On Saturday, January 16, Chancellor “Chance” and representatives from the various other Club locations gathered at the Woodmen Tower in downtown Omaha to share their powerful stories of struggle, perseverance and triumph. Each candidate passionately described the part Boys & Girls Clubs have played in shaping them into the positive young adults they have become.

The winner, Chancellor Smith, is very deserving of the title. As a senior at Omaha North High School, Chance is the 2010 class president, captain of the varsity football team and has been recognized as an academic honor student. He is also a journalist for the student newspaper, the North Star.

In the Club, Chance is known for his volunteer work and for the positive example he sets for both his peers and the Club’s younger members. He hopes to be able to develop his passion for helping others by pursuing a Psychology degree and one day becoming therapist – a profession he believes will allow him to give back to others in need.

Upon receiving the award, Chancellor took a moment to thank his family and various Club staff for their roles in helping him achieve the honor. Now, with the full support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Chancellor’s next stop will be the Nebraska State Youth of the Year competition, where he will compete with other youth from across the state. Good luck Chance!

Click here to watch WOWT’s coverage of the 2010 Youth of Year event.

Below are videos of Chancellor and the rest of the Youth of the Year candidates giving their speeches.

Event Press Release

Alexander
Council Bluffs Unit
1 Year Member
Abraham Lincoln High School
12^th Grade

This Club has helped Alex realize there are numerous opportunities to help those in need.  The Club has given him an opportunity to give back to his fellow Club members and is helping them to reach their full potential. By assisting with various service projects, Alex has learned to put others ahead of himself – a trait that shows a lot about his character, morals and values.

Chancellor
North Omaha Unit
8 Year Member
Omaha North High School
12^th Grade

Chancellor is a dedicated, long-time member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands’ North Unit. Over the years Chancellor has participated in numerous Club programs and events. He is a reliable model of ethical behavior and constantly proves to be a positive role model for people of all ages.  Chancellor has the potential to do great things in life if he is able to stay focused on his goals and dreams.

Ryan
Westside Unit
5 Year Member
Westside High School
11^th Grade

Ryan McVay has been a pillar of the Westside Club community, and a consistent positive role model to members, both young and old. Ryan has been an influential member in the Club by engaging in service and community projects through our Keystone Club, as well as by volunteering his own time. He has been instrumental with our Keystone Club as a former president and member. Ryan has also been involved with our Street SMART program, Road Code program and two-time participant of our Stock Market Challenge, and a part of the championship team from the inaugural Challenge. Ryan has been an extremely well liked and well-behaved member who is much deserving of the Youth of the Year recognition.

Tiffany
Mount View Unit
1 Year Member
Benson High School
11^th Grade

During her time at the Club, Tiffany has always been willing to participate in different programs and Club events. Unfortunately she was forced to discontinue her membership after her family made the decision to leave the Omaha area. The Clubs would like to wish Tiffany the best.

Jerry
South Unit
9 Year Member
Omaha South High School
12^th Grade

Jerry is a long-time member of the South Omaha Boys & Girls Clubs, and he attends nearly every day. As a member of the Keystone Club, Jerry volunteers his time to various service projects, both inside the Club and in his South Omaha community. He has also spent time assisting in the Younger Members’ Games room, the Education Center, and the Teen Center. After graduating from high school, Jerry plans to attend college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where he hopes to major in the theater arts. Jerry is a good role model for the rest of the Club because he has persevered through great struggles to emerge a positive role model, not only for his close friends, but for the Club population in general.

The $25,000 technology lab, which includes 10 computers and monitors, high-speed Internet access and a laser printer, has arrived just in time for the holidays. Donated from Cox Communications and the James M. Cox Foundation, the lab will help support the Clubs in its focus on improving grade-level progression.

“The lab isnt just a gift from Cox, its an investment in the future of more than 1,100 kids at our Westside Unit,” Schott says. “Technology is so important as we work day in and day out to inspire our young people to realize their full potential.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Please take a few minutes to browse these wonderful outlets below and then make sure to share this message with your friends, family and network by clicking the logo below. Help close out 2009 and ring in 2010 with a strong voice of support for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands.

From the Jaguar playing field at the North Unit to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, these young men are a shining example of how hard work, dedication and a Boys & Girls Club can help youth reach their goals. To Niles, DJ, Jeremy and the rest of the Cornhuskers and Cornhusker fans all across the country – GO BIG RED!

Below is a list of other former Husker players (1997 to present) who got their at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands.

• Titus Adams – DT (2002-2005)
• Ahman Green – IB (1995-1997)
• Tierre Green – IB (2004-2007)
• Courtney Grixby – DB (2004-2007)
• DeAntae Grixby – RB (1999-2003)
• David Horne – IB (2002-2003)
• Vershan Jackson – TE (1994-1997)
• Mark Leflore – WR (2002-2005)
• Lornell McPherson – CB (2001-2004)
• Randy Stella – LB (1998-2001)
• Brandon Teamer – DT (2003)
• Wilson Thomas – WR (1999-2002)

The Stock Market Challenge returned to Omaha with two goals in mind: provide educational tools for Club members and needed operating dollars through charitable gifts and partnerships. Both were in abundance on November 12th  at the Scoular Ballroom, as Club members and corporate partners each had a chance to participate in this one- of-a-kind event.

In the afternoon, nearly 100 Boys & Girls Clubs members competed in the stock market simulation, using knowledge they gathered from training workshops in the weeks leading up to the event. Team “ROCK URSTOCKSOFF,” a four member team comprised of Westside Club members, won the Challenge, each taking home a $1000 scholarship to UNO.

The evening’s event brought great excitement as well, as over 200 participants and observers came together to try their hand at success. In the end, “The Energizers,” from Tenaska, took first prize for the second year in a row with the largest portfolio at the closing bell. Ryan Schroer, Brad Heisey, Jay Frisbie and Chris Leitner made up the winning team.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands would like to thank all participants and event partners for making Stock Market Challenge possible.

Event Photos
To view photos from the student event, click here.
To view photos from the corporate event, click here.

Click here to view the embedded video.