Boys & Girls Clubs Of West Alabama Honor Youth Of The Year

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—The Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama held its 2023 Youth of the Year at a celebration luncheon Tuesday at the King-Hubbard #10 Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Tuscaloosa.

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The annual event saw LaMorris Bester of Hale County High School named the 2023 Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama.

"Youth of the Year is the premier recognition program celebrating the extraordinary
achievements of members across Boys & Girls Clubs,” President and CEO Kim Turner said. “It
is the highest honor a Club Kid can receive. Through Youth of the Year, Boys & Girls Clubs of
West Alabama is fostering a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a
diverse, global and integrated world environment. We are proud to announce this year's winner."

Bester has been a club member since 2020 and is actively involved in the club's programs, such as Smart Leaders, Passport to Manhood, STEM challenges and volunteer opportunities.

Bester has a current GPA of 3.9 and is a member of the National Honor Society, vice president of the HCHS Student Government Association and president of Alpha Esquire — a male mentoring and community service group.

The club also says Bester is a dual enrollment student at Shelton State Community College and a member of the Hale County High School Club junior staff. He plans to pursue a political career.

“The love and compassion LaMorris Bester has for humanity and his community, and the
passion he has for the members and staff at the Club is the reason he was selected,” Site Director Terri Cotton.

Two other Hale County High School students were also honored as candidates for the 2023 Youth of the Year: Kirsten Croxton and Demerius Lewis

Junior Youth of the Year are LaJameia Chaney of Aliceville for the Aliceville Elementary School site, Hailey McGuire of Greensboro for the Greensboro club site, Prynce Washington of Northport for the Hasson Center Club site and Abriyah White of Tuscaloosa for the Jaycee Park Club site.

Arlesia Montgomery, director of the Hasson Center, said Washington is a fifth-grade student at
Collins-Riverside Intermediate School and was selected for his positive attitude when helping staff around the club or assisting other members with their homework.

“Prynce is such a smart kid," Montgomery said. “He is going to be a future Youth of the Year
candidate. He is just one of those kids that uplifts everyone he is around.”

Jaycee Park interim director Joseph Sewell said White — a homeschooled student — is respected
by her peers, and staff members appreciate her enthusiastic and considerate nature.

“I'm so proud of her and the dedication she shows in her school work and her willingness to help
others,” Sewell said. “She is bound to be a huge success in life, and we are lucky to have her as
a member of our Club.”

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