News
Sendi Peregrino named Colorado’s Youth of the Year on March 24,
2009 at the Governor’s Mansion.
 Ms. Peregrino was awarded
a four-year scholarship to Adams State College.
Sendi Peregrino has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club/Girls
Inc. of Pueblo County & Lower Arkansas Valley for six years. She
is a senior at Pueblo East High School and has a 4.7 GPA. At school Sendi
serves as President of the National Honor Society, Vice President of
Futures Business Leaders of Tomorrow, and takes rigorous International
Baccalaureate Courses. Sendi’s family immigrated to Colorado from
Chihuahua, Mexico when Sendi was a year old. She is very proud of her
family for their sacrifices made so that she and her younger siblings
could have a better life. Sendi is described by the Unit director of
her Club as born leader and someone who jumped feet first into the Club
experience. At the Club she participates in several programs including
Will Power, Won’t Power, and Girls Shape the Future. She is involved
in Keystone Club, serves as a Teen Leader and volunteers as a Power Hour
tutor. In her spare time Sendi works for The Greater Pueblo Chamber of
Commerce and assists with the production of Accolades, a community youth
magazine. Sendi would like to attend Colorado College and major in business
administration.
Read
about Sendi in The Pueblo Cheiftain >>>
Michael Hamamoto from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pikes Peak Region
named Runner-up at the State Youth of the Year and receives the Xcel
Energy Award of Excellence!
Michael Hamamoto is a Senior at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado
Springs. He is enrolled in several Advanced Placement and Honors level
classes and has a GPA of 3.97. Michael is a leader, he is the captain
of his high school Speech and Debate Team, Editor of the award-winning
school newspaper; the Cheyenne Chieftain and was recently selected as
ambassador to Japan for a peace mission.
Michael is very involved with
his community in a number of ways. He volunteers for a program that provides
free tutoring for children with incarcerated parents. He prepares and
serves meals to the homeless and he participates in the American Cancer
Society’s Relay for Life by raising money through bake sales. Michael
has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club since he was nine years
old. Currently, Michael is a member of the Teen Leadership Academy and
has planned numerous events for the Club. The City of Colorado Springs
selected Michael as one of the “Mayor’s 100”, an award
given to teens for their community service. In school, in the community
and in the Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region, Michael has
proven himself a valuable member and positive role model. Michael would
like to attend Stanford University and become an attorney.
Michael plans to major in Business or Law at Brown, Stanford or Colorado
College
Maria Ledesma comes in as a close Third at the Colorado Youth of the
Year.
Maria “Alejandra” Ledesma is a Senior at Moffat County High
School where she holds a 3.8 GPA while taking duel credit classes through
Colorado Northwest Community College. At school Alejandra is the Senior
Class President, participates in Student Council, SAPP, a Substance Abuse
Prevention Program , Preventing Dating Violence Club, Student Counseling
Club and teaches salsa lessons. When Alejandra was younger she
and her mother were victims of domestic violence. She volunteers for
programs that are aimed at eliminating violence in her community.
At
the Club Alejandra is a member of the Junior Staff program and teaches
hip-hop and salsa to other Club members. She is also proud that she is
fluent in three languages, English, Spanish and French and enjoys teaching
younger Club members. When not at the Club or school Alejandra is working
on her goal of becoming a doctor by attending weekend and summer medical
camps. Alejandra would like to prepare to become a doctor at Regis
University’s pre-med program. She would like to return to
a small community that needs her like Craig and practice rural medicine.
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José Hernandez is a Senior at Fossil Ridge High School and has
been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County for six years.
He is active in the Club and serves as President of the Keystone Club.
Additionally, he participates in the Club programs including, Get Real
anti-tobacco program, Power Hour, Teen Tech Team, and is on the Club basketball
team. He works as a Junior Staff member and volunteers additional time to the
Club as a Spanish translator, and is a BGCLC Board member. At home he serves
as translator for his parents and helps his younger brother with homework
and helps coach his soccer team.