LAFAYETTE, Ind. − The Lyn Treece Boys & Girls Club of Tippecanoe County will hold its annual awards night and dinner Wednesday, with over 200 guests expected to attend.
The awards night, this year titled “Believe,” will feature a social hour; a speech from Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski; dinner from All Above Catering; entertainment from local magician Robert Poynter; a guest appearance from Lafayette Jefferson High School football coach Pat Shanley; and awards for selected Boys & Girls Club youth members.
“We have three categories and two recipients on each one,” Barry Richards, executive director of the Lyn Treece Boys & Girls Club, said. “And then we have our Youth of the Year as well.”
The award categories are: Academic Achievement, Character/Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyle. In respective order, the two winners per category are: Scarlett Lormeendez and Eleanor Jastrzedsk, Eloise Reed and Ti’Shaun Greenlief, and Kaleb Baker and Armoni Moore.
The Youth of the Year is Aaden Aytch. Richards said that each winner will receive a trophy.
“(The kids were chosen based on) the characteristics of each category,” Richards said. “…(How they interact) with their peers and how respectful they are, how they are always showing concern for others (and) just not themselves (are factors for the awards).”
Poynter will give a 20-minute magical performance at the event. He may or may not need assistance from some of the kids during his show as well, Poynter noted to the Journal & Courier.
Richards also noted that the majority of the Purdue men’s basketball team will attend the event in support of the kids and families of the Boys & Girls Club.
“(I’m looking forward to) just recognizing our children, our members, is the main focus that we want,” Richards said. “We want it to be a really nice evening where they have a good meal and are entertained by the magician and get motivated by the speaker(s)…You never know which angle a young person is going to really comprehend what messages we get through to them. So that is an opportunity to have a very successful educator in our community (with Shanley) to come in and speak to them about those attributes.”
The “Believe” awards night will take place from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at New Journey Farms in Lafayette. While the event is open to the public, Richards noted that tickets are sold out.
To learn more about the Lyn Treece Boys & Girls Club of Tippecanoe County or to donate, visit www.bgclublafayette.org.
Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.