The Waltham Boys & Girls Club crowns Youth of the Year

The Waltham Boys & Girls Club gym was buzzing with excitement as more than 130 club members from kindergarten through grade 12, staff, parents and supporters gathered Friday for the announcement of the club’s Youth of the Year, the highest honor a club member can receive. 

For more than 75 years, the nationwide Youth of the Year program has recognized young people for their outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, pursuit of health and well-being and dedication to the club.

As Waltham Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Erica Young presented this year’s four nominees, she told the younger club members, “This could be you!”  

Assistant Executive Director Jason Smith described each candidate’s unique qualities: Yasminn V., “a natural born leader who offers inspiration to others”; Stephen M., a young man who “searches for excellence in all that he does”; Maricruz C., “an outstanding athlete and advocate for those in need”; and Mirembe B., “a resilient leader who drives meaningful change in her community.”

Mirembe was named winner of the 2025 WBGC Youth of the Year. She received a $1,000 check and will represent the Waltham club in the state-level competition at Gillette Stadium on May 13. There, Mirembe will have the chance to win a $20,000 scholarship from the Kraft Family Foundation. The state winner will represent Massachusetts in further competitions for regional and national Youth of the Year titles.

Mirembe, a club member since 2013, thanked her family, advisers and club staff for their support and told younger club members to “keep inspiring your peers, keep pushing and you can change the world.”  

She said that preparing for this competition taught her to balance the demands of high school classes, college and scholarship applications, the Waltham High School Debate Team and Show Choir and her dance group Afro Diamonds.

The four Youth of the Year nominees thanked their mentors on the WBGC staff for their life-changing support, inspiration, job opportunities and a home away from home.

Haybi Garcia, 2024 WBGC Youth of the Year and 2024 Massachusetts Youth of the Year, was on hand to advise Mirembe regarding her preparation for future competitions. 

Now completing her first year at Boston College, Haybi described the skills and confidence she had gained from her WBGC experience and the Youth of the Year competition.  

She said keys to her success included “learning to ask for help by reaching out to mentors” and focusing on self-care during stressful times. 

Haybi has formed strong bonds of friendship with youth throughout the state as she fulfilled her responsibilities as 2024 Massachusetts Youth of the Year.  

“We’re all just teenagers!” she said with a big smile.