Local girl named Monmouth County Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year
Future nursing student to move on to state-level competition
The Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County has selected Asbury Park resident Ijataque “Tay” McClain as its 2013 Youth of the Year.
McClain will receive a $1,500 scholarship and compete against other Boys & Girls Club members for the New Jersey Youth of the Year title and a $20,000 college scholarship on June 3.
As the new Youth of the Year for Boys and Girls Clubs of Monmouth County [BGCM], McClain, 18, is being recognized for her sound character, leadership skills, and willingness to give back to the community, according to a release from BGCM.
Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. As Boys and Girls Club of America’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes young people who have made outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and local Boys and Girls Club, and those who have overcome personal challenges and obstacles.
Youth of the Year encourages Club members to reach their full potential by achieving academic success, leading healthy lifestyles, and contributing to their communities.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tay for going on nine years and have had the privilege of seeing her grow from a little girl into a young lady,” said Isiah Jones, BGCM’s Asbury Park Unit Director. “She has a heart of gold and genuinely cares about helping less fortunate people, especially children.”
McClain was born into a life filled with instability at home, according to the BGCM release. The shakiness of McClain’s home life in Asbury Park continued throughout her early years and into middle school. At age eight, McClain became a member of the BGCM, where she quickly took advantage of all the services the Club had to offer.
McClain has been a member of BGCM for ten years, actively and enthusiastically participating in almost every program the club has to offer, according to the release. She began as a member of BGCM’s Summer by the Sea Day Camp, and then became a part of the after-school childcare program. McClain shined in the childcare program, swiftly establishing effective study habits in Power Hour, the club’s homework assistance program.
McClain has experience singing in the club’s choir at holiday concert performance at the Continental Airlines Arena. As an older member, she participated in SMART Girls, a self-esteem enhancement program for girls ages 10 through 17 that promotes healthy attitudes and lifestyles.
McClain was also part of Torch Club, a character and leadership development program, in addition to serving as a Junior Staff member and Counselor in Training.
McClain participated in Career Launch, a workforce development program and was part of the Junior Lifeguard program. She eventually became a certified lifeguard and worked at the club during summer camp, teaching dozens of members how to swim. She is also a member of College Bound, a BGCM mentor and scholarship program that guides students in the college preparation and application process.
She will also receive a $2,000 College Bound scholarship from BGCM.
McClain has made service contributions to the club and still volunteers regularly. As a busy high school senior, she still finds time to volunteer almost every day at BGCM and Jersey Shore University Medical Center. At the club, she assists members with homework and helps staff serve dinner, construct bulletin boards, and implement tournaments. At the hospital, she volunteers on the pediatric floor interacting with patients by playing games and reading to them.
McClain is currently a high school senior at Red Bank Catholic [RBC] and has earned a 3.2 cumulative GPA. She has been accepted to Georgian Court University’s highly competitive nursing program for Fall 2013.
At RBC, she is the president of the Multicultural Club and a member of the Life Club and the Minority Leadership Society. McClain’s career plan after graduating from Georgian Court University is to become an Emergency Room or Pediatric Nurse.
If McClain wins at the state competition on June 3rd, she will then compete for the title of Northeast Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 scholarship from Tupperware Brands, the recognition program’s national sponsor.
Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2013, 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 up to $50,000 from The Rick and Susan Goings Foundation and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.
