The 2026 Youth of the Year & Junior Youth of the Year Celebration honored twelve outstanding young leaders who have shown exceptional dedication to their academics, leadership, and community service. These inspiring students represent schools across Austin ISD and embody the values of resilience and excellence.
Youth of the Year Candidates
Dulce L.
H’Sanii B.
Trinity T.
Heidi R.
Junior Youth of the Year Candidates
Abigail P.
Valentina S.
Al’Briya W.
Alexzanderia W.
Patrick R.
Introducing 2026 Youth of the Year Winner, Dulce L.
The spotlight shone brightly on Austin’s future leaders as Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (BGCAA) crowned Dulce L. of Navarro High Boys & Girls Club as the 2026 Youth of the Year! With this prestigious honor, Dulce will proudly represent Austin at the Texas State Youth of the Year competition this March.
Dulce’s path to leadership began just two years ago when she first stepped into the Club and discovered a safe space to grow into the best version of herself. Being named Member of the Month sparked a new confidence in her, a belief that she had the power to learn, improve, and shine.
Through volunteer efforts from tutoring younger kids through the Algebra Project to tackling food insecurity with the Brighter Bites program, Dulce has learned that true leadership is about lifting others, even while navigating her own challenges.
“The Club has not only given me new skills and opportunities but has also changed the way I see myself and my future.”
Alongside this incredible achievement, Dulce received a $10,000 scholarship from the Austin Boys & Girls Clubs Foundation to fuel her academic and leadership journey.
“I am grateful to the staff who believed in me, and now I want to be that same kind of support for others. The Boys & Girls Club not only changed my path, but it also gave me a purpose to lead with hope and to give back to my community.”
2026 Youth of the Year Runner-Up, H’Sanii B.
H’Sanii B. from Navarro High Boys & Girls Club was named Youth of the Year Runner-up, earning a $5,000 scholarship in recognition of his achievements. His experience advocating for youth nationwide through the Think Learn Create Project in Washington, D.C. further solidified his commitment to leadership and service. H’Sanii’s passion for making a difference in mental health for student athletes truly impressed us all.
2026 Junior Youth of the Year Winners
In the Junior Youth of the Year category, Abigail P. of Burnet Boys & Girls Club, took home the top honor.
She credits the Club with helping her grow in confidence through sports, where she also built lasting friendships. Inspired by the strong sense of community and support she’s found at the Club, Abigail is excited to keep growing as a leader.
We’re also excited to announce the Junior Youth of the Year Runner-up, Valentina S. from Home Club and second Runner-up, Al’Briya W. from Burnet Boys & Girls Club. We look forward to seeing where their journey takes them in the future!
“Each of these young leaders has demonstrated resilience, dedication, and a commitment to making a difference in their communities. This night was a powerful reminder of the limitless potential within Austin’s youth,” said Zenae Campbell, CEO of BGCAA. “We are incredibly proud of them and excited to see Dulce represent Austin at the state level.”
Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier leadership program, empowering young people to achieve their full potential. The program also includes Junior Youth of the Year, which helps younger members build confidence and develop leadership skills.
