De George Club
Age: 16
Attending: Palm Beach Lakes Community High School
Dream College: Florida State University
Anticipated Field of Study: Sports Management
Achievements: National Junior Honor Society, Honor Roll, Defensive Player of the Year
Hobbies: Basketball, Track, Dancing, and Gaming
Club Participation: Keystone Leadership Group, Career Bound, and Passport to Manhood

Blake Alexander Allen

“If I choose to make the world a better place, I’ll let God help me in my journey of life”

Boca Raton Club
Age: 17
Attending: Boca Raton High School
Dream College: Florida Atlantic University
Anticipated Field of Study: Environmental Science
Achievements: Certificate of AutoCAD Technical Design
Hobbies: Gaming, Fishing, Technical Design
Club Participation: Drone Legends Program and Scratch Video Game Competition

Christian Booker

“Never give up”

Max M. Fisher Club
Age: 17
Attending: Riviera Beach Preparatory Academy
Dream College: Florida Atlantic University
Anticipated Field of Study: Architecture
Achievements: Basketball
Hobbies: Gaming, Basketball
Club Participation: College Campus Tours

Garlens Morilus

“Passion and love for something is the key to success”

Marjorie S. Fisher Club
Age: 16
Attending: Inlet Grove Community High School
Dream College: University of Central Florida
Anticipated Field of Study: Cyber Security
Achievements: Entered high school at 12 years old and will be graduating at 16
Hobbies: Basketball, Chess, Reading, Drawing
Club Participation: Basketball Team

Jaiyden Williams

“If someone is bothered by your silence, are you really the problem?”

Delray Beach Club
Age: 16
Attending: Santaluces Community High School
Dream College: Florida A&M University
Anticipated Field of Study: Entrepreneurship
Achievements: Self-Improvement
Hobbies: Basketball, Singing, Drawing
Club Participation: Keystone Leadership Group

Nathanael Jean-Jacques

“Find something that fills your soul and not the validation of others”

Smith & Moore Family Teen Center
Age: 17
Attending: Glade Central High School
Dream College: University of Central Florida
Anticipated Field of Study: Digital Marketing
Achievements: 2nd Place Winner of Youth Explosion Singing Competition
Hobbies: Singing, Comedy, Art, Soccer
Club Participation: Digital Media Program and YVC

Phildensy Jean

“Be the change you want to see in the world”

Neil S Hirsch Family Club
Age: 17
Attending: Wellington High School
Dream College: University of South Florida
Anticipated Field of Study: Medicine
Achievements: AICE Diploma, Officer for B.L.A.S.T
Hobbies: Running, Music, Volunteering
Club Participation: Career Bound, Keystone Leadership Group, Junior Staff Member, AmeriCorps, Youth Volunteer Coordinator

The finalists were selected to represent their Club in a preliminary competition that included a comprehensive application, three essays, three letters of recommendation, and an interview in front of a panel of community leaders. At the Youth of the Year dinner, the seven finalists will give a three-minute speech, and the judges will decide the winner. Christian Armstrong of the Florence De George Boys & Girls Club in West Palm Beach was named the 2024 Palm Beach County Youth of the Year.

“The Youth of the Year awards continue to grow in prestige because it best represents the mission and goals of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. Each year our celebrity judges are wowed by these impressive youths who we know will go on to greatness thanks to their hard work and dedication. And the best part is that because of our generous sponsors that all of our finalists will walk away with scholarships and laptops as they start to prepare for their college careers,” said Jaene Miranda, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.