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Vergennes Youth Honored by Boys & Girls Club

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Tuesday July 24, 2007

   Belinda Hall represented the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes and the State of Vermont in the Northeast Regional Youth of the Year event in New York City last week.  In friendly competition with 11 other candidates from Northeastern states, Puerto Rico and European Military Bases, Belinda presented a speech about what the Boys & Girls Club has meant to her and was interviewed by a panel of judges including the reigning Miss USA.

   Though Belinda was not selected to represent the Northeast Region at the National competition, she did a great job representing the State of Vermont and was congratulated by the Boys & Girls Club national staff, Youth of the Year Judges, and her fellow candidates for all of her achievements.  Belinda took the disappointment in stride, saying, “I had such a great time in New York.  It was a once in a lifetime experience and I'm really glad I got to participate”.  Not all competition, the trip to New York included a tour of Times Square, a visit to Rockefeller Center, and tickets to a Broadway show.  “It was great to spend time with the other candidates,” continued Hall, “They are all such great people and all deserving of the Youth of the Year honor.  I wish Gino good luck in Washington.”  Gino Binkert, from the Sarah Hines House Boys & Girls Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was selected to move on to the national competition in Washington DC and received a $10,000 scholarship from the Readers Digest Foundation.  

   The Reader's Digest Foundation has been the proud sponsor of the Youth of the Year program since 1947,” said Susan Fraysse Russ, executive director, Reader's Digest Foundation. “For 60 years, we have had the great honor of saluting amazing teens, like Belinda Hall, for their dedication to their families, Club and community, and for helping them achieve their academic and career goals.”

   Belinda will continue to have an impact in Vergennes, where she is already looking forward to helping next year's Youth of the Year prepare.  “The Youth of the Year program has meant so much to me,” she said, “I really hope I can help our 2008 candidate from Vergennes do well at the state level.”  Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes Executive Director, Mike Reiderer, believes she will be helpful in that role, “Belinda has been involved in the Youth of the Year program for three years and will be a great asset in helping prepare next year's candidate, she knows the process better than anyone.”  As the state winner this year, Belinda is no longer eligible to participate in the competitions.  “It is a shame that she won't get another shot at the scholarship,” Reiderer said, “I know that would really help her achieve her goals.”

   While there is certainly some disappointment around the Club this week, there is also a great effort to keep the positives in mind, “I really don't see this as a loss,” said Reiderer, “Belinda has worked hard to overcome huge obstacles and has grown into an amazing young woman - that's where the real victory lies.  I'm glad the Cub could be there to help her and that she has chosen to give back so much.  I'm sure she will be successful in her plans for the future and am glad she'll be in Vergennes another year to continue to contribute to her community,”  

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