The Arizona Republic
Apr. 22 2008 10:47 pm
Tucson Magnet School senior Tessa Kozlowski, 17, was named 2008 Boys & Girls Club State Youth of the Year at a breakfast Tuesday.
Kozlowski, who lives in Vail, said that the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson made her realize that attending college is a viable option for her.
She won a $1,800 scholarship from Fiesta Bowl and $1,000 from Reader's Digest. Kozlowski will represent Arizona in the regional competition in Disneyland in July. The regional winner will compete in September to be the National Youth of the Year, who will receive a $15,000 scholarship and meet President Bush at the White House.
Fourteen teens from around the state were nominated for Youth of the Year. The three top finalists are Harmony Nelson, 17, Mesa; Jarmarkus Anderson, 18, Phoenix; and Christina Eastin, 17, Bullhead City.They each received a $1,200 Fiesta Bowl scholarship. The other 11 candidates each received an $800 Fiesta Bowl scholarship.
As an ambassador to the club, Kozlowski goes on speaking engagements about the club's benefits. She is president of the Pima County Youth Advisory Board advocating for youth in the foster-care system. She is also a participant in Every Voice in Action. Kozlowski hopes to attend the University of Arizona and pursue a career in law enforcement.
Sponsored by the Reader's Digest Association, the National Youth of the Year Program is designed to recognize service to community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life.
To view a slide show and profiles on the 14 finalists, go to education.azcentral.com.
