EXCEPTIONAL TEEN NAMED 2025 NEW JERSEY “YOUTH OF THE YEAR” BY BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS IN NEW JERSEY
Jessica Navarro Davalos Set to Receive College Scholarship and Vie for Northeast Regional Title in June
Clifton, NJ, May 15, 2025 – Selected among 16 outstanding youth, Jessica N. from the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic has been named the 2025 New Jersey Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 78th year, the program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures. As the 2025 New Jersey Youth of the Year, Jessica will serve as an ambassador and will receive a $12,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She will go on to vie for the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national title.
Navarro Davalos has been an outstanding member of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic for four years. Her journey with the Club began in middle school, where her involvement in the Club’s after school program left a lasting impact—an experience she proudly shared in her Youth of the Year speech. Grateful for the guidance and support she received during Power Hour, the Boys & Girls Club’s signature program providing daily homework help, Jessica often chose to spend extra time in academic support sessions, though she also embraced opportunities to explore her interests in art and dance. The Club’s strong focus on academics deeply resonated with her and inspired her passion for educational equity, ultimately leading her to create her own nonprofit, STARSNJ, which offers free academic tutoring and resources through virtual sessions.
After a brief time away during the pandemic, Jessica returned to her home Club in high school as a Bank of America Student Leader Intern. As a summer intern, she supported the Club’s Summer Camp and Resource Development team, and that fall, Navarro Davalos continued her journey with the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic as a Teen Club Member. In addition to joining the Club’s Aquatics Program and improving her skills in swimming, Navarro Davalos also gained valuable skills in college and career readiness through the Club’s Teen Center, with Club staff serving as a support and resource to her through the college application process.
Navarro Davalos is currently a senior at Eastern Christian High and has earned a 3.65 GPA. Jessica will be attending Northeastern University in the Fall, majoring in Politics and Business Administration. She was awarded the Ujima Global Leaders Award based on her interest and goals via community service involvement, experiential opportunities, research, and experiences. Last summer, Jessica served as a Bank of America Student Leader working as a summer intern at the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic. Her career aspiration is to be lawyer and a Congresswoman.
“We are incredibly proud of Jessica and all the Youth of the Year nominees,” said Susan Haspel, State Director of Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey. “Being named NJ Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor. As the New Jersey Youth of the Year, Jessica will serve as a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Club kids and teens across the state as a role model that they can admire and emulate.”
Founded in 1947 as Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community, and Boys & Girls Club. Kohl's is the Signature Sponsor of Youth of the Year, sharing a dedication to America's youth. Kohl's is committed to partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to ensure local Clubs and Youth Centers provide staff training and curriculum updates focused on trauma-informed care, building practices kids and teens will need to build great futures.
On June 17, 2025, Jessica will join other state Youth of the Year to vie for the Northeast regional title. If named the regional Youth of the Year, they will be awarded an additional $20,000 college scholarship. The five finalists along with the National Military Youth of the Year, will advance to the National Youth of the Year event in September 2025 to vie for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional scholarship of $50,000 and a brand-new Toyota Corolla.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit bgca.org/yoy.
About Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey
Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey is an alliance of 22 Boys & Girls Club organizations serving more than 55,000 youth ages 5-18 throughout the Garden State. Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey is a collaborative effort representing all 22 Clubs with the purpose of building local Club capacity; raising public awareness; and securing resources and financial support to increase the impact and reach of NJ Clubs. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey at BGCNJ.org.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 5,200 Clubs serve 3.3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and X.
Photo caption:BGCPP CEO Dr. Christina Dukes Brown and team surround Jessica N. at the Youth of the Year Awards Ceremony on May 13th.
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