Press Releases
Club Recognized With Multiple Honors At Upcoming National Conference
April 26, 2010
2010_National Conference Honors_Press_Release.pdf
Link to Coverage:
The Sedalia Democrat
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2010
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jenelle Conner
Outreach Specialist
Boys & Girls Clubs of
West Central Missouri
jconner@bgckids.com
(660) 826-8331
Club Recognized With Multiple Honors At Upcoming National Conference
Sedalia, MO- April 26, 2010 –The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri has been known for providing hope and opportunity to local youth for the past 50 years. Back in 1960 a key group of visionaries saw the need for youth to have a positive outlet and since that date the Club has continued to provide positive youth development to the local community. As the Club prepares to kick off its 50th anniversary in June, it also celebrates the recent accomplishments of its Club members.
Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri’s La Monte teen Club member, Sydney Guthrie, is one of five youth selected out of 300 applicants to perform at the Grand Finale Celebration at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Conference in May.
Guthrie is a 17-year-old La Monte High School junior who has been attending the Club for three years and singing since the time she could talk. Guthrie was asked to perform for the Boys & Girls Club Midwest Leadership Conference in October of last year and she now has the opportunity to showcase her skills on a larger scale.
“I am motivated to make music a part of my college career. I have been involved in vocal, flute and piano lessons my whole life,” said Guthrie. “One day, I would love to sing on Broadway.”
With an all expenses paid trip to the conference in New York City, her dreams aren’t too far away. Guthrie said she plans to sing a selection from a hit Broadway musical and apply the skills she learned last year while playing the leading role of Elphaba, in the Club’s BrickHouse Theatre three-scene presentation of, “Wicked.”
“It is exciting to see that the Club’s teen module program is gaining recognition and exposure on the national level,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri executive director, Brett Barth-Fagan. “We are confident that Sydney will do an exceptional job.”
In addition to Guthrie’s amazing accomplishment, it appears that the Club’s strong emphasis on the arts has not gone unnoticed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The PhotoTech BE CREATIVE entries by 16-year-old Leeton Club member, Antonio Evans, and 13-year-old La Monte Club member, Hailey Eckhoff, were chosen to advance to the national BGCA arts competition. The BE CREATIVE Photo Tech competition allowed Club members to utilize the photo editing and digital design skills they were taught by the Club’s photography module coordinator, George Cooper, to create magazine ads that motivated their peers to “BE GREAT.” The final results of the judging will be announced at the national conference and the winning entry could be used in a future BGCA publication. This is the first time in five years that a Club member has advanced to the national competition. Club member, Brad Toellner, was selected as a National Fine Arts winner back in 2005.
“The 21st Century CCLC grant has given the Club the capability to purchase state-of-the-art equipment that allows us to introduce kids to all kinds of amazing technology,” said Cooper. “Our members are working on equipment that most future photographers aren’t exposed to until the college level.”
And on top of everything else, for the first time in the history of the Club, the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri will be honored with two bronze Marketing and Communication Awards during a luncheon at the BGCA National Conference. Out of the five applications the Club submitted for awards, the Club will receive one Bronze M.A.C. Award in the Interactive/Online Marketing category and the other in the Publicity/Media Relations category for work done from September 2008 through December 2009.
“It is such an honor to be recognized at a national level for our accomplishments in marketing and communications,” said past president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri, Pam Allan. “When you think about the size and number of Clubs we were up against in this competition, it makes it even more exciting.”
This is the Club’s first time submitting for the M.A.C. Awards. The national award celebration has been taking place for the past 22 years. The Club entries are judged based on achievement of objectives, creativity and content.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri call 660-826-8331, toll-free 877-242-9260 or find the Club online at www.bgckids.com.
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