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Last updated on Thursday, April 12, 2018
(BEDFORD) - The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County’s Hadley Hawkins was announced as Indiana’s Youth of the Year.
Hadley is the first state Youth of the Year in the history of the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County.
Hadley will move on to the regional round as representative from Indiana in July.
The top five finishers were as follows:
Earlier - Hadley Hawkins is a senior at Bedford North Lawrence High School. She plans to attend Marian University to study Elementary Education and minor in Pastoral Leadership upon graduation.
Each Boys and Girls Club selects their own candidate to run for Youth of the Year. Hadley was selected by Brigitte Gurden, CPO of the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County.
"Leading by example and being so participative in the club got me this privilege and this honor. I am really honored to be selected," said Hadley on why she thinks she was chosen as the representative for the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County.
Hadley has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County for 2 years in the AmeriCorps and Indiana Kids programs.
"Because I like art so much they put me in the arts program. I choose my own programming so I choose the lessons that the kids will do. I instruct them through crafts and activities," said Hadley.
As a candidate in the running, Hadley was required to submit three essays, give a speech and complete a 15 minute interview. Hadley's first essay covered her vision for America's Youth, "I really want to encourage the club nationwide to practice philanthropy, or their service to others."
Her second essay was about her Personal Brand as a creative thinker, problem solver and accepting of the opinions of others.
Hadley's final essay described how the club helped her through her biggest struggles after being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2007.
"The club has really allowed me a place to channel energy that I have struggled with, aggression in particular. I used to have really bad aggression problems and the club really allowed me to channel that energy into a positive outlet and work on being a more positive example to youth as well as my peers," said Hadley.
Click below to hear a recording of Hadley's speech.
Hadley is one of more than twenty youth in the running for Indiana's Youth of the Year. If chosen, she will move on to the Regional selection and after that, the National selection of Youth of the Year.
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