Youth of the Year
BUILDING LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE.
Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state and regional Youth of the Year events. Six teens advance to the National Youth of the Year, where one outstanding young person is named National Youth of the Year.
2022 Midwest Youth of the Year
Donovan Frazier
2022 Youth of the Year Finalists
We are honored to introduce Donovan Frazier, 2022 Youth of the Year for Benton Harbor, Greater Southwest Michigan, the state of Michigan, and the Midwest Region.
A graduate of Eau Claire High School, Donovan is a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, an honor roll student, played baseball, ran track, and was captain of his senior basketball team.
Donovan has been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Benton Harbor since he was 11 years old and has participated in programs like drama, sports, Passport to Manhood, and served as the president of Torch Club (youth leadership group) and Keystone Club (teen leadership group).
Donovan joined the Club with the goal of making new friends. “The Club put forth so many opportunities to express yourself like dance, art, music, drama, and sports,” he said. “I used sports as an outlet to meet new people, gain confidence, and keep me out of trouble.”
Donovan credits his strong relationships with the staff at Boys & Girls Clubs for helping to change his life and put him in a position to shape his future. He plans to attend Indiana University in the fall with a focus on social work. “As long as you have a strong work ethic and perseverance, there is nothing that can pull you down, and no obstacle too big to conquer,” he said.
“Donovan has everything it takes to represent the Clubs as the Youth of the Year and be very successful,” said John Sams, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor Joel E. Smilow Teen Center Unit Director. “Whatever Donovan chooses to do, I am confident that he will make amazing changes in the world around him. In ten years, he will be the kind of role model young people his age are looking for right now.”
In October, Donovan will join other regional winners to vie for the national title. If named the national winner, he will be awarded an additional $50,000 college scholarship. Six youth, including five regional winners and a military youth winner, will advance to the virtual event to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year.
