We’re excited to share that Bradon Wiggins has been announced as the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley’s 2021-2022 Youth of the Year winner!
This Appleton North senior, STAR Scholar, tutor, brain tumor survivor, and aspiring aerospace engineer shares that “The only way to know what tomorrow will hold is to be there for tomorrow and to fight for it.”
Introducing Bradon!
Ever since he was a child, Bradon has been passionate about aviation. In his Youth of the Year speech, Bradon speaks candidly about his dreams, struggles, and the opportunities he’s seized along the way. He shares how he was crushed that his dream of becoming a pilot was grounded due to a brain tumor and how his new dream is on track to take flight.
For the past three years, the Club’s STAR initiative and Bradon’s STAR Advisor have been giving him chances to thrive and continue pursuing his dreams.
“My experience with STAR has really impacted how I see the world and others.”
His involvement in STAR not only provided him with support but gave him an opportunity to help those around him. “I saw it as a chance to give, a chance to give back and be there for others and their struggles. Throughout high school, I tutored my STAR peers in most subjects and even got to tutor a local middle school.”
In addition to tutoring, Bradon is active in National Honor Society, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation Mentoring, and AASD’s DEI Taskforce. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering.
More About Youth of the Year
Youth of the Year is a Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley premier recognition event that celebrates the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Candidates are selected based on their values of leadership, service, academic performance, and healthy lifestyles.
The Youth of the Year process involves a written application with essays, interviews with the Youth of the Year judges, and the delivery of their speech. Candidates share their stories, vision for America’s youth, and how their Club experience has empowered them to find their voice and achieve success through mentorship and guidance with caring adults.
Valerie Alvarado, a freshman at Menasha High School, and Kendall Jackson, a sophomore at Appleton North High School were selected as this year’s Youth of the Year runner-ups. This year‘s winner and two runner-ups participated alongside three other candidates who each shared their stories of resiliency, determination, and perseverance.
Upon high school graduation, Youth of the Year winners and candidates also receive scholarship money that is renewable for up to four years.
We are tremendously proud of all of this year’s candidates for sharing their stories, achievements, obstacles, and dreams with our judges. The future looks bright for these young people!
