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Shante Proffitt, a junior at Morristown-Hamblen High School West, was named the 2022 Senior Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of Hamblen County. Proffitt received the award at the Boys & Girls Club’s 65th Annual Awards Dinner held at the club on Sulphur Springs Road.

“I would like to say that I’m very honored to receive this award,” Proffitt said. “A lot of people have helped me get to where I am today. I would like to thank the board first for all they do for our club and the community. They gave me a lot of opportunities. I would like to thank my family. My brothers have helped me so much. All of the staff members have helped me. (Executive Director) John Seals and his family has always been there to talk to about anything. Thank you.”

“She is such a superb young lady,” Seals said. “She will represent us extremely well in Nashville next week. She’s going to represent us in the right way.”

By winning the Senior Youth of the Year award, Proffitt will represent the club in the State Youth of The Year competition in Nashville next week. Seals said Proffitt has already been working on a speech to give as part of the competition there. Proffitt is the daughter of Heather Kegley.

A nine-year member of the club, she has been active in the TEENSupreme Center, Keystone Club, Torch Club, VIP’s, Career Launch, Steak and Burger Dinner, UPS Road Code, multiple field trips, Head of the Class, MoTown Madness, tournaments, arts/crafts classes, cooking classes and more.

Proffitt also serves as a Junior Staff member at the club and was last year’s Sportsmanship Award winner.

Junior Youth of the Year

Itzel Cruz, a fifth-grader at Lincoln Heights Elementary School, received the 2022 Junior Youth of the Year award.

Cruz has participated in “Head of the Class,” swimming, performing arts classes, gym activities, Junior Leaders, serves as a lunch helper, volunteers at the “Steak and Burger Dinner,” club trips such as the University of Tennessee Gameday Experience and Harlem Globetrotters and several special events such as the Christmas Luncheon and Halloween Alternative Party.

Cruz is a great club ambassador who has recruited lots of school friends to become club members this past year. She is the daughter of Elvia and Alberto Cruz.

Sportsmanship Awards

Tristian Bliven and Bentley Black, both 12 years of age, were co-winners of the club’s 2022 Sportsmanship Award. Bliven has been a club member for five years and Black has been a member for two years.

Golden Youth Awards

Darlene Leach and Logan Wild both received the club’s Golden Youth Award, the highest local award given each year to a board member for especially devoted service to youth during 2022.

Leach has been a board member for two years and a club supporter for more than 25 years. She is an active member who supports all club fundraising efforts, assists with special events, such as Christmas for Kids, the annual Bike Ride and more, and is dedicated to helping grow club resources for kids and families through scholarship funds.

Wild has been a board member for six years. He has also helped with the club’s golf outing and the UT Gameday Experience.

Christmas Card Design

Winner

Joshua Brown won the 2022 Christmas Card Design Contest.

Brown helped to design the club’s annual Christmas Card for the 2022 holiday season. There were 9,916 cards sold which helped to raise money for the club’s operating budget along with providing great public relations for the club. Brown, 14, has been a club member for seven years.

Special Appreciation Awards

Special Appreciation awards were presented to individuals and companies for their volunteer work, support and devoted service to the Boys & Girls Club, as well as club members and their families.

Recipients included David Wild and family, Dan Carbaugh, Shane Webb, Sydni Wolfe, WCRK/WMTN radio, Citizen Tribune, David Wallace, Books-A-Million, United Way of Hamblen County, The Avenue Church, Boys & Girls Club of Dumplin Valley and First Horizon Bank.

Naomi Lou played music during dinner and had a special piano presentation before presentation of the Youth of the Month awards and the major awards. Board President Link Gibbons presided over the dinner.

New Board Members

Hamblen County Sheriff Chad Mullins and Caroline Bunch were recognized as new board members by the club this year.

The Boys & Girls Club of Morristown is an agency of the United Way of Hamblen County.