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Date: 5/19/2021
CHICOPEE – The Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee has announced their 2021 Youth of the Year. Justin Fosberg was awarded the title for his roles in leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle.
The Youth of the Year program creates opportunities for youth of the Boys and Girls Club to receive recognition for their accomplishments at local, state, regional and national levels.
According to Lynn Morrissette, marketing and development director of the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee, “The local Youth of the Year serves as a role model for other young people in the Club and as a representative to the community.”
Fosberg will be graduating from Chicopee Comprehensive High School with honor roll status this year. He plans to attend Lincoln Technical in Connecticut next year. With a passion for working on cars, Fosberg said he wants to open his own business one day. He also hopes to join the military and become a United States Marine.
At the Boys and Girls Club’s teen center, Fosberg co-led projects throughout the year to support the community as past vice president of the Keystone Committee. According to a press release, “He has completed the Youth Cadet Program with the Chicopee Police Department and volunteers at his church, where he has learned valuable lessons of work-ethic and how important it is to set an example for his peers.”
Morrissette said that there is a panel of judges made up of board members, members of the community and staff who vote on the Youth of the Year Award. As part of his application process, Fosberg had to write three personal essays. He chose to write about his time in foster care. Fosberg also credited the teen center and the staff at the Boys and Girls Club for always being there for him and being available to talk about problems at school or home.
"Justin has the drive and willingness to succeed and I look forward to seeing all of his accomplishments. He certainly has a bright future ahead of him,” said Clarisa Matlasz, associate director of the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee, in a press release.
In Chicopee, the Youth of the Year program is sponsored by Freedom Credit Union. This allows the club to provide the winner with a new laptop or tablet, a gift card for a new outfit to attend recognition events and $1,000 from the Donald Heroux Scholarship fund.
Fosberg spoke on his response to winning the award and his gratitude towards the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee.
“I was surprised and astounded. The award means a lot in terms of what it speaks about a person’s character and drive,” he said. “The Boys and Girls Club has positively impacted my life by giving me a place outside of school and a good group of adults who truly care for each and every teen that goes through their program.”
After Fosberg won the Youth of the Year Award locally, he competed for the title of State Youth of the Year. At the state level, candidates were interviewed by a panel of judges and then narrowed down to the top three. After a second interview, one winner was selected. Fosberg was up against over 30 candidates across the state.
“The State Youth of the Year happened already in May and was completed virtually. Justin did a wonderful job competing, but the 2021 winner selected was from the Boys and Girls Club of Boston Club, named Alton Jenkins,” said Morrissette.
Morrissette said that Fosberg’s achievement will be celebrated locally at the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee in June. He has many supporters who have cheered him on throughout this entire process.