Sharod Holmes set to receive college scholarship and vie for regional title this summer
Selected among 31 outstanding youth, Sharod Holmes has been named the Indiana Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. The program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. As the Indiana Youth of the Year, Sharod Holmes, will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a $5,000 college scholarship from BGCA, and will go on to compete in the regional Youth of the Year, ultimately vying for the national title.
Raised in a single parent household, Holmes started a business endeavor during his time with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. He learned the art of entrepreneurship through his favorite Club program, Passport to Manhood, which led Holmes to start his small business named Sneaker Gear. Selling printed t-shirts to match the latest sneakers in the market, his first customer was his club, selling over 600 shirts to the summer program. The outstanding quality of his work led to another order of 100 shirts to the staff at his Club.
Holmes participation in Keystone Club, a teen group dedicated to leadership and community service, also led him to develop fundraising ideas for his first plan ride to the 2015 National Keystone Conference. Holmes also volunteers and works as Junior Staff in his club, playing sports along with kids in the club and motivating others in his program, Passport to Manhood.
As an honors student with school commitments, Holmes volunteers at least three times a week at his Boys & Girls Club. He is also an active member of Socially Together and Naturally Diverse (STAND), his school’s diversity and inclusion club. Holmes maintains the service to his community and school, but also his grades and was accepted to the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington. There, he hopes to expand his entrepreneurial pursuits and plans to give back to his community as well as Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana.
“Sharod Holmes and all Youth of the Year nominees are living proof that Boys & Girls Clubs across the country are fulfilling our mission of inspiring and enabling young people to achieve
great futures,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO, BGCA. “Being named Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor. As the Indiana Youth of the Year, Sharod will serve as a spokesperson for our young people, sharing his inspiring story and leading the way to transform communities for the better.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by Disney, who has supported BGCA for more than 50 years, empowering young people to reach their full potential and providing youth with access to the tools they need to build the great futures they imagine. Toyota, the Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, is committed to helping improve the quality of life in our communities, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring youth have access to a quality education. Additional support is provided by University of Phoenix, a national education partner that has joined with BGCA to impact academic success among youth across the country, and the Taco Bell Foundation, BGCA’s premier partner for teen empowerment.
This summer, Sharod will compete against other Boys & Girls Club members within the Midwest Region. If named regional winner, he will be awarded an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Six youth, including five regional winners and a military youth winner, will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2016, to compete for the title of BGCA’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable for four years up to $100,000 and will have the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States in the White House.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit http://www.youthoftheyear.org.