2026 Youth of the Year Derrick G. Represents Holmes County at Mississippi State Competition

May 7

*Derrick G. (center) with sponsors Kawanna and Christopher Horton (Lexington Club) and Mr. David Dallas, who selected Derrick as our Club's Youth of the Year.*

He's a leader on the court and in the classroom. He's dedicated to service and to his community. And he's poised to become a difference-maker for the next generation in the Mississippi Delta.

We're incredibly proud to announce Derrick G. as the 2026 Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta!

Mississippi State Competition Results

As our Youth of the Year, Derrick represented the Mississippi Delta at the Mississippi State Youth of the Year competition, held in Jackson, MS, in March 2026. We congratulate Adrianne Craddieth of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi, who was named the 2026 Mississippi State Youth of the Year, and Chloe Smith, who was named Mississippi State Military Youth of the Year. Both young women received $2,500 college scholarships. Derrick competed with excellence and made our Club proud.

*Derrick at the 2026 Mississippi State Youth of the Year competition in Jackson.*

Thank You to Derrick's Sponsors

Derrick was sponsored by Kawanna and Christopher Horton, who run the Lexington Club. The Hortons put in many hours of work gathering all the information needed to submit Derrick's registration for the state competition, from academic records and leadership examples to coordinating travel and logistics. We are deeply grateful for their dedication to Derrick and to the Youth of the Year program.

Derrick was selected for this honor by Mr. David Dallas, who also appears in the hero photo above alongside Derrick and the Hortons.

About the Youth of the Year Program

The Youth of the Year program is Boys & Girls Clubs of America's premier recognition program, established in 1947. Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Club member can receive, promoting service to Club, community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise and public speaking ability.

Each year, Boys & Girls Clubs across the country select local Youth of the Year winners, who then go on to represent their Clubs at the state level. State winners advance to regional competitions, with the ultimate honor of National Youth of the Year. Derrick reached a significant milestone simply by being selected as our Club representative and competing at the state level in Jackson.

*Derrick G.: Honor Roll student, Junior Staff Member, and 2026 Youth of the Year.*

About Derrick

Derrick is a 15-year-old 10th grader at Holmes County Central High School. His hometown is Ebenezer, MS, the home of legendary Mississippi legislator Robert G. Clark. Derrick has been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta since 2024.

Academic Profile:

GPA: 3.08 (88.16)
Honors: Honor Roll
Favorite Subject: World History; he enjoys studying about world events
Career Goal: Pursue a career in Sports Science as a Performance Analyst

Club Involvement & Leadership:

Active participant of Passport to Manhood as a member of Men of Character
Member of the AAU Basketball Team with the Lexington Club
Serves as a Junior Staff Member where he assists with club clean-up and cadet members supervision
Has assisted 4-H with food box distribution
During the YOY competition, visited the State Capitol and attended a Meet & Greet session with state legislators; engaged with Representative Bryant Clark

Personal Quote: "A world of possibilities awaits you. Keep turning the page."

*Derrick (left) and his AAU Basketball team suit up in front of the BGCMSDELTA van. Proudly representing the Club on the road!*

Scholarship Opportunities for Derrick

Upon entering a post-secondary education program, Derrick will receive generous scholarship funds from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta and through the Mississippi Area Council for Boys & Girls Clubs. The organization will also provide up to $2000 dollars in scholarship support for Derrick and all of our Youth of the Year winners to assist with the costs of post secondary education and training. The Youth of the Year program offers significant scholarships for those who advance through the levels:

State Youth of the Year winners receive a $2,500 college scholarship.
Regional Youth of the Year winners receive an additional $10,000 college scholarship.
National Youth of the Year receives a $50,000 scholarship, a new car, and other prizes.

*Sending a Youth of the Year to state competition costs $350 for registration alone. Your donation helps cover these expenses.*

The Real Cost of Sending a Youth of the Year to State Competition

Competing at the state level is an honor, but it also comes with real expenses. The mandatory registration for the Youth of the Year participant and one chaperone is $350.00. Additionally, when we bring extra staff or supporters, the cost is $150.00 per additional youth and/or adult.

Thanks to sponsors like Kawanna and Christopher Horton, we were able to get Derrick to Jackson. But to send future Youth of the Year candidates, we need ongoing support from our community.

How You Can Help

You can support Derrick, our future Youth of the Year candidates, and the entire Club by:

Donating today to help cover competition registration fees, transportation, lodging, and meals for our Youth of the Year participants. Even a gift of $25 helps offset the $350 mandatory registration.
Sharing this article to spread Derrick's story and inspire others to give.
Following our social media channels for updates on Derrick and our programs: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Join Us in Celebrating Derrick

Please join us in congratulating Derrick G., the 2026 Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta. His journey is just beginning, and with your support, many more young leaders will have the chance to stand on that stage.

Donate now or contact us to learn how you can sponsor a Youth of the Year participant.