2026 Michigan Youth of the Year Competition

Every year, youth from Boys & Girls Clubs all over Michigan gather together to compete for the honor of being named the State Youth of the Year and progressing to the Regional competition. These youth are the best of the best, representing their Clubs with great pride and passion.

This year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lansing held an internal competition and selected Perion, a senior at Everett High School, as our 2026 Youth of the Year with Amber and Imani accompanying her as our Junior Youths of the Year. The Youth of the Year competition took place at The Graduate in East Lansing from Monday, April 13 through Wednesday, April 15, where Perion was up against twelve Youth of the Years from other Michigan Clubs, each well-deserving with their own unique stories of struggle and triumph and how their Club supported them through it all.

The event started on Monday night with dinner and social at the Jackson Teen Zone here at the Lansing Club. This was a chance for everyone to meet and get to know one another before the competition started.

Tuesday was the big day full of speeches and interviews! All Youth of the Years write and memorize a three-minute speech about how their Club made a positive impact in their lives. Now, Perion is no stranger to performing (she plays two instruments, participated in high school marching band, and is planning on studying vocal performance and acting in college!), but she still found it a bit unnerving speaking in front of her peers, advisors and judges. Still, Boys & Girls Clubs prepare youth to do hard things and she did an excellent job.

After speeches, each youth sat down for a 15-minute interview with the judges. When asked what advice she would give to future Youth of the Years, Perion recommended treating the interview like a conversation and not to get hung up on answering every question because the judges are just trying to get to know you.

BGCL CEO Joseph Yang with Perion, Perion at the podium, and Teen Zone Director & Youth Advisor Whitney Green with Perion

Perion's favorite part of the competition was go-karting at High Caliber Carting & Entertainment after all the hard work was done!

The next day was Advocacy Day at the Michigan State Capitol. Accompanied by Boys & Girls Clubs of Lansing CEO Joseph Yang and Teen Zone Director/Youth Advisor Whitney Green, Perion, Imani, and Amber met with Representative Kara Hope and Nick Gewirtz, one of Senator Sarah Anthony's staffers. This was actually Perion's second time at the Capitol advocating for Boys & Girls Clubs as she attended last year's Advocacy Day as a Junior Youth of the Year. "It's so important to use your voice in this country," Perion says about the importance of advocacy. "For representation in the community and for minorities."

The BGCL Advocacy Team with Representative Kara Hope and Staffer Nick Gewirtz

After their meetings at Capitol and pictures on the steps, the Youth of the Years returned to The Graduate for the Youth of the Year Luncheon where both the Michigan Military Youth of the Year and the Michigan Youth of the Year were announced. While Perion did not win the State title, she made all of us in Lansing extremely proud. Whitney, fondly known as Ms. Whitney by the teens, had this to say about Perion and serving as her advisor through this rigorous competition:

"Serving as Perion’s Youth of the Year Advisor was more than a role; it was a responsibility I carried with great pride and purpose. There is something truly powerful about watching a young Black woman step into her voice, own her story, and realize that she belongs in every space she enters. Not just to be seen, but to be heard. Seeing that confidence grow in real time? It never gets old. Witnessing Perion prepare for Youth of the Year gave me a front-row seat to just how special she is. The way she thinks, the way she carries herself, and the way she speaks with passion and grace; it’s clear she is destined to make a difference in this world. Even through challenging moments, she remained focused, and I was intentional about reminding her that this journey is not just about recognition or winning; it’s about empowerment, growth, and creating space for our voices to be heard and respected. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to pour into the next generation of leaders. It was truly a pleasure ensuring she knows her value, her strength, and her ability to create meaningful change." 

The Michigan Youth of the Years at the Youth of the Year Luncheon, Perion with her mom at the Luncheon

Please join us in giving congratulations to Perion for being the 2026 Boys & Girls Clubs of Lansing Youth of the Year and to all the Michigan Clubs' Youth of the Years! The future looks brighter because of all of you!