FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Jan. 26, 2025)
Robert G. named 2025 Youth of the Year
Multiple youth, supporters, staff honored at annual banquet
YERINGTON, Nev. – Capping off the annual awards banquet Saturday night, Robert G. was named Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley’s 2025 Youth of the Year.
Robert, a junior at Yerington High School, will represent the Club all year, including in the Nevada State Youth of the Year competition held in Carson City in March. Three Club members, including Clarisa A. from Yerington and Autumn H. from Dayton, competed for the honor this year. Through a series of essays, resumes, cover letters, interviews and speeches, Robert earned the Club’s top recognition honor in front of a crowd of 300-plus at the annual Youth of the Year banquet.
“With Robert, you have a kid who used to be in trouble almost daily when he was younger,” Thomas Crowder, the Club’s area director and Robert’s mentor this year, said. “He realized that’s not who he wanted to be, so he took advantage of everything the Club had to offer and teach him. He’s come so far.”
Not only is Robert an active member at The Club Teen Center in Yerington, but he also works at the organization’s Yerington clubhouse. When he’s not leading a Keystone Club meeting or attending a teen late night event, Robert can be found cooking hundreds of meals in the kitchen or helping youth learn the same lessons he did as a youth development professional in the gym, education room or games room.
Over the course of the evening Saturday, five other Club members ranging from three to 11 were named their clubhouse’s member of the year. Five tweens from the Yerington and Silver Springs clubhouses also competed in the Junior Youth of the Year competition. Amber A., a seventh grader at Yerington Intermediate School, earned that honor with her speech of breaking out of her shell and learning how to be caring and engaged in her time at the Club.
Ryan and Jessica Dunham, owners of RJ Produce Distributors, were named the 2025 Champions of Youth thanks to their strong and long support of the Club, growing each year. Walker Basin Conservancy took home the From the Heart award for their programming and outdoor exploration partnership, and Eddie Rincon and Sandra Martinez were named the organization’s volunteers of the year representing Yerington and Dayton, respectfully.
Multiple staff were recognized for their years of service, and Tommy Crowder and Louie Ramos were honored as Staff of the Year for their strong dedication to Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley and its mission.
Mike Sullivan, the Club’s longtime Attic Thrift Store manager, was recognized with the posthumous ECHO Award for his time and impact with the Club. Sullivan passed away in the fall of 2024 after health complications. His widow, Yvonne, accepted the award. Finally, John Cassinelli, the Club’s former board president, was honored with the President Emeritus Award after stepping down this month to serve on the Lyon County Board of Commissioners.
The Youth of the Year banquet is held annually at the Club’s Yerington clubhouse on the last Saturday of January. Youth who are picked to represent their location organizations move onto the state level and then regional, where five total Boys & Girls Club teens go on to compete for National Youth of the Year.
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