Anthony Foust and Ava Wetzel were named the Boy and Girl of the Year at Baker Youth Club. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

Baker Youth Club, Warsaw, just like schools throughout the county, honored outstanding students at the end of the school year during an awards banquet. The special occasion was held Thursday evening.

The event recognized 30 participants in such areas as boy and girl of the month, junior board of directors, recipients in each of the six pillars of character categories: trustworthy, respect, responsible, fair, caring and citizenship. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the boy and girl of the year and the respective runner-ups.

The evening also recognized staff and volunteers who help with the approximately 110 kids who participate at the Warsaw facility each night.

Receiving the Girl of the Year Award is Ava Wetzel, with Eliza Silveus as runner up. Anthony Foust was named the Boy of the Year, with Isaiah Stockman as runner up. Tracy Furnivall, executive director, stated these four recipients have had zero problems and do what they are there to do do.

Other award recipients are:

Girl Of The Month — Eliza Silveus, Julissa Baez, Haley Rodewald, Josie Lara, Vanessa Goad, Angelica Garcia-Ponce, Mia Gordillo, Catherine Ashby, Emma Moss and Dakota Betts.

Boy Of The Month — Wyatt Snyder, Haiden Hastings, Jamie Haynes, Martin McAams, Saevin Ehlers, Konner Fenix-Farias, Dre Clark, Donovan Jennings, Anthony Foust and Alonoso Moreida.

Trustworthy Award — Heley Rodewald, Brooke Winchester, Jackson Martin and Cohen Silveus

Respect Award — Corah Goebel, Layla Silveus, Dre Clark and Pierce Metze

Responsible Award — Kylie Velazquez, Julissa Baez, Saevin Ehlers and Gage Young.

Fair Award — Vanessa Goad, Tiana Senders, Haiden Hastings and Xavier Juarez.

Caring Award — Josie Lara, Emma Moss, Konner Fenix-Farias and Evan Drake.

Citizenship Award — Angelica Garcia-Ponce, Dakota Betts, Zac Miller and Dylan Rodewald.

Junior Board of Directors —Catherine Ashby, Andrew Drake, Evan Drake, Sophia Guerra, Tyler Monosmith and Jermiah White.

Volunteers who were recognized included: Ronnie Shoemaker, Tommy Breading, Dale Olinger and Kay Banta.

Members of the staff recognized were: Ginger Schu, Cheaney Maierle, Tecy Banta, Katie Lowery, Kati Yotter, Kristen Watson, MegAnn Pearl, Amy Furnivall, Caleb Rovenstine, Ben Linky, Tony Pickett, Mallorie Stiver, Miranda Braddock and Tamara Drake.

Tracy Furnivall, executive director, announced Friday, May 22, would be the last day the Robert ‘Coach’ Lichtenwalter facility would be open on Market Street, as BYC will be moving into it’s new facility on Smith Street by June 8 for the start of the summer program. An open houose will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 4. He also announced with the start of school next year every school in the Warsaw School Corporation would be served.

Frunivall also announced August will begin the 89th year of BYC noting it has survived three wars, the Great Depression and stock market crash in the 80s. Pete Thorn was the first director spending 37 years in that position followed by Robert ‘Coach’ Lichtenwalter, whom the building is named after. Lichtenwalter served for 29 years. Scott Wiley served for the next 13 years with Furnivall having now served for 14 years.

Throughout the county, BYC works with over 300 kids per night at all seven BYC locations throughout the county.