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Huddleston earns local B&G Club accolade

Josh Miller (left), program director at the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington, recently presented the organization’s youth of the year award to member Katelyn Huddleston, who will represent the club in state competition on April 15-16.
Josh Miller (left), program director at the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington, recently presented the organization’s youth of the year award to member Katelyn Huddleston, who will represent the club in state competition on April 15-16. Photo by Andre B. Laird.

Katelyn Huddleston was recently named Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year for the local chapter.

The honor, open to members 14 through 18 years old, has criteria including academic performance, leadership ability, community service, home life and the member's strides to overcome obstacles.

Ashley Allen, who works at the club and served as one of the judges for the local competition, says candidates are judged on their overall achievements and contributions. The judges' panel was comprised of club board members and Boys and Girls staff.

Huddleston was chosen from a field of three candidates, and the win earns her the privilege to represent the club in the state competition April 15-16, where she will be in a pool of 20 members from various other chapters.

Should she advance, she would represent the club at the regional and then national level.

Huddleston is a freshman at Huntington North High School, and won a $500 savings bond as well as the chance to earn a four-year scholarship to Marquette University. She will be eligible to apply for the scholarship in her junior year.

Each state winner will receive a plaque and a $1,000 scholarship.

The regional winner will also receive a plaque and a $10,000 scholarship.

"I'm very ecstatic about winning the award," she states. "I feel very proud to be able to represent the club at state and hope I will be able to advance past there as well."