Selected among nine outstanding finalists from Boys & Girls Clubs across the region, Sharnae Pegues from Boys & Girls Club of Coffee County Region has been named the Southeast Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She will receive a $10,000 college scholarship renewable for up to four years, leading to a total of $40,000. Pegues was selected as the Southeast Youth of the Year because of her leadership and drive to help others.
“The Boys & Girls Club of Coffee County Region has been a place of refuge, a place of healing and a place to grow into the person that I was created to be,” Pegues said. “I’ve been blessed to be able to serve in soup kitchens, work in the clothing drive, donate food and share my time and love with the needy of my community.”
Pegues first joined the Boys & Girls Club of Coffee County Region three years ago. In that time, her involvement at the Club helped Pegues discover her passion for helping others. In fact, Pegues created a new program at her Club called ‘Pearls of Elegance’ to help girls boost their self-esteem.
“At my Club, I listen to younger girls share their stories of how they struggle with low self-esteem, depression and more, which helped me realize that I needed to take action to help solve that problem,” she said. “After several weeks of implementing this program, the girls began to share stories of how the Pearls of Elegance program helped. One of my favorite testimonies came from a parent who stated, ‘Sharnae, you have really changed my daughter’s life.'”
Pegues will attend South Georgia State College this fall where she plans to study education.
“My goal in life is to become an educator so that I can further impact the lives of youth.”
This fall, Pegues will travel to Washington D.C. to vie for the National Youth of the Year title, which comes with an additional $100,000 scholarship and the opportunity to serve as a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America representing four million Club kids and teens. If selected, Pegues hopes to use her voice and platform to help end cyberbullying.
With a 70-year history, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth leadership program Youth of the Year encourages Club members to reach their full potential by achieving academic success, leading healthy lifestyles and contributing to their communities. These extraordinary young leaders are shining examples and living proof that great futures start at Boys & Girls Clubs.
The Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by The Walt Disney Company, who has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America 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, Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, is dedicated to inspiring the next generations of engineers, thinkers and leaders who will help drive the American economy. Additional support is provided by University of Phoenix, a committed partner who has worked with Boys & Girls Clubs of America on many Academic Success initiatives, and the Taco Bell Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier partner for teen empowerment.