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www.mybaycity.com February 17, 2008
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Awards For Boys and Girls Club Presented at Annual Banquet

Good Kids Get Recognition For Good Deeds, Citizenship

February 17, 2008       Leave a Comment
By: Kevin Leahy

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The Boys and Girls Clubs of Bay County held their annual Awards Banquet Tuesday night recognizing their Members of the Year from their three facilities and Members of the Month selections.

Each Club member has the opportunity to help others and staff while going out of their way to do good deeds for their Club.

Also awarded Tuesday night were the good citizenship awards from their certified extension programs at Hampton, Kolb, Linsday and MacGregor Elementaries and Handy Middle School.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Bay City's own Frank Velasquez Jr., Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club and alumnus of the Boys and Girls Club.

Velasquez is a '93 Graduate from the University of Michigan (BS Kinesthiology) and was a part of two Big Ten Football Championship teams while a student athletic trainer.

Before the event Velasquez presented a speech and slide presentation to the children and their parents on the benefits of good nutrition, strength and conditioning, diet and exercise and the destructive effects of performance enhancing drugs.

Velasquez also does consulting work nationwide for his Three Rivers Athletic Development Company. He has been working in professional baseball since 1996.



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After a hearty meat and potatoes dinner, Velasquez began his keynote address with "I learned a lot in these walls about discipline and community spirit." He continued with his ten points of consideration for the kids in attendance.

Just to highlight a few, ""never be afraid of making mistakes, just learn from them," never stop dreaming because dreams turn into goals as you become young adults," learn to be a giver,it has great rewards," lastly, take care of your body.""

He then went on to explain the dangers of amphetamines and energy drinks and why they are considered supplements; "food first, is where you get your nutrition needs and if you eat good there's no need to supplement that," was his final instruction before honoring all the winners in attendance.

The winners in attendance and their relatives were proud of the prestigious honor they were receiving.

From nearly 2000 members at the Bay City Unit, members of the month were: Zac Parkinson, Alexis Ayala, Paul Sevilla, Skie Collins, Travis Witcop, Tyler Smith, Cedrick McGee, Jessica Hinkley, Ryan Dubay, Aliyah Watts, Devin Hill, and Youth of the Year Megan Donaldson.

From the 800 members at the Essexville Unit, the twelve selected were: Shawn Isbell, Ann Marie Randal, Noah Bargouthy, Neil Spencer, Kerisa Rascoe, Sasha Aide, Taylor Johnson, Alexis Deiter, Owen Weller, Kelly Yagiela, Trystin Kayner, and Youth of the Year Michael Gibbs.

From the nearly 800 at the Pinconning Unit there was: Randy Howard, Kenny Ebel, David Snell, Larissa Howell, Cole Schlicker, Beverly Herber, Brandon Thresher, Alicia Douglas, Domaniq Worden, Kyle Sanford, Jacob Szeszulski, and Youth of the Year Bobby Herber.

Citizenship Awards are in partnership with the Bay City Public Schools and are awarded to a youth selected by their school that has exemplified the characteristics necessary to live the life of a good citizen with strong character and leadership skills.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Bay County was proud to honor Keygan Galloner from Hampton, Jorge Munoz from Macgregor, Alyssa Cozad from Handy, Haley Ackley from Kolb, Taya Kleman from Lindsay and Lennon Gwizdala from Washington.

Velasquez concluded his speech by asking all the winners, "to use this honorable award as a building block for bigger and better accomplishments as you become young successful adults in your community."

One of three "Member of the Year" award plaques honoring one member from each of the Bay County Units.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Boys Club President Chris Rupp opens the Annual Awards Ceremony last week at The Boys Club
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Key note speaker for the night was Boys Club Alum. Frank Velasquez Jr. Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The crowd on hand braved another snow storm to come out and honor the award winners
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Mr. Jerry Weller and his wife Joy beam with pride with their son Owen who was Member of the Month in September at the Essexville Unit
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)



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Unit Directors Ray Garcia, Bill Traxler and Jerry "Bear" Gomez present awards to their respective members
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The Bay City Unit award winners showing off their plaques
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The Essexville award winners show off their hardware
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The Pinconning Unit members show off their awards.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The 2007 Citizenship Award winners from the Bay City Public Schools with their respective school representatives
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

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Kevin Leahy

Kevin Leahy has an interest in all sports-related activities at the Local, State and National levels. Looking for the inside story? Leahy's got it . . .

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