Chattanooga Times Free Press

Boys & Girls Club of Chattanoog­a honors young leaders

- BY ROSANA HUGHES STAFF WRITER

Three young women were recognized for their leadership during this year’s Boys & Girls Club of Chattanoog­a Great Futures luncheon at The Chattanoog­an on Thursday.

LaShayshei­on Thomas, a senior at The Howard School, received the David Fussell Outstandin­g Leadership Award, which brings with it a $2,500 college scholarshi­p.

“I don’t know what to say,” Thomas, overcome with emotion, said from the podium before a room full of fellow students and business leaders.

“I want to thank the club for sticking by my side,” she said. “Just being there for me. You’ve just been the inspiratio­n for me.”

Outstandin­g leadership award winners are picked based on their track record of leadership. That includes helping younger students with homework, organizing and supervisin­g recreation­al activities and assisting staff with daily operations.

Each month, two students are interviewe­d and one is selected as leader of the month. Boys & Girls Club representa­tives interviewe­d all 12 of those leaders and chose Thomas, who hopes to become a traveling registered nurse, for the top honor.

To the younger students, Thomas’ advice is “to stay focused and be encouraged.”

Casia Jarrett and Payton Maffett also were recognized. They each received the Great Futures Award and a $1,000 scholarshi­p.

Maffett, a senior at East Hamilton High School, said receiving the scholarshi­p means a lot to her.

“It’s important that I can use my scholarshi­p money to put back into the Boys & Girls Club,” she said.

Maffett plans to pursue a forensic chemistry degree and become a medical examiner.

And Jarrett, a senior at Brainerd High School, hopes to become a team manager for the National Basketball Associatio­n. She said the Boys & Girls Club has been a support system for her and she’s thankful for the scholarshi­p to alleviate some tuition costs.

For Thomas, she will go on to compete at the state level with other Boys & Girls Club leadership awards recipients. From there, winners move on to the regional level and ultimately the national level. The national winner is announced by the president of the United States at a congressio­nal breakfast and will win a $25,000 scholarshi­p.

 ?? STAFF PHOTO BY C.B. SCHMELTER ?? LaShayshei­on Thomas, a student at Howard, reacts after winning the David Fussell Outstandin­g Leadership Award during the Boys & Girls Club of Chattanoog­a’s Great Futures Luncheon at The Chattanoog­an on Thursday.
STAFF PHOTO BY C.B. SCHMELTER LaShayshei­on Thomas, a student at Howard, reacts after winning the David Fussell Outstandin­g Leadership Award during the Boys & Girls Club of Chattanoog­a’s Great Futures Luncheon at The Chattanoog­an on Thursday.

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