Matt Avery embodies the spirit of Boys & Girls Club through his character, ability to lead and willingness to mentor other students, according to Stephen Johnston, director of operations for Boys & Girls Club of Western Benton County.
Johnston is not the only person who feels that way.
Avery was named 2019 Arkansas Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year during a competition in Little Rock on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It is the first time a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Western Benton County has earned the distinction, according to Chris Shimer, executive director of the organization. As part of the award, Avery also received $5,000 from Boys & Girls Club of America, $2,000 from the Arkansas Council Committee and $500 from the local club to be used for his college education, Shimer said.
"I was super proud of him and how he did, how he represented our organization," Johnston said. "He was fantastic giving his speech. His presence and his confidence was something you don't often see in a high school student."
The Siloam Springs High School senior will go on to compete against 10 other state youths of the year in the regional youth of the year competition in Dallas in June. The winner of the regional competition will have a chance to visit the White House and compete in Washington, D.C., for the national youth of the year award, Shimer said.
Avery was honored as the Boys & Girls Club of Western Benton County Youth of the Year during the organization's annual banquet Feb. 19. Being named the club's youth of the year qualified him to go on to compete against 13 other candidates for state youth of the year, said Johnston.
State youth of the year candidates arrived in Little Rock on March 5 and toured the state capitol building, where they were presented in front of the house and senate and also got to meet with Gov. Asa Hutchinson. They went on to a legislative luncheon, where legislators got to meet candidates on a more personal level, then finished the day by going to Dave and Busters to eat and play games.
March 6 was a full day of competition, starting with 15-minute interviews before a panel of four judges, Johnston said. Candidates also presented three-minute speeches during a luncheon. Candidates had submitted packets with essays, letters of recommendation and evidence of academic success for review beforehand, he said.
The best part of the state youth of the year competition is candidates become good friends and build relationships that last a lifetime, Johnston said.
"The kids I got to be with and meet and go through this process with were fantastic," Avery said. "They were all different in their own way and all of them had so much potential. It was great to see them striving to become great adults."
The three finalists and the youth of the year were presented during a celebration in the evening. Johnston said it was surreal to hear Avery's name called as the Arkansas Youth of the Year. Avery said he was honored and humbled to receive the award, adding that the experience taught him what he is capable of achieving.
Johnston said Avery did an amazing job on his speech, but the way he behaved during the downtime between competitions really set him apart to judges.
"Number one, he's of really high character," Johnston said. "He embodies the spirit of what you envision a club member, a leader, being. He's all about showing good leadership, being a mentor and an example to younger members. ... What really put him over the top was that in the moments of downtime and the moments he didn't think people were watching, the way he interacted with everyone, especially the candidates, the way that it was important for a team environment and inclusion and encouragement, those characteristics set him apart to win the competition."
In his speech, Avery said Boys & Girls Club has taught him valuable life lessons. He joined the Boys & Girls Club of Western Benton County in November of 2007 and has participated in sports and leadership programs.
"Ever since I was a little kid, I've been in the sports program in any sport I could play -- soccer, baseball, football, basketball," he said.
His dad, Steve Avery, stepped in to volunteer as head football and basketball coach.
"He saw that as an opportunity to teach me lessons for sports, but also to teach me the life lessons he would have liked to learn when he was younger through sports," said Matt Avery, who was an All-Conference linebacker for the Siloam Springs football team this past fall.
Avery said he is a child of divorce, which he believes puts kids in a situation where they are more likely to take the wrong path in life. He said Boys & Girls Club "single-handedly beat down the path to success and make it like a highway so it was so much easier to reach goals."
Recently, Avery has also gotten involved in teaching a leadership class to younger teens in sixth through ninth grade.
"I've gotten to ref basketball games and see kids progress, see kids in football progress, in leadership teach a group of kids at the club over the past five weeks, teach them leadership traits and give them information on how to further themselves as a person, gain characteristics to lead other people in the right direction," he said.
His love for sports that started at the Boys & Girls Club grew into a high school football and cheerleading career. Avery is also a member of Elite Cheer Company's competitive team.
In the future, Avery plans to attend the University of Arkansas where he will cheer and study to become a high school educator.
He is also looking forward to the regional competition and has hopes of heading to the national competition.
"I'm really proud of how he represented our organization and our community," Johnston said. "He's our first state winner, so there is a sense of pride for our organization, it's kind of another piece of evidence that shows that our club's mission, that Boys & Girls Club Mission, really works and we are a piece of an overall puzzle that helps raise those responsible caring citizens."
General News on 03/10/2019