Healdsburg High School freshman Itai Lopez was named Youth of
the Year last week at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Sonoma
County’s Healdsburg Club awards night, an honor given to youngsters
for excellent service and dedication.
Lopez, 15, was lauded by the Club’s staff as an engaged and
caring volunteer who often helps younger students with their
homework. “She’s always here, volunteering her time,” said program
director Ann Collins. “She’s just a great person to be around.
She’s devoted to her club, her family and her community.”
Lopez was one of six Club members to garner awards that night.
Collins said the awards reinforce the organization’s values and
help set a good example for others. “It shows that hard work can
pay off,” she said. “The little kids notice everything the big kids
do. We like to remind the older kids that they are being watched,
that they set an example.”
Lopez has been a member of the Club for the past two years, has
participated in numerous programs and is a regular face in the teen
center. As the second of six children she has long experience
helping others, a habit that has carried over to the Club where she
often helps younger students with their homework. She’s a voracious
reader who hopes someday to be a Sheriff’s deputy.
“I like helping the younger kids,” she said. “I read them the
questions on their homework, I explain the assignment. It feels
good.”
The Club also honored five others in the organization’s core
areas, including Daisy Villicana (character and leadership award),
a 10-year-old fifth grader at Fitch Mountain; Jessica Barragan (the
arts), an 11-year-old fifth grader at Fitch Mountain; Melchor
Alonso (sports, fitness and recreation), a 10-year-old fourth
grader at Fitch Mountain; Julissa Ramirez (health and life skills),
a 12-year-old sixth grader at Healdsburg Junior High; and America
Osorio (education and career development), an 8-year-old third
grader at Fitch Mountain.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County serves more
than 800 children daily in after-school programming in Santa Rosa,
Rohnert Park, Windsor and Healdsburg. Club leadership works to
instill specific core values in the youth who come in each day,
including making healthy choices, displaying good character and
citizenship and obtaining academic success.
For more information on the Club visit www.bgccsc.org.
