Submitted by: Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County
On January 23 Liam Wilson, 17, was named the 2018 Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County. Hundreds of Boys & Girls Club members participate in the national competition annually. Through the program, participants develop public speaking and goal setting skills essential to a successful future at school and into the workplace. Since 1947, the Youth of the Year program has recognized members for their leadership, communication and teamwork skills at the county, state, regional and national level.
A current Lynden Clubhouse member, Wilson has been a Club kid since he transplanted from South Africa to Kirkland at the age of six. He was uprooted again in the 5th grade, this time to Lynden.
“We moved to Lynden and once again I was able to turn to the Boys & Girls Club to help me with the transition. When I walked in [the club] in Lynden, I felt at home and welcomed,” Wilson said.
Today, Wilson is enrolled as a Running Start student at Bellingham Technical College with a focus in engineering. He is the youngest geometrics major on campus. When he isn’t hitting the books, he still finds time to visit his friends at the Lynden Clubhouse and stay involved in leadership programs like Keystone Club and Junior Staff.
Wilson will continue to train and develop his public speaking skills before competing at the state level in Seattle on March 20-22. Wilson will compete against 21 youth from all over Washington State who are representing their club and community. Wilson will once again share his story with hundreds in the audience in order to be selected to move onto the regional competition.
