On May 5, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South held its annual “Evening of Excellence” event. According to a community announcement, this event celebrated the achievements of BGCMS teen members during the school year. The 2025 event marked the fourth annual commencement and was held for the first time at Massasoit Community College in Brockton.
The Evening of Excellence takes place each spring to honor the exceptional teen members who make BGCMS a leading youth-serving organization in the Metro South region. The event includes the presentation of college scholarships, the announcement of superlative awards, and the crowning of the Club’s Youth of the Year. It serves as an opportunity for all Brockton and Taunton Clubhouse teen members and staff to come together, reflect, celebrate, and uplift one another.
BGCMS offers scholarship opportunities to its teen members through competitive application processes. Thanks in large part to the support of The Phia Group, Sullivan Tire & Auto Service, the Bob & Ebba Sims Memorial Scholarship, and the John Waldron “Just Checking In” Memorial Scholarship, BGCMS distributed over $50,000 in college scholarships at the 2025 Evening of Excellence.
Scholarship recipients included Harrison Blette, Maddox Chaves, Sarah Chavez, Tahj Coleman, Marisa Gay, Mila Dafov, Cooper Hammond, Djusten-Mjar Jean-Baptiste, Harrison Layden, Rachel Maynard, Mattia McIntyre, Danny Murudumbay, Paige Nelson, Eliza Nester, Max Pelczaraki, Markayla Petit-Frere, Ashley Powers, and Tiffany Ye.
During the event, members and staff recognized Taunton Clubhouse member Kizzy N’gola Lopes as the 2025 Youth of the Year. She is a dedicated member of the National Honor Society and participates in various extracurricular activities, including the African American Club, Jazz Band, Brass Choir, Drama Club, Choir, Wind Symphony, and Symphonic Band. She volunteers regularly as a mentor, for the Band Council, and as a Benefit Concert Coordinator. Lopes also serves as a Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, and Camp Counselor at BGCMS.
Lopes’ time in the Clubhouse has guided her growth in many ways. Through exposure to various programs, her Club membership has helped her step out of her comfort zone. Participating in activities such as chess and volleyball has allowed her to discover new interests and passions. BGCMS has also developed her social skills and given her more confidence to communicate with different age groups. She credits BGCMS for honing her leadership skills through her roles as both a member and a staff member.
BGCMS also recognized Taunton Clubhouse Junior Youth of the Year, Amoura Bailey, and Brockton Taunton Junior Youth of the Year, Regine Cadet. The Junior Youth of the Year program cultivates junior leaders, providing them with a foundation for advanced leadership development, academic excellence, and postsecondary success.
Additionally, BGCMS acknowledged members of its Work-Based Learning & Education cohort. This program engages teens in meaningful, age-appropriate, curriculum-based workforce readiness programs that foster future success while ensuring well-rounded Club experiences. The program creates safe spaces for youth to learn about the world of work while developing employability skills through practical internships in the Club and other workplaces with community partners.
Members of BGCMS’s Strong Communities Initiative (SCI) Cohort were also recognized. SCI is a grant-funded program through the Executive Office of Health & Human Services. Community-based gun violence prevention and intervention programs aim to promote equitable access to protective factors that reduce the likelihood of violence. Participants review statistics and local information related to gun violence and complete an impact project to highlight what they have learned.
The Evening of Excellence was a special occasion for everyone involved in building great futures at BGCMS. It provided an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of teen members alongside Club parents, staff, leadership, partners, and community leaders. To learn more about BGCMS, visit bgcmetrosouth.org. For ways to support the Clubs, visit bgcmetrosouth.org/GiveGreatFutures.
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