On March 26, 2025, BGCNW celebrated its Annual Youth of the Year Award Ceremony at its facility, located at 351 E. Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY.
The evening event, which was attended by 130 supporters and friends of BGCNW, featured inspiring speeches by seven extraordinary teens who earlier in the evening were interviewed by a distinguished panel of judges. After the judges’ deliberations, three winners were announced to rounds of applause.
Beberlyn Confesor, who is a Senior at Fox Lane High School, is the 2025 BGCNW Youth of the Year. Beberlyn is a 10-year Club member, 2-time Youth of the Year candidate, and has traveled 2 times to Albany with Club leadership to advocate on behalf of critical programming impacting NYS youth and families. She is an active member of Liberty Keystone, where she is the Treasurer. As a Junior Staff member during the Summer Camp program, Beberlyn developed skills and opportunities that have allowed her to continue to give back to the Club that has been an integral part of her upbringing. She has also been an active volunteer at Northern Westchester Hospital for the past two years and plans on studying pre-med in college.
Katie O’Donnell, who is a Junior at John Jay High School, received the Chris Cutri Memorial Scholarship Award. She is a 13-year member of Marlins Swim Program, a graduate of the Wilfred E. Jennings Summer Leadership program, 2-time Youth of the Year candidate, and has traveled 2 times to Albany with Club leadership to advocate on behalf of critical programming impacting NYS youth and families.. Katie works in the Aquatics department as a Learn-to-Swim instructor and volunteers with the Wellness Center as a Jr. Intern.
Isabel Valenzuela, a Junior at Fox Lane High School, received the Wilfred E. Jennings Leadership Award. She is a 10-year Club member and an 8-year member of the Marlins Swim Team. She traveled to Albany with her peers this January to advocate on behalf of critical programming impacting NYS youth and families. Isabel is also a Learn-to-Swim instructor.
The other finalists were:
Kimberly Contreras Serrano, Senior at Fox Lane High School and an 8-year Club member.
Adam Kamal, Junior at Horace Greeley High School and a 10-year member of the Marlins Swim Team.
Fatima Lopez Martinez, a Senior at Byram Hills High School and a 3-year Club member.
Patrick Polese, a Senior at Fox Lane High School and a 6-year member of the Marlins Swim Team.
The judges for the competition included community volunteer, Wendy Aglietti; Audacy board member, Brian Lakamp; Coordinator, Community Affairs, NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, Wendy McNamara; ABC7 News Anchor, Phil Taitt; and, Test Prep Tutor and Tech Consultant, Jeremy Tillman.
As the winner of the BGCNW Youth of the Year Award, Beberlyn will advance to a state-level event.