The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica named 17-year-old Courtne Dotson as Youth of the Year on Saturday, February 7. A member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica since the age of five, Courtne proudly says that she “is addicted” to the Club.
“Courtne Dotson is an outstanding role model and asset to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica and we are honored to name her as our Youth of the Year,” said Allan Young, President and CEO. “She has overcome great personal obstacles to become the driven young woman she is today – proving to all around her that great things can be achieved with a little hard work and dedication.”
“The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica is a place of opportunity,” said Courtne. “It is the most wonderful, inspirational, and fun place that I’ve ever been to in my life. Without it, I don’t think I would be the person I am today.” Courtne will be the first in her family to go to college and has aspirations of attending the University of California, Berkeley.
As the Youth of the Year recipient, Courtne receives a scholarship award and gets considered for the title at the State Level. The Youth of the Year is a national Boys & Girls Club program that was founded over 60 years ago. Competition begins with each Club selecting a Youth of the Year, who can then progress to state, regional, and national competitions with additional scholarships along the way.
Founded in 1944, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica have aided a total of more than 150,000 local youth and currently serve approximately 7,000 youth. They come from all over Los Angeles County, largely from Santa Monica, Venice, West Los Angeles, and Inglewood.
