Armon Harris named Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha’s Youth of the Year

If your child is a member at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, they undoubtedly know and love Mr. Armon. He is a senior at Harborside Academy, a Youth Development Professional in the Club’s Youth Center and has been involved with the Club for five years.

Not only was Armon Harris the 2020 Youth of the Year, but he was a repeat winner in 2021. Harris recently competed in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wisconsin Youth of the Year scholarship competition and this coming fall, he will attend Carthage College on a full-tuition scholarship.

“I first heard of the Club during the summer of 2015 when a site was operating at Lincoln Park under the leadership of Felicia Dalton, who happens to be my cousin,” Harris said. “I then started attending the Club when I was a freshman in high school.”

Armon participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program in 2017 and was placed into the Troha Youth Center at the Club. It was there he realized his passion for youth development.

“Mr. Armon is my mentor and my favorite staff member here.”

– Justin Calderon on Armon Harris

He plans to study education and eventually become an elementary school teacher. Harris has shared his story about his Club involvement, personal challenges and perseverance at many Club and community events including the 2020 Stay at Home Gala, multiple board meetings, the Friends & Family of Dave Barnes & Corey Johnson Golf Outing and more.

As he began exploring colleges and universities, Harris learned of the Club’s partnership with Carthage and had the opportunity to apply for the Buchanan Scholarship. He recently committed to Carthage and accepted the full-tuition scholarship for all four years, a scholarship specifically for Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha members.

“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, and look forward to graduating college without student loans,” Harris said.

Not only has he made an impact on his peers and youth members, but BGCK staff have enjoyed getting to know Harris and see him grow over the years as well.

“In my short time of knowing Armon, I have seen him mature in so many ways,” said Jason Justus, Director of Teen Services at the BGCK. “He has become a great leader to the kids that he teaches and mentors at the Club. He has made huge strides in his academics and I’m so proud of him. The biggest difference that I have seen in Armon is his willingness to learn and grow as a young man. I have no doubt that he will become a great leader for our community.”

The words of youth Club members are perhaps the most telling of what kind of person Armon Harris is.

“I like Mr. Armon because he’s kind and he plays Uno with us,” 10-year-old Naomi Goudy said.

Nine-year-old Justin Calderon added: “Mr. Armon is my mentor and my favorite staff member here. He’s enthusiastic and there’s a tone in his voice that encourages anyone to do anything. He’s willing to help anyone who needs it.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha is a youth guidance organization dedicated to promoting health, social, educational, vocational, cultural, character and leadership development. The Club helps youth improve their lives by building skills, values and self-esteem. When you support the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha, you support the kids who need us the most and their great futures ahead. Visit BGCKenosha.org/donate to donate today.