At both Del Dios Middle School and at the Club, Lucas can be found assisting, mentoring and guiding his fellow classmates and members. At School, he is currently involved in a group called the PLUS program (Peer Leaders Unit Students) where students are trained to help peers with school work and problems. At the club, he has helped resolve so many conflicts that other club members will go straight to him to help them solve their problems. But Lucas is more than a diplomat. He is also an entertainer. At school he reports the weekly news and broadcasts his own series called Celebrity of the Week. He was also a member of the club's leadership camp and helped his group to take first place in the Lip Sync Contest.

Abraham has been an active member for 3 years. He has served as a junior staff and has assumed various other leadership roles. Abraham is a quiet leader. He is always there and is always eager to be involved, but he is not one to steal the spotlight. He is just happy to try new things, help others and make new friends. His gentle demeanor makes him a favorite of both staff and kids. Like many young adults his age, he enjoys his music, sports - especially Basketball, computer internet surfing, and just hanging out. He lives with his brother and sister-in-law in Borrego, to get a better education with the hopes of attending college in the future.

This six year member has been involved in almost every aspect of the club - including several of the teen leadership programs. Through all these activities, he has demonstrated good character, honesty, respect and an ability to lead others. When others are acting out, he is the one to set the positive example and get the group back on track. Aside from the Club, Marcus is a member of the Tennis Team for Madison High School, Teen Corp and the Horizon Christian Youth Group. Although he is only 15, he is currently taking culinary lessons to help him prepare for a future career as a chef or pastry chef.

Brittany has literally grown up at the Club and has known many of the staff for over 10 years. She says the club has helped her both academically and socially. It has taught her how to be a leader and how to commit to goals. She is always positive and displays wonderful leadership skills coupled with great manners. Over the years, Brittany has participated and excelled in all areas of club programming. She has been an officer in the Keystone leadership club for 3 years, has participated in all 9 of the annual You Go Girl track meets, and graduated from the Smart Moves program. She also won an award for our teen girls' group called "Project Butterfly." Project Butterfly is a program that teaches women about their health, how to respect themselves and others and how to take care of their bodies.

Nina started at the Club when she was just 8 years old. Throughout her time at the Club, she has been an active participant in numerous activities and has helped to shape the Club's programming and environment. When the Teen Center was still in its planning stage, Nina was part of a Teen Advisory Committee that offered insight into the design of the building as well as the type and structure of the programs. With the opening of the Teen Center, Nina's involvement grew. She was instrumental in producing a video presentation that resulted in a grant for the club. A portion of the grant went towards transforming an empty lot in to a beautiful community garden. The reminder of the grant supports the music program and recording studio.

Fanny is the current Junior Leader President and shows that she cares about her club by assisting throughout the club on a daily basis. She can always be counted on to help behind the counter, help clean-up after Teen Cuisine, run activities for the younger members and be an overall great role model. She treats everyone with respect and shies away from the negativity that seems to plague other kids her age. When one of our members is sad or having a bad day, she will go out of her way to try to brighten their day. She has a way of making people feel like they matter and that she is truly interested in what they have to say. In the future, she would like to work with kids - either as a teacher or as a Boys & Girls Club staff member.

Viviana is an avid reader and writer. She loves to read a variety of things, but her favorite genre is fantasy. Her love of writing led her to become the President of the Writing Club at her school. She enjoys writing fictional short stories and poems. Briana's creativity won her the annual writing achievement award at her school. Briana has a very optimistic attitude and has a knack for turning negative situations into positive ones. She also has the ability to get other members to do the same. Instead of complaining about things, she looks for ways to make the most out of everything. If there is a problem, she looks for a positive solution.

Sarena has been a member of the Club for the last six years. During this time she has established herself as an unselfish and helpful individual. She has been involved with many countless hours of volunteering. She routinely volunteers in the Power Hour program - helping other members with their homework. She also helps to promote the club throughout her school and the community. She knows everyone and everyone definitely knows her. Sarena is very knowledgeable on the way the Club operates and is always on hand to help with Club tours and to welcome new members. In the future, she hopes to continue to help others by becoming a doctor.

Briana started attending the club when she was a little girl and staff have enjoyed watching her grow into a lovely young lady. She has learned many skills while at the club such as how to be a leader and how to help others. She has spent countless hours volunteering with all sorts of tasks, from decorating the club for special occasions, serving as master of ceremonies for many performing arts shows, assisting with snacks, and feeding the homeless. She is always willing to give of herself. Her giving spirit and eagerness to be involved has earned her numerous awards over her six years at the club. She is a well-rounded member who enjoys arts & crafts, technology, athletics and performing arts.

Drama and performing arts are Chanel's passion. She is involved in the drama club at school and would love to create a dance and music production at the club. She enjoys working with the younger kids and would like to train them in the performing arts. Her ease at being in front of groups of people make her a natural leader. She is currently the ASB representative for her class at Meadowbrook Middle School. At the club, Chanel is an active Junior Leader and in constantly helping around the Club. She helps the younger members in the homework room with math and history. She loves to take the lead role in cooking classes and Chanel is typically the first one to volunteer for community service projects.

Kim is very active at the Club, often participating in activities such as Teen Cuisine and outdoor games. She also graduated from the SMART Moves program as well as the Nutrition & Fitness program and recently attended the Boys & Girls Clubs' Leadership Camp. However, her favorite thing to do at the Club involves helping staff with the Juniors Club program. The Juniors Club is for first and second grade members. This can be a challenging age group for some, but Kim excels in this area. It is in her interactions with these members that her leadership, warmth & charisma shine brightest. Kim remains an active member of the Club primarily due to her relationships with the staff. She says she has fun with them and feels having role models she can talk to at the Club has made a difference in her life.

Genie's attitude at the club is one of what can I do; what can I get involved with; what can I do to help. She is never afraid to help another member in whatever way she can. Genie participates in all of our areas and gives her best effort. She is also very helpful when her brother, who has autism, attends the club. She is patient and loving and is a huge help in involving him in club activities. Genie's father is in the military which has provided her with a strong set of values to guide her through life. She is a wonderful role model for our members both young and old. Genie is also an accomplished athlete. She has earned her orange belt in the Club's karate program and finished second in the 2006 Summer Games swimming competition.

As a young woman with a passion for creativity, Allison is involved in several extra-curricular activities in the performing arts. She is a member of the speech club, drama club & art club as well as a standout member of the school choir, recently performing two solo recitals. In addition to these activities, she also serves as a tutor for students at a nearby elementary school. Allison is an active participant in many Club programs. However, doing well in school is always Allison's top priority. She is constantly on task during the Power Hour homework program. If she manages to finish her homework during this time, she spends the remaining time assisting other Club members with their homework or pursuing her passion for creative writing through poetry and stories.

Josh is a committed athlete. A portion of his day is always spent on physical activities. Whether it is a pick-up sports game, the school wrestling team or flag football competition, he is constantly out there giving it his all and enhancing his skills. In addition to building his own skills, Josh offers guidance and support to his peers to help them improve their own. He exhibits great sportsmanship and cheers on everyone. When he is not playing sports, you can find him doing homework, reading or assisting around the Club. From little things like picking up after activities he wasn't even participating in to big things like organizing activities, Josh can always be counted on to help. The best part about it is that he doesn't expect a treat or special privileges in return. He helps because he respects the program and the people around it.

Erika is a very well-rounded and busy young lady. Away from the Club, she volunteers at her church, plays on her school's soccer team, participates in a college prep club, serves as a peer counselor and plays both the guitar and piano. At the Club, Erika involves herself in a variety of core program activities on a daily basis, including art, sports, and educational group games. She is also a founding member of the Teen Talk Club which encourages members to share their thoughts and feelings on current events, political and environmental issues. She jumps in to help whenever needed. During a Club emergency, she assisted the staff by translating for a Spanish-speaking parent. What could have been a stressful situation was quickly resolved with her assistance.

Lissette is a natural born leader with her "I Can" attitude and cheerful disposition, which seem to be contagious with the other Club members as she strives to lead by example. She is always eager to try new activities and encourages others to join in with her. Even when all other members seem hesitant to try something different, she dives right in without hesitation in an attempt to discover something new and interesting. As other members see her having fun and learning, they too want to join in and have fun! Lissette utilizes her leadership skills at school as well as the club. She is an active member of the Club Live leadership group and recently attended the Club's Leadership Camp. She also has a passion for Art. During a recent Multi-cultural art program, one of her pieces was awarded 1st place and put on display at the Club.

Bianca is a committed student and an exceptional athlete. While you can often find her participating in a variety of sports including football and Dance Dance Revolution, her true sports passion is soccer. She loves the game. This year she played as a forward and a goalie on the undefeated girls' soccer team. Aside from her athletic ability, Bianca also exhibits great sportsmanship both on and off the field. No matter what the situation is, she always has a bright, energetic and positive attitude. She is eager to be involved and do whatever she can to assist staff and other club members. She constantly gives of herself and never looks to be rewarded in return.