Each year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) recognizes one youth who stands out as a shining example of what it means to be a club member. For 2024-25, that youth is Nico Flowers.
Flowers, who was named National Youth of the Year at a September 18 ceremony in Atlanta, has been a member of his Jacksonville club for four years. Over this time, he’s grown from a shy teen whose family had experienced homelessness into a leader who plans to become a US congressman.
Flowers, who was previously named BGCA’S Southeast Youth of the Year, won the national award at a star-studded ceremony that was sponsored by Toyota North America and Kohl’s. As Flowers accepted the honor, former club member and BGCA national spokesperson Denzel Washington stood on stage. Other prominent supporters in attendance included former MLB star Alex Rodriguez, comedian JB Smoove, and retired NFL quarterback Cam Newton.
Along with winning the award, Flowers received a brand-new Toyota Corolla and a $5,000 all-expenses-paid shopping trip to Kohl’s. Toyota will additionally provide financial assistance to help him with owning his first vehicle, while Kohl’s has additionally invited him on a unique tour of its Milwaukee headquarters. The award further included a $50,000 scholarship that will help Flowers pay for his studies at Florida State University, where he’s currently majoring in political science.
Being named National Youth of the Year is the culmination of a journey that began with Flowers joining the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida while he was in high school. Flowers remembers that he immediately felt at home at the club’s Teen Center, which had only seven members at the time. Through the support of the club’s staff, particularly that of Mr. Skipper, he realized he had the potential to become a leader. Now, as National Youth of the Year, he’ll be entrusted to provide leadership to the organization’s approximately 3.6 million members.