Congratulations La'Quicia Jones - BGCCC 2008 Youth of the Year

On May 22, 2008 in Trenton, New Jersey, Ms. La'Quicia Jones, long-time member of the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County (BGCCC), placed in the Top Four among over 20 youth representing their Clubs at the New Jersey State Youth of the Year competition. La'Quicia was awarded a $3,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of New Jersey.

In April, BGCCC selected La'Quicia to be the 2008 BGCCC Youth of the Year and she was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. This program was founded over 60 years ago through the generosity of the Reader's Digest Foundation.

A member of the Club for nearly four years, Ms. Jones is a senior at Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High School in Camden, New Jersey. Ms. Jones will attend Rowan University in the fall where she will major in Biology. She plans to pursue a career as a pediatrician and hopes to one day own a practice in Camden. At the club, La'Quicia has taken on countless responsibilities as a mentor and role model to many of the Club members. She is also the Secretary of the Keystone Club, a character and leadership Club for teens ages 14-18, where she helps raise funds for community service projects.

In her Youth of the Year application essay, La'Quicia wrote, "If it was not for the Boys & Girls Club, I would probably be led astray by thinking that the only way out of my community is to become an athlete, selling illegal substances, or becoming gang allied. To give back what the Club has given to me would take an eternity. My plan is not only to be the first to go to college in my family, but to return and uplift my community from all its chaos by becoming a good pediatrician and a strong and honest community leader."

" La'Quicia has been one of our shining stars and we're proud that she is continuing her education," said Milford Liss , Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Camden County. "This is just the beginning for her, and knowing La'Quicia , she will achieve great success and come back to show the next generation of Club Members that if you work hard you will go far."