Congratulations to our 2025 Youth of the Year Finalists!

Congratulations to our 2025 Youth of the Year Finalists!

Since 1947, Youth of the Year has been Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members.


Each year, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club names two Youth of the Year from each Clubhouse. These extraordinary members serve as exemplary ambassadors for WBGC youth and lend their strong voices to all of our Club's young people.


The following six youth, two from each Clubhouse, have been selected as finalists for WBGC's Youth of the Year. The winner will go on to contend for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title. The journey then continues to the Northeast Regional Youth of the Year, and ultimately six finalists will advance to the National Youth of the Year event to vie for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year.


Congratulations to our finalists:


Nate P. (Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse)

Nate is a senior at Bassick High School in Bridgeport, CT, where he has lived for 17 years. Highly motivated and community-driven, Nate is passionate about making a positive impact on those around him. He enjoys playing basketball, making music, and is an avid video game player. During his time at Wakeman BGC, Nate has demonstrated strong leadership qualities, showing great potential to become an influential leader in the future.


Oshane C. (Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse)

Oshane is currently a junior at Bridgeport Central High School in Bridgeport, CT, where he has lived since moving from Ocho Rios, Jamaica. His passion for sports drives his ambition to pursue a career in physical therapy, with the goal of helping athletes reach their full potential. As the middle child, Oshane is dedicated to being a positive role model for both his brother and sister, always striving to set a strong example for them.


Audrey B. (Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse)

Audrey is a stellar student, exhibits leadership skills, and empowers members within the Clubhouse, school and within her community. Audrey is a track and field star, a crochet master, artist, Live Girl leader, 100 Girls Leading leader, and volunteer guru within the Clubhouse. Audrey's compassion, resilience and service to her community make her a true leader now and in the future.  Audrey plans to attend college to pursue a career in nursing.


Allison P. (Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse)

Allison has displayed resilience since joining the Clubhouse, overcoming hurdles and obstacles during her life which most young people her age could not survive. Allison has stayed focused and has obtained job experience by joining the WBGC Workplace Readiness program. She is focused on her grades and hopes to attend college to pursue a career related to animals because of her love of cats.


Avery P. (Southport Clubhouse)

Avery has attended Wakeman BGC since she was 8 years old, attending the After School Program (ASP) and participating in a variety of classes and sports programs. She has been in Keystone Club for the past three years and has been past Parliamentarian and current Co Vice President.  As a VP, she is responsible to keep others motivated to complete their service hours and attend meetings. Besides attending Fairfield Ludlowe High School, she loves to run and do art and enjoys yoga. She was the co-creator of Brain Boosters, a targeted learning program for our ASP members. She also currently volunteers at the Carolina House and at Riverfield Elementary School as a mentor.  Avery was also a summer camp counselor and won staff of the week. Avery attended the National Keystone Conference as a delegate in 2024 and was selected to apply for the National Steering Committee in 2025. 


Peyton H. (Southport Clubhouse)

Peyton has been a member of WBGC for almost nine years, attending the After School Program and participating in sports and the arts programming. She eventually joined Torch and Keystone leadership clubs and began to give back to the club and community. Peyton is currently the Co-Treasurer, Fitness Program Chair, and past Parliamentarian of the Southport Keystone Club. She received the award for Keystone member of the year last year. Peyton was a delegate to the national Keystone Conference in 2024 and brings energy to every meeting and service project. Outside the Club, you can find her cooking, baking or going on walks.


Becoming National Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspiring journey. Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state and regional Youth of the Year events. The National Youth of the Year is a teen spokesperson, role model, leader and advocate for over 4.6 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year, and all of America’s young people.

Congratulations to the 2025 WBGC Fine Arts Exhibit Winners!

February 13, 2025
Thank you to the artists who submitted works to our 2025 Fine Arts Exhibit, Express Yourself: Imagination Unbound, celebrating the power of individuality and imagination. Selected works will go on to compete in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Arts Contest. Entries were evaluated by a panel of judges on thematic accuracy, visual display & audio quality, artistic merit, creativity, originality and skill level. Congratulations to the first place winners: Visual Arts: Age 6-9: Hayden P. Age 10-12: Guilia Z. Ages 13-15: Keyarra H. Ages 16-18: Ryan G. Applied Arts: Ages 6-9: Harlem R. Ages 10-12: Harmony M. Digital Arts: Ages 6-9: Marcus J. Ages 10-12: Appollo A. Ages 13-15: Jayden W. Ages 16-18: Grant K.

Proceeds of "Run Across Connecticut" to Benefit WBGC

January 19, 2025
Creator and runner of the 150 mile "Run Across Connecticut" hopes to inspire others to become the best version of themselves.

WBGC Cowboys Celebrate Great Season

December 23, 2024
On Saturday, December 14, the WBGC Cowboys held their end-of-season banquet at our Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse. The Cowboys program is about much more than football. Our players have worked hard on AND off the field. They have built a community, attended Cowboy Study Hall, and team dinners together. And they have built skills in teamwork, discipline, perseverance, goal setting, and the ability to handle success and failure. Thank you to the parents, coaches, volunteers and donors who helped to make the season such a success. Go Cowboys!

Construction Junction Exposes Young Adults to ACE Careers

November 13, 2024
Teens and young adults explored careers in the fields of construction, architecture and engineering, met leaders from union and apprenticeship trade programs, and engaged in hands-on projects at the Construction Junction on Wednesday, November 6at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse. Sponsored by a collective of industry partners to mark Construction Inclusion Week, participating organizations included Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, DeWalt, Gilbane Building Company, IBEW Local 468, Iron Workers 424, Kafa Group, O&G Industries and Turner Construction in addition to Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. The event was free and open to young people aged 13-25 along with family members. “The Construction Junction directly supports our goal to help young people achieve positive outcomes in Life & Workforce Readiness. We are excited to bring together industry leaders and our local youth to provide mentorship and to explore careers in these fields,” commented Sabrina E. Smeltz, Wakeman Boys & Girls Club CEO. “Turner Construction Company is committed to innovative partnerships and programs to cultivate the next generation of trades workers and industry professionals. We are facing a serious gap in skilled labor and collectively are working to create pathways for lifelong, successful careers in construction,” stated Chad McCullough, Turner Construction Company, Vice President & General Manager. Participants also learned about the ACE Mentor Program offered at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, designed to expose high school students to careers in architecture, construction, and engineering, including skilled trades. Mentors from ACE companies, such as Turner, work with the students to complete a culminating architectural project. Through this 15-week program, 30 teens have opportunities for summer externships and college scholarships. More information is available here.

WBGC Goes Over The Edge!

October 28, 2024
Thank you to our heroes and sidekicks! Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) hosted its annual Over The Edge urban rappelling event on October 26, 2024 at the M&T Bank Headquarters (850 Main Street) in Bridgeport, CT. The event featured participants rappelling down the side of the 248-foot-tall building to support WBGC in delivering programs that promote academic success, healthy lifestyles and character & leadership. To date, the event has raised over $95K for WBGC and it's not too late to give! Wakeman BGC is grateful to event sponsors, volunteers, participants and community partners for making the day a tremendous success. Check out the News 12 coverage here. Watch a video by the Fairfield Prep Media Team here. Photos Courtesy A-Frame Media.

WBGC Celebrates Opening of ASML STEM Lab & Makerspace

October 18, 2024
Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the ASML STEM Lab & Makerspace at its Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse on Thursday, October 17. The new STEM Lab & Makerspace was funded by ASML, a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry. ASML, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, has a significant presence in Connecticut with more than 3,000 people employed at its R&D and manufacturing site in Wilton, Conn. The STEM Lab at WBGC was funded through a grant from ASML of $659,000, to be disbursed over three years. The Club will use the funds to equip the Lab with all necessary materials and supplies; to provide WBGC staff members with STEM-related professional development; and to send students on STEM-focused field trips. As part of the company’s support, ASML employees have committed to volunteering at the site. “Our partnership with ASML is extremely important to us and to our community,” commented Sabrina E. Smeltz, CEO of WBGC. “We know that STEM education and access to technology is crucial to ensure our young people have the tools they need for the future.” STEM programming at WBGC spans a range of disciplines, from computer science, coding and robotics to hydroponics and greenhouse gardening. Tech equipment in the Lab that students at WBGC now have access to include 3D printers, laser engraver printers, microscopes, robotics kits, drones and more. Smeltz added: “This collaboration directly supports our goal to help young people achieve positive outcomes in the areas of academic success and life and workforce readiness.” Many of ASML’s community partnerships aim to increase the STEM/technical talent pool, which society relies on to solve some of its key challenges. ASML’s commitment to being a valued partner in the communities in which it operates, specifically through education, is longstanding. In Connecticut, ASML’s support of WBGC follows the expansion of its technology education program, the ASML Junior Academy, to the United States. With partner Mad Science, the ASML Junior Academy provides free interactive technology education lessons to children ages 4 to 12 at schools in Wilton and surrounding communities. “ASML is committed to raising awareness among students of STEM-related career paths,” said Louis Lu, head of ASML’s Wilton site. “The educational and enriching programming at the ASML STEM Lab & Makerspace will give local youth access to and training on high-tech tools, and, perhaps, spark an interest that one day leads to a fulfilling career in STEM.” Photos Courtesy: Capitol Photos Interactive/Regina Madwed

WBGC Holds Two Fun-Filled Day For Kids Events

September 18, 2024
In September 2024, Wakeman BGC held two Day For Kids events, in conjunction with the annual Boys & Girls Club tradition. On September 7, we collaborated with Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders and Southwest Community Health Center for our first annual event at 595 Madison Avenue. On September 14, our Southport Clubhouse held a successful Day For Kids event too! Check out the photos below.

WBGC Cowboys Train With Niko Koutouvides

September 16, 2024
Our Wakeman Boys & Girls Club tackle players (go Cowboys!) had the opportunity to participate in a very special clinic on September 10th with ex-NFL player Niko Koutouvides. The clinic was sponsored by Hudson Bay Capital and Koutouvides, who played for the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots. To learn more about the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Tackle Football Program, click here.

WBGC Featured in Balise Auto's Tires to Inspire Campaign

September 11, 2024
Wakeman BGC is excited to be included in Balise Auto's Tires to Inspire campaign! For every set of four tires purchased from September 1 - October 31, 2024, Balise Auto will make a donation to Wakeman BGC. We deeply appreciate their support in helping us to build great futures! Balise Hyundai of Fairfield is located at 338 Commerce Drive. As part of the campaign, our CEO Sabrina E. Smeltz was featured in the TV commercial now on air!

WBGC Welcomes Three New Trustees

By Leslie LaSala • August 27, 2024
In Photo Above (L to R): Stacey Cardenas, Tracy Keblish and Chad McCullough Wakeman BGC is excited to announce the appointment of three individuals to our Board of Trustees . The Board of Trustees serves as the Club’s governing entity and consists of individuals of good character who are sincerely committed to the philosophy, mission, and ideals of the organization. All corporate powers are managed by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees. Welcome to the following three new Trustees. We thank them for helping us to build GREAT FUTURES! Stacey Cardenas Stacey has dedicated much of her life to philanthropic efforts focused on young people and education. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Food for Neighbors and has served on the boards of the Bridgeport Rescue Mission and Dwight Elementary School PTA. She has also held leadership and volunteer roles for the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County, National Charity League, Tomlinson Middle School PTA, Black Rock Church, and Community Bible Study. Stacey previously practiced law in Pennsylvania after receiving her JD from the University of North Carolina and worked in commercial real estate finance after receiving her BS in Finance from the University of Virginia. Tracy Keblish Tracy is an accomplished executive leader with over 18 years of client management and strategic partnership experience in the financial services industry. She is currently an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan focused on the Commercial Card payments business. Tracy currently volunteers at Operation Hope and was a founding member of SASO (Scholars and Athletes Serving Others). In addition she spent 10+ years as a USA Swim Official and a volunteer for the Westport YMCA swim team. She holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Hartford and an MBA from New York University (Stern). Chad McCullough As VP / General Manager at Turner Construction Company, Chad provides executive-level leadership and management for Turner’s Connecticut Business Unit where he oversees sales, operations, personnel, and financial management. Chad enjoys educating young people about all the exciting opportunities the Architecture, Construction and Engineering fields offer. He is also involved in several community and professional organizations. Chad holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Cornell University and resides in Fairfield, CT with his wife and two children.
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