MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Mission student has been awarded the National Youth of the Year title for the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Each year, one club member is selected as National Youth of the Year, a prestigious title that allows one person to serve as a role model for more than 3 million youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs.

Ximena Villarreal, an IDEA Mission student, was named National Youth of the Year during the Boys and Girls Club ceremony held in Los Angeles by national spokesperson and actor Denzel Washington.

Ximena was celebrated on Tuesday with a pep rally at IDEA Mission.

"I think that it's an amazing opportunity to not only represent my school and my parents, but also all the Club Kids in all of the U.S.," Ximena said. "It's a great opportunity to advocate fo

See Full Page