Malta's Jones named 'Youth of the Year'

Shelby Jones has been named the Youth of the Year and will receive a $500 college scholarship from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Hi-Line. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 72nd year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation's most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. Shelby will go on to contend for the Montana Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, in Helena, February 18th, 2019.

"Shelby is an exceptional, hard-working, caring young woman and we are both excited and proud that she will be representing the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Hi-Line," said Sonia Young, Director of the Malta Club. Shelby has been a member of the Malta Boys & Girls Club since she was six years old. She is always happy to help out by volunteering in any of our Centers. Shelby has been active in extracurricular activities at school: FFA, FCCLA, reACT! Youth Coalition, JJMT, Cheerleading, and Track.

Shelby recently achieved her Certified Nursing Assistant certificate and has been hired to work at the Hi-Line Retirement Center. Shelby's future plans are to attend Fort Belknap College to attain a degree in Nursing.

If Shelby wins at the state competition, she will compete for the title of Southwest Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C. in September 2019, to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year up to $100,000.

The Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by The Walt Disney Company, who has supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than 50 years, empowering young people to reach their full potential and providing youth with access to the tools they need to build the great futures they imagine. Toyota is the Signature Sponsor of the national Youth of the Year program.

For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit http://www.youthoftheyear.org.

Malta Boys & Girls Club is an extension club of the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line in Havre and opened its doors in 2005. Since that time, the Malta Club has had more than 670 youth become members. For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,400 Clubs serve 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at on Facebook and Twitter.