Age 14

A passion for helping others and, an unrelenting drive to excel at school has lead 14-year-old Kalese, an 8th grader at Wiley H. Bates Middle School, to be nominated as a candidate for the the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Youth of the Year. Mission accomplished! 

Today, Kalese is an honors student with a 4.0 grade-point-average. Furthermore, she has set and accomplished many goals in her young life: she speaks a foreign language, routinely participates in tap, ballet, jazz, and karate and she takes swimming lessons – whew! Also, she credits the Club for introducing her to STEM projects like Lego Robotics. Here, she has competed with peers throughout the area.  

She is a natural-born leader who cares for her community and the well-being of others.  She said she is deeply appreciative of her Club experience. “I have always had mad love for the Club.  Programs like Smart Girls, Rooted in Reading, and summer camp, have helped shape me into the person that I am today.” 

She plans on attending college after graduation and pursuing a career as a writer. 

Age 17

As a Meade High School senior, Azzure holds a 3.6 grade-point-average and enjoys learning environments that stretch her personal growth and interest in working children.  

Nothing is off limits. Be it teaching kids how to play a fun new game or maneuvering a complex project, she is immensely patient. Her cool persona and public speaking voice engages and invigorates the Club kids and coworkers alike.   

Inherently calm and peaceful, her aura motivates those around her to exude the same energy. Azzure gives thanks to the Boys & Girls Clubs for helping her connect with kids through public-speaking. She said programs like Rooted in Reading have gave her confidence beyond measure. 

She is immensely thankful to The Boys & Girl Clubs for the many opportunities over the years, but especially for helping manifest her vision of working as professional writer and public speaker.