H. Robert McBride was recently selected among several local outstanding youth for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County’s Youth of the Year award and a $1,000 Gordon Johnson scholarship (made possible by the Gordon Johnson family). The Honorable Colleen Hastings presented the award at the Club’s first Youth of the Year Reception on Thursday, March 10, 2016. The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their paths to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire.
The 2016 Youth of the Year nominees – Niayja Boyd, O’rail Moses and Robert McBride, are true examples of extraordinary youth and are recognized for their dedication to healthy living, leadership, service, and academic excellence. The candidates provided essays and a brief speaking presentation on how the Boys & Girls Club has impacted their lives. The judges for this year’s competition included: the Honorable Colleen Hastings, District Court, Second Division, Deb Hervieux, the General Manager of the Ninety-Nine Restaurant, and Deborah Linnell, the Program Officer for the van Beuren Charitable Foundation.
As the new Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Club of Newport County, seventeen-year old Robert is a true example of an extraordinary young man recognized by BGCA for his leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. As a member for 12 years, Robert McBride has made a respected name for himself throughout the Club. Over the last few years McBride has become actively involved in numerous Club programs especially those that emphasize Healthy Lifestyles and Character & Citizenship Development. McBride says that his favorite part of the Club is the gym where he enjoys playing basketball and practicing teamwork skills. McBride possesses the same values and philosophies as the Club and we are so excited and proud of him for his success, his nomination for this great award, and most importantly for the person and role model he has grown to be.
After being nominated as the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County’s Youth of the Year, McBride will go on to compete in the statewide Rhode Island Boys & Girls Club competition on May 18th in Providence where he could win additional scholarships for his achievements. Following the state competition, the RI Youth of the Year will compete for the title of Northeast Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2016, to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year.
The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year up to $100,000 and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.
