2025 Youth of the Year

Mansfield high school student honored for her accomplishments and service to others 

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (March…, 2025) –Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County (BGCGTC) has named Ja’Miyah G., a Mansfield high school student and BGCGTC member since 2023, as its 2025 Youth of the Year.  The 17-year-old member of the Kromer Branch in Arlington was one of eight finalists in the annual awards, which recognizes remarkable teens and celebrates the impact Boys & Girls Clubs has had on their lives. 

The award was presented Feb. 21 at BGCGTC’s Youth of the Year Gala, which attracted almost 390 guests and raised nearly $400,000 for the nonprofit. Finalists were selected based on outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to health and well-being. 

Ja’Miyah first visited a BGCGTC branch in May 2023. She was 15 years old and not quite sure what to expect. What she found was a welcoming and supportive environment, and a place that recognized her potential to flourish while making a positive impact on other youth.

“The Club has helped me grow and given me a sense of purpose,” Ja’Miyah said. “Being a Club member is like someone opening a door for you and then giving you every single key to new doors ahead. And every key has a lesson. And they are always there to support you as you go through that next door.”

Ja’Miyah has participated in a variety of clubs within BGCGTC where she has expanded her skills. She founded and coaches a BGCGTC cheerleading team to support the club’s basketball league, and during summer hours, she leads a “morning boogie” dance session to get Club members excited about their day. Last year, she even traveled with BGCGTC to Washington D.C., where she and other Club members had an opportunity to meet with legislators and represent the needs of Texas youth. 

Ja’Miyah Is also working on starting her own nonprofit to support the mental health needs for teens.

“I’ve lost family members to mental health, and I want to create something that is an extension of the love and support I have received at Boys & Girls Clubs over the years,” she said. “My goal is to provide a peer-to-peer program for teens who may not be comfortable talking to an adult, so that they can support each other outside of Club hours.”

Ja’Miyah said the personal growth and leadership skills she experienced through her club involvement also prompted her to join the student council at Mansfield’s Lake Ridge High School, where she is enrolled in Advanced Placement credit courses. Upon graduation, she plans to attend Prairie View A&M University and pursue a degree in architecture.

Ja’Miyah will now be entered in the statewide Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year competition, and hopes this recognition will encourage and motivate more teens to take advantage of all the Boys & Girls Clubs have to offer.

“No matter what has happened in your life, no matter what background you have, no matter what you’re going through at that moment, you’re going to be loved just as equally as anybody else who walks through those doors,” Ja’Miyah said. “Becoming a Youth of the Year symbolizes the hard work that I have put in, but it also allows other kids to see that no matter what they may be going through, at the end of the day, they have the potential to accomplish great things if they put their minds to it.”

All About Ja’Miyah G

Ja’Miyah, a high school member of the Kromer branch in Arlington, has earned the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County’s 2025 Youth of the Year. Ja’Miyah was selected from eight outstanding finalists for this prestigious honor, which recognizes exceptional leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to well-being.

Ja’Miyah’s journey with BGCGTC began in May 2023 when she first stepped into a Club unsure of what to expect. What she found was a supportive and empowering environment that helped her grow as a leader and discover her passion for uplifting others.

“The Club has helped me grow and given me a sense of purpose,” Ja’Miyah said. “Being a Club member is like someone opening a door for you and then giving you every single key to new doors ahead. And every key has a lesson.”

Since joining BGCGTC, Ja’Miyah has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to her community. She founded and coaches a cheerleading team for the Club’s basketball league and leads a “morning boogie” dance session during summer hours to energize Club members. Her leadership extends beyond the Club as well—last year, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Texas youth and meet with legislators.

Ja’Miyah is also deeply passionate about mental health awareness. Inspired by personal loss, she is working to launch her own nonprofit focused on providing peer-to-peer mental health support for teens.

“I want to create something that is an extension of the love and support I have received at Boys & Girls Clubs,” she said. “My goal is to provide a space where teens can support each other, especially outside of Club hours.”

A driven and accomplished student, Ja’Miyah is a member of her school’s student council and is enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. After graduation, she plans to attend Prairie View A&M University to pursue a degree in architecture.

She hopes her journey will inspire other teens to take advantage of the life-changing opportunities offered by Boys & Girls Clubs.

“No matter what background you have or what you’re going through, you are loved and supported when you walk through those doors,” Ja’Miyah said. “I hope my story shows other kids that they, too, can accomplish great things if they believe in themselves.”

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