Boys & Girls Clubs name Youth of the Year

CELEBRATING BOYS & GIRLS CLUB- From left are Karen Anthony, director of programs and operations; Virgilio Garcia, Los Cerritos Middle School student and Youth of the Year; Michael Schneider, vice-chairman and member of selection committee; and Fred Aguiar, the Los Cerritos club branch director.

Virgilio Garcia, a seventhgrade student at Los Cerritos Middle School in Thousand Oaks, was honored as 2006 Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo and Las Virgenes during a March 9 dinner and awards ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel in Agoura Hills.

The law firm Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava MacCuish sponsored the event.

Throughout the year Boys & Girls Clubs select members as Youths of the Month. The Youth of the Year is chosen by a panel of judges using Boys & Girls Clubs of America national criteria.

The award recognizes academic performance, moral character, life goals, poise and speaking ability, and service to the family and community.

At the Los Cerritos club Virgilio is vice president of the Torch Club, a leadership and community service vehicle. In addition to running the Snack Shack he is also a member of Smart Guys, a group that explores issues pertaining to a boy's passage to adulthood; Smart Moves, a program which teaches drug and alcohol prevention and helps kids to make intelligent life decisions; and Diversity Club, which promotes cooperation between different racial groups. He also is a member of the Money Matters group and is a DJ-in-training during "Jammin' Fridays" at the club.

Virgilio also was named named 2006 Volunteer of the Year by the city of Thousand Oaks Youth Commission for his extensive service to the community.

In addition to a congratulatory plaque Virgilio received an MP3 mixer, an iTunes gift certificate and a gift basket from Huntington Learning Center.

The Los Cerritos Club, which is adjacent to the Los Cerritos Middle School campus, has been serving children for more than three years.

Clubs are open before and after school and all day during school vacations and the summer. Young people are provided a wide range of experiences, including educational and academic enrichment, health and fitness, athletics, art and music, community service and computer training. Programs encourage smart choices, guide and develop leadership skills, and help to build attributes of strong character and good citizenship in every member.

March 25 through 31 is National Boys & Girls Club Week.

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, call (818)880-8577 or visit www.bgcconejo.org.