Butler’s Kylee Evans, 14, was the Elizabethton Boys and Girls Club (EBGC) seed finalist to go to Nashville and compete for a state bid in the Boys and Girls Club of America’s 70 plus year Youth of the Year Program last Wednesday.

According to Shelly Parham, EBGC program director, this is no mean feat. The process is started at the club level and is a long and arduous but worthwhile and exciting journey, involving maintaining good grades, writing essays, community service and giving speeches.

Those wanting to participate started by completing an application packet and establishing a platform. Local judges then select a winner from six candidates who then go on to compete for a state challenge in Nashville.

If the candidate wins the state challenge, they go on to a regional showoff that is held in Washington, D.C. with the ultimate winner being named National Youth of the Year.

“[Kylee’s speech and platform] was the need for more tools, more learning opportunities for the young people in our county. K through 3 is very lacking. There is a huge proportion of the youths that are not able to read on grade level for reading by the time they are in the third grade,” Parham explained, “and by the time someone gets to third grade, you want them reading to learn, not learning to read.”

The organization’s website describes the program as the “Youth of the Year program has honored and celebrated the nation’s most inspiring teens and their incredible journeys.” The program has been around for over 70 years with the first competition being held in 1947.

As the program allows the best of each club to go to Nashville, they sometimes get to meet with legislative members and other government officials and can have their voices heard again even after their speeches.

Parham shared that Kylee was “[able to visit] Tennessee House of Representative Micah Van Huss representing House District 6,” during her trip Wednesday. Some past National winners have even met the president of the United States.