Youth of the Year Honored

Youth of the Year finalists Nelly Blanca, senior at Crescent Valley High, Christian Guerrero, senior at Corvallis High, Bianca Pulido, a senior at College Hill, and LBCC Instructor and Youth of the Year Mentor Mark Urista enjoy the spotlight at this years awards.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of America makes a difference in young people’s lives. They have been working for more than 150 years to make a positive impact in local communities.

The club’s charitable reputation was on full display Friday, Feb. 27 at the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis during the 2015 All Service Clubs Luncheon & Youth of the Year Award program held in the organizations gymnasium.

In a tradition started in 2005, this year’s luncheon honored three finalists. Nominees were selected on the basis of multiple sets of criteria, including but not limited to academics, volunteerism, and obstacles they've overcome on the path to becoming the upstanding young citizens they are today.

Greeted by a packed house of over 150 people, there wasn’t an empty seat in the building. Finalists Nelly Blanca, senior at Crescent Valley High, Christian Guerrero, senior at Corvallis High, and Bianca Pulido, a senior at College Hill, were honored. Each were given a table reserved directly in front of the stage. Each were surrounded by family, friends and their school principal, all showing up in support of the talented young students.

With three scholarships up for grabs, valued between $500 and $5,000, being Youth of the Year is a great honor. The previous two winners: Mariah Morales 2013, and Yared Silva 2014, were on hand to help pass the torch to this year’s top contestant.

Silva is currently attending LBCC and the $5,000 provided by the Dr. Bob & Billie Holcomb Family Fund Scholarship she won as last year’s Youth of the Year, is enough to pay for all of her tuition this year. She is the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college.

“I had to step up to the plate for my younger siblings and set a good example for them,” said Silva.

Corvallis Police Department Capt. Dave Henslee and president elect of the Corvallis Boys & Girls Club’s board of directors emceed the event.

“I want to recognize the clubs and what they do for the community,” said Henslee as he acknowledged the numerous sponsors of the event.

Edward Jones received a special round of applause from the audience for providing all three finalists with a laptop.

The crowd exploded when mother and daughter duo Judy and Kami Corwin sang the National Anthem.

“That was amazing,” said Henslee. “Let me catch my breath.”

The ceremony's keynote speaker was Marianne Vydra, OSU senior associate athletic director for women’s athletics. Vydra’s sincere and strong presence, quickly took over the microphone and podium, the same demeanor she likely uses when she’s hot on the recruiting trail for OSU athletics.

Passionate about OSU and Corvallis, she praised the Boys and Girls Club and everyone involved with the event for its positive contribution to the community.

“I can’t tell you how important the work you are doing is to this town,” said Vydra. “It pays off in dividends you're not aware of...I thank you, I commend you for the work that you're all doing.”

A moment of silence was held in honor of Dr. Bob Holcomb who passed away Feb. 24. Afterwards the finalists stepped up to the bright lights of the stage to give their Youth of the Year speeches. Starting with Blanca, then Guerrero, and ending with Pulido each brave high schooler told empowering stories of what they’ve overcome on their road to becoming a finalist. Pulido, raised speaking Spanish, struggled learning English early in her education.

“When I was young I didn’t have the ability to talk,” said Pulido. “Despite all my hard work I had to repeat second grade.”

With plans to attend LBCC in the fall, Pulido couldn’t help but come to tears on stage. She is on track to be the first one in her family to graduate high school and attend college.

“All these programs helped me vocalize myself.”

Guerrero also has plans to join Pulido at LBCC this fall and aspires to join the choir as he pursues a music major. Guerrero didn’t always see himself with such a bright future, as both Guerrero and Blanca divulged darker demons they overcame when they spoke of battling depression and thoughts of suicide.

“I’m a survivor of depression,” said Guerrero. “I will always be in debt to the Boys and Girls Club because I feel they helped save my life.”

There was hardly a dry eye or throat that wasn’t choked up listening to the teenagers pour their emotions out, each receiving the audience’s undivided attention as they spoke. Finalists were met with tears, hugs, and applause as they individually stepped off the stage.

Before the Youth of the Year winner was revealed, the second place Mario & Alma Pastega Family Foundation Scholarship announced that instead of the $1,000 they committed to that this year they would be upping it to $2,500. Not to be outdone, the third place Corvallis Elks Club Scholarship increased their $500 scholarship to $1,000.

The winners were announced pageant style, Pulido taking third and being awarded the Elks scholarship. Guerrero came in second as the gracious audience and 2015 Youth of the Year winner, Nelly Blanca, gave him the spotlight and respect he deserved before accepting her award.

“We're very happy for her and very proud,” said Blanca’s mother Maura Lopez.

Overwhelmed with joy and fighting back tears, Blanca was stunned by the news. She too will be the first one in her family to graduate high school and attend college. She will attend Western Oregon and be moving to Monmouth in the fall.

“All of these candidates have become people we can be proud of; all of these candidates are winners,” said judge and retired Corvallis school teacher Carol Kronstad.

Chris Carter Youth of the Year mentor program manager, Pat Lampton Benton Community Fund Foundation (BCFF) member, winner Nelly Blanca, and Paula Grace BCFF member pose with Blanca’s larger than life check.

At a Glance:

Who: Youth of the Year Award Winner Nelly Blanca.

What: All Service Clubs Luncheon & Youth of the Year Awards.

Where: The Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis 1112 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97330 
(541) 757-1909

When: Friday, Feb. 27, 2015.