By Carissa Cascio
Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs is pleased to announce that Palm Springs High School senior Samantha Torres will be its recipient of its 2016 Youth of the Year award. The gala, held annually to honor one student, will be Thursday, March 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hilton Palm Springs (400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way).
The Youth of the Year award is Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs’ way of recognizing one exceptional member for serving the Club and community, demonstrating academic success, exhibiting strong moral character and working toward future goals. To be eligible for this award, candidates must have been a member of the Club for two years, an affiliate of the Keystone Club, and a senior in high school prior to submitting the application, and able to deliver a speech to the four judges for evaluation.
“We have had the pleasure of watching this young woman flourish within the walls of our Club for many years now and we are so excited to see what her future holds,” said Terry Tatum, President of Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs. “She is a shining example of what a true leader is and we are thrilled to call her our winner.”
Torres, currently the Keystone Club’s president, first became a member in elementary school and attributes her leadership skills, independence and perseverance to her time spent in various programs at Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs. Torres plans to attend University of California, Riverside to study Business Administration all while continuing to volunteer with the community’s youth, which is one of her greatest passions.
The gala is open to the public. All funds raised go directly towards keeping membership costs low, necessary maintenance repairs and support the overall growth of the Club. Tickets are $75 per person or $750 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets, visit www.bgcps.org/donation/index.html. For more information, call Andrea Madrigal at (760)327-1304 ext. 301 or visit www.bgcps.org.
