Luke awarded Missouri Youth of Year

Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland member Logan Luke of Poplar Bluff has been awarded the title of Missouri’s Youth of the Year.

Luke was selected from among 14 youth across the state for the honor and is the first local club member to win the award. He will represent Missouri in the Regional Youth of the Year competition in Chicago in June. He was accompanied this week by administrative staff and club board members to Jefferson City for the Youth of the Year conference in Jefferson City.

A junior at Poplar Bluff High School, Luke has been a member of the local club 10 years, but he almost gave it all up, he said.

“With all the struggles I was put through, it was very hard for me to be able to cope,” Luke said,

Since age 12, Luke recalls “there was a lot of stress being put on me. I wasn’t able to fully focus on school and be able to fully take care of my brother. But, I realized that if I can’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of anybody else. At that point, I was like, no matter what happens to me, I need to focus on myself and me being able to finally learn that’s what I needed. It got me to where I am today.”

Praising the local club, Luke said, “The Boys and Girls Club, they mean so much to me. As soon as you walk in, you’re able to tell you are wanted and welcomed. They saved me from a really bad mindset. A year ago, I wanted to drop out and they completely saved me and gave me this opportunity. They gave me a second chance, which a lot of people don’t really do for me. It saved my life completely, I was offered a second chance. I took full accountability for that and used it to my full extent. Boys and Girls Club has got me to where I am today, being the Missouri State Youth of the Year winner.”

Terri McCormick, Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland Chief Financial Officer said, “Words cannot describe what an amazing moment our Youth of the a Year Logan had,” McCormick said. ”From essays and interviews to speeches, opportunities, and celebration. This day will forever be in our hearts. We are so proud of Logan. He is an incredible member with an amazing story that he wants to share with the world”.

The Youth of the Year title is an honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle.

As the Missouri Youth of the Year, Luke will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a $2,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and will go on to contend for the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national title.

Executive Club Director Robbie Toth stated, “Logan is the most kind-hearted club member in our program. As a member of the Junior Staff and participant in SOR funded programs like Positive Action, he is serving as a role model for younger children. He leads through his ability to care deeply about those around him.”

Through programs such as Power Hour and College Kids, Luke is achieving academic success with early access to obtaining college credits. He was eager to share his ambitions of utilizing his scholarship funds to obtain a degree in business management with the dream of opening and running club units in rural areas.

Luke said, “without the Boys & Girls Club, I would be homeless. An opportunity like this is beyond what I imagined for myself; it is truly amazing.”

Logan will join other state winners to vie for the Midwest regional title. If named the regional winner, they will be awarded an additional $20,000 college scholarship.  Six youth, including five regional winners and a military youth winner, will advance to the National Youth of the Year event in Los Angeles in September 2022, to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $50,000 and a brand-new Toyota Corolla. 

Luke also wanted to thank Bill and Carol Swafford for sponsoring this event every year.