By Kalen Landow
 
With blue-streaked hair and a contagious smile, 18-year-old Shonnetta Henry looks like your average Denver teenager. More than that, this young woman — a strong leader, student, volunteer, writer and self-described “lighthouse” for her three younger siblings — is the ultimate example of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s Youth of the Year.
On Feb. 5, Henry was selected for the clubs’ highest honor, Senior Youth of the Year, a competition open to club members ages 14 to 18. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and local club, as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. The Youth of the Year program was founded more than 60 years ago through the generosity of the Readers Digest Foundation. Henry will be honored at this year’s Youth of the Year Gala on Friday, May 2, at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
Henry is a senior at Denver’s East High School and active in the Black Student Alliance, the varsity speech team, the East Theatre Company and more, while maintaining an academic schedule that includes five Advanced Placement courses and two accelerated courses. Additionally, she is a poet, dancer and caretaker for her younger sister and two brothers. 
At the George M. Wilfley Boys & Girls Club in northwest Denver, Henry is a junior staff member, the president of the Keystone Club (a leadership group for teen members), a teacher for the Words Can Heal program (teaching members the power of language), and a participant in the Ink About It poetry writing and performance group. She also enjoys helping younger members with their homework. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Swanee Hunt Individual Leadership Award for her service to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. 
Tonja Mitchell, character and leadership development coordinator for the organization, stated, “Shonnetta is very deserving of this award. She is a great role model to the younger members at the club and her peers. Her optimism in life and her passion for helping others is admirable.”
Henry was awarded a $4,000 scholarship for the Youth of the Year honor. This spring, she will compete against other Boys & Girls Clubs members from around the state for the Colorado Youth of the Year title and an additional $1,000 scholarship from Readers Digest. If she wins at the state level, Henry will compete for the regional title and a $10,000 scholarship. The five regional winners advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C. in September to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year and a $15,000 scholarship. 
Also honored was Junior Youth of the Year winner, Guy Johnson, 14, of the Denver Broncos Boys & Girls Club in Montbello. This title is presented to an outstanding club member age 10 to 13. Community service is important to Johnson, who walks through his club with tempered confidence, just as comfortable in the gym as in the learning center.
Johnson said when people think of his neighborhood, they think of “violence and gangs” and he is working in both his club and his school to change that perception. He is an outstanding mentor, role model and athlete.
Club director Rich Barrows said, “Guy is much more mature than older members, which he demonstrates through his behavior and involvement inside and outside of the club.” 
Johnson received a $100 gift card as Junior Youth of the Year and will be honored at the Youth of the Year Gala on May 2. 
 
Editor’s note: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver operates eight clubs in the Denver Metro area, serving more than 8,000 kids annually. BGCMD also operates the Gates Summer Camp outside of Boulder. The organization’s mission is “To inspire and enable young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.” To learn more about activities and programs and how to make a difference in a child’s life, visit www.positiveplacedenver.org.

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