At the 25th Anniversary Great Futures Chairman’s Dinner 2014 at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas on June 11, 2014, Cecilia Garza, a recent graduate from Uplift Williams Preparatory, was announced as the Southwest Regional Youth of the Year (YOY) winner. This program celebrates youth who have overcome enormous odds and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments. As a result of winning the Regional Competition, Garza received a $10,000 scholarship sponsored by Tupperware.
Garza competed against Boys & Girls Club YOY contestants from Wyoming, Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Montana, New Mexico and Kansas, while representing Texas at the regional level. Previously, Garza won the Texas Youth of the Year Award Competition in Austin, Texas and received the Falk Scholarship for $15,000 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas 6th Annual TOPPs celebration. She is now advancing in the competition to compete in September against five other regional winners in Washington, D.C. for the National Youth of the Year title, which is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Clubs member can achieve. This gives her the opportunity to win an additional $15,000 in scholarships.
Garza is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas (BGCD) and has been an active member for three and a half years at the Uplift Williams Preparatory location. She is very involved in her school and community. Garza is also a part of a variety of programs that are offered through BGCD such as: SMART Girls, Collegiate STEPS and Career Launch. In keeping with her tenacious spirit of giving back, she established an Interact Club at her school during her senior year. The mission of an Interact Club is to teach high school students the importance of giving back, especially in time of need.
After high school, Garza looks forward to attending Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. In hopes of becoming a neurosurgeon, she plans on majoring in biochemistry and then entering medical school. She also dreams of one day using her education to benefit others through organizations such as Doctors Without Borders.
“Garza will be a first generation college student and plans on taking the necessary steps to make her dreams a reality. She is a natural born leader destined for success, and we could not be more proud of her,” said Charles English, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas.
 winner.){kind=link}