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Boys and Girls Clubs of Portland Name 2016 Youth of the Year

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

GoLocalPDX News Team

Ilse Villasenor receives $1,000 scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro CEO Erin Hubert; courtesy of Boys and Girls Clubs

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Portland Metropolitan Area named Isle Villasenor, as their 2016 Youth of the Year this week.

Villasenor is an 11-year-member of the Jack, Will and Rob Boys and Girls Club in Camas, Washington. Villasenor received her award at a ceremony held on Wednesday.

"As an immigrant to this country, the first time that I walked through the doors of the Club I knew nothing about American culture and was suffering from culture shock," said Villasenor. "The Boys & Girls Club was the first place that welcomed me as their own from the beginning. The Club has given me what many other people in my life have never given me; opportunity."

The selection process is a two-day event, hosted by KeyBank at the KeyBank Club at Providence Park.

A panel of judges representing the Timbers & Thorns, Providence Health and Services, and UPS heard speeches from each of the six Metro Area Youth of the Year candidates, conducted one-on-one interviews, and then announced the winner at a breakfast the next morning hosted at the Blazers Boys & Girls Club on MLK JR. Blvd.

Ilse and her family immigrated to the US at a young age and quickly found refuge at the Boys & Girls Club. Ilse is a leader in her Club and at her school, logging more than 300 hours of volunteer service this past year. In the Club, she helps run activities for younger Club members like yoga and Zumba, and has taught a six-week Spanish class to 2nd and 3rd graders in the Club.

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