Intro to the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County and Illinois Youth of the Year - Jamel Adams
Cesilie Price will provide a brief background of the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County programming delivered to youth ages 6 through high school graduation. She will also show a brief video about the Club and end by explaining the Club’s culminating program- Youth of the Year. Jamel Adams will present his speech (under 3 minutes) that earned him the award of becoming the Illinois State Youth of the Year. He competes Thursday July 27 in Chicago at the Ritz Carlton to be the Boys & Girls Club of America’s Regional Youth of the Year, competing against 13 different state winners.
Boys & Girls Club of Lake County believes every child has the potential to BE GREAT. In support of this strong conviction, we strive to build caring and responsible citizens. The Boys & Girls Club of Lake County family – a community of staff, volunteers, parents, youth and supporters – work together to create a positive place, full of hope and opportunity, for every child. The Club provides after school and summer programs Monday through Friday to support Academic Success, promote Healthy life choices and support Good Character and Citizenship.
Cesilie Price, of Lake Forest, currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County in North Chicago. Price has been a long-time advocate of children’s educational opportunities, working and volunteering for the past 16 years in the underserved communities of Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion and Beach Park. Through her work with the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County, youth have been offered programming and enrichment opportunities in academic success, healthy life choices and good character and citizenship afterschool and during the summer months.
In addition to her role as CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County, Price serves as a board member on the Illinois State Board of Education. Price has previously served as President of the Lake County Alliance for Human Services. She was also a founding member of District 67’s E.F.F.O.R.T committee- established to foster respect between students, teachers, administrators and parents, served as District 67’s ED-Red representative and helped establish a school district foundation while living in California.
Prior to working in the non-profit field, Price worked in the private sector. She holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from the University of Texas, Arlington.
Thanks in large part to a generous donation from Baxter International Inc., the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County presented Jamel Adams as the Club’s 2017 Youth of the Year (YOY).
Jamel moved on to the state competition in April and won! He was named the Illinois State Youth of the Year. More than 25 Illinois Clubs participated in the competition. Upon winning the honor, Jamel stated, “While waiting to hear who was our Illinois State Youth of the Year, I was really nervous. My heart was ready to jump out of my body. Then, I heard my name and I was really shocked that I actually won. I froze for a few seconds and then went to the stage and was just excited.”
Winning the competition comes with a $6000 scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and a new laptop computer from the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County, as well as bragging rights and the opportunity to compete for more than $100,000 in scholarship funding and a new car! Jamel will represent over 80,000 Club members across Illinois as he moves on to the regional competition and then hopefully to national.
Jamel graduates this year from New Tech at Zion Benton East. Next year, he will attend college at Western Illinois University. There, Jamel will be working toward a degree in Criminal Justice. Everyone at the Club is proud of his efforts, his growth and his determination to succeed.
About Youth of the Year
Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year recognition is the highest honor a Club member can achieve. The program celebrates youth who have overcome enormous odds and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments. Honorees are recognized for service to their Club and community, academic performance and contributions to their family. Whether or not a Club member actually goes on to become the national Youth of the Year, the time and effort invested in the development of each individual helps these young people become all they are capable of being.
Host: Tom Marks