Outstanding Teen Named 2024 Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year

Claire Russell Will Advance to State Competition

Selected from 10 exceptional youth, Claire was named Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year and will go on to contend for the Connecticut Youth of the Year title and a $2,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.


For more than 75 years, the National Youth of the Year program has recognized young people for their outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to health and wellbeing. Because it allows the teen to represent the hundreds of youth from their organization, Youth of the Year is the highest honor given by a Boys & Girls Club.


Boys & Girls Clubs understand that having a place to belong and someone who believes in you can have a powerful impact. The 2024 Wakeman BGC Youth of the Year is a shining example of this and exemplifies what it means to be a Club kid. Over her 7 years as a member, Claire has continued to use the full Club Experience to dream bigger and reach higher:

"Without Wakeman, I wouldn't have discovered my love for public speaking or my dedication to community service, and I wouldn't have found the courage to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. It's a transformative space where dreams are nurtured, voices are heard, and individuals are empowered. Wakeman isn't just a Club; it's an opportunity for every kid to discover their potential, and I wouldn't be who I am today without it."

Claire Russell

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year

Southport Clubhouse Youth of the Year

At Wakeman Boys & Girls Club, Claire has flourished as a leader and Club advocate. An active member of the Torch and then Keystone Club, she took on prominent roles as secretary, treasurer, and vice president. Both near and far, Claire has positively impacted the experience of countless peers: she is one of only 14 teens nationwide to be selected as a Boys & Girls Clubs of America President Circle Brand Ambassador and was also chosen to work with a team of 10 teens to plan the 2023 National Keystone Conference for over 2,000 students. When she reflects on her favorite things about her home Club, she notes the camaraderie among members and the unwavering support from mentors that transforms Wakeman BGC into a family.


Claire is a junior at the Hopkins School, where she has been able to balance her academic excellence with her commitment to Wakeman BGC. At school, she holds leadership roles on many advisory boards and service committees and participates on the varsity soccer, basketball, and tennis teams. Most rewarding for Claire is her involvement in the Hopkins Pathfinder Program, where she serves as a Teacher Assistant for a 7th grade science class and a mentor to the underprivileged students who make up the partner school’s demographic.


As Youth of the Year, Claire will use her leadership and advocacy skills to inspire and empower other youth to recognize their potential. She is especially passionate about promoting educational opportunities: “[In the Hopkins Pathfinder Program], I encountered countless eager young minds who wanted to learn to the fullest but weren’t given the opportunity. The unfortunate reality was that systemic barriers hindered their educational journey. This experience–along with realizing the power of using my platform as National Ambassador for BGCA to make a meaningful impact–has made me determined to be a force for change.”


Wakeman BGC Program Director, Coreen Ahmad, has worked closely with Claire at the Club and National Organization levels. She says, “Claire takes on any challenge with enthusiasm and takes it to the next level. She motivates others around her, including me, to be a better version of ourselves and to try new things. She inspires and leaves a positive influence and lasting impact on her club and community. Taking on the National Keystone Conference is a huge undertaking, but she is there willingly and ready to do whatever it takes.”


Among many other notable accomplishments, Claire is a certified EMT, a female caddy, a Hopkins Science Olympiad Medalist, has been involved in cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and is a part of Hopkins Authentic Research Program which is a selective lab-based class. Her goal after high school is to study medicine and become a neurosurgeon.


If Claire is named the Connecticut Youth of the Year, she will contend for the title of Northeast Regional Youth of the Year who will receive an additional $20,000 college scholarship. Six regional finalists will advance to the National Youth of the Year event in October 2024, to vie 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 $50,000.

2024 Southport Clubhouse Youth of the Year

Cyan Gatenby

Cyan  is a Junior at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and has been a part of Wakeman Boys & Girls Club for 10 Years. She has been involved with Keystone Club, helping with volunteering, taking pictures as Historian, and attending the National Keystone Conference in Texas. She planned and ran the College and Career Fair two years in a row with 60 presenters and over 200 teens. Cyan is currently in the position of Co-Vice President and hopes to inspire teens to self-advocate and work together. She continues to be an important part of Wakeman BGC as she works as a Staff Member during the school year andsummer. Cyan is a high-honors student. She also plays varsity soccer, varsity indoor, and varsity outdoor track, as well as CFC club soccer.

Congratulations to:

Audrey Badia, Honoree, Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse

Caroline Gouley, Finalist, Southport Clubhouse

James Mazzeo, Finalist, Southport Clubhouse

Jack McClane, Finalist, Southport Clubhouse

Andrea Palacios, Honoree, Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse

Nathan Page, Honoree, Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse

Caroline Shah, Finalist, Southport Clubhouse

Jack Short, Finalist, Southport Clubhouse

Thank you to our 2024 Youth of the Year Judges

Southport Clubhouse First Round

Brendan Blees, Wakeman BGC Alumnus

Mary Alice Limperopulos, Wakeman BGC Alumna

Sarah Motti, Wakeman BGC Director of Development

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Final Round

Brian Amero, ASML

John Brannelly, Fairfield County Medical Association

Margaret Judge, EMCOR Group

Dr. Camelia Lawrence, Hartford Healthcare

WBGC Goes Over The Edge!

28 Oct, 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

18 Oct, 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

18 Sep, 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

16 Sep, 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

11 Sep, 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 • 27 Aug, 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.

WBGC is going Over The Edge!

23 Aug, 2024
Wakeman Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) will host 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 will feature 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. Participation in the event is open to the public and no rappelling experience is needed. Training will be provided the day of the event. Those under 18 must have a signed waiver from a parent or guardian to participate. Participants have historically represented different groups: youth members and their families, long-time friends and supporters, sponsors, and pure thrill seekers. It will be a fun day of cheering on participants, with food, music and more. Participants are asked to raise $1000 in advance of their rappel. Teams may also be formed to pool their raised funds and increase their impact. In the spirit of Halloween, participants can choose to wear a costume and participate in a costume contest as part of their rappelling experience. “Our goal is to raise $100,000 for Wakeman BGC’s kids,” stated Sarah Motti, Director of Development for WBGC. “We hope to see both returning and new faces out there this year. It’s a life-changing experience for our rappelers, and the funds we raise will directly support our programs,” Motti added. Wakeman Boys & Girls Club is grateful for the generous support of M&T Bank (Presenting Sponsor), EMCOR (Rising To the Challenge Sponsor) and Turner Construction (Ropes Sponsor). To learn about additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Alexis Shivers, Assistant Director of Development, at ashivers@wakemanclub.org or 203/908-3381 x201. To register for or donate to Wakeman BGC’s Over The Edge, please click here . Over The Edge is a national organization whose mission is to help other non-profit organizations host urban rappelling fundraising events.

An Out Of This World Conversation

20 Aug, 2024
Hello From Earth! Through our partnership with ASML , our Madison Avenue summer campers had the opportunity to talk to NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps LIVE as part of their camp experience! Epps launched into space in early 2024 on a SpaceX flight to the International Space Station. Aligned with our mission to provide exposure to STEM themes and careers, campers were able to engage directly with Epps and ask questions about her career and experiences in space. We thank ASML and the Space for Humanity program for helping us connect our campers with outer space! Read more about Epps here.

Caroline S Awarded The Judgement Free Generation Scholarship From Planet Fitness

16 Aug, 2024
Congratulations to Caroline S. from our Southport Clubhouse! Caroline was recently awarded a $5,000 Judgement Free Generation(r) Scholarship from Planet Fitness. Since 2017, Planet Fitness has annually awarded scholarships to deserving teens who model the judgement free, pro-kindness, and anti-bullying values for which Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America collectively stand. These scholarships recognize youth who are passionate about promoting kindness and inclusion in their communities. This year, Planet Fitness provided 50 high school seniors from around the U.S. with these scholarships that directly support their post-secondary education. Through a multi-tiered review process, scholarship recipients were selected based on multiple criteria including a personal essay, staff recommendation and video submission. Each piece of the submission helped showcase how participants actively advocate for kindness and acceptance through the demonstration of Judgement Free values. A member of our Keystone Club and an active participant in other WBGC programs, Caroline was also selected by her high school classmates as “the one who is most likely to brighten your day.” Caroline stated, "Kindness is the light that turns judgment into understanding. When we shine that light, we create a world where everyone can feel valued and free to be their true selves." We wish Caroline much success as she embarks on the next chapter of her life as a freshman at Santa Clara University!

Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Applies For 2025 Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant

16 Aug, 2024
Wakeman Boys & Girls Club is thrilled to announce that we have applied for the 2025 Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant in partnership with Fairfield Public Schools to expand the support provided through the Great Futures After School Program at McKinley Elementary School in Fairfield which is a Title 1 School. The objective of the Great Futures After School Program is to provide a robust, interactive, dynamic, and inclusive experience for McKinley students. Participants will be excited to remain at school after hours, parents will take great comfort in their children being provided safe, affordable, enriching care. The Great Futures After School Program is designed to complement the school day but also to provide additional components that are not typically covered in class but contribute to everyone’s growth - learning about the world around them as well as learning about themselves. Currently, 45 students attend the After School Program at no cost to families since 2021 through a five-year 21st CCLC grant. The 2025 21st CCLC grant would extend the no-cost program to additional low-income families. School faculty will see their classes strengthened by students who are more excited to come to school and better supported during out of school time. Club and school personnel have a 19-year history of collaborating to support students and families. We appreciate the opportunity to receive funding through 21st CCLC and the Connecticut State Department of Education.
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