The Boys & Girl Clubs of Hall County have named Jayla Williams as their Youth of the Year for the second year in a row.
Williams, 15, a student at Gainesville High School, was awarded this year for her accomplishments and endurance while overcoming personal struggles.
At 10, Williams parents divorced. “The Boys & Girls Clubs started to mean more to me then,” Williams said in a press release. Last year, Williams dealt with the death of her father, attending the 2015 Youth of the Year competition the day after his funeral.
“With the prayers and words of encouragement from the staff and members, the Boys & Girls Club has helped me through this tough time," Williams said in the release. “My dad’s last words were that he was proud of me. I will strive to continue to make him proud and honor his last words.”
Williams maintains a 4.0 GPA, has won numerous awards for softball and serves as president of the Keystone Club.
Williams will go on to compete in the Georgia Youth of the Year competition for a $5,000 college scholarship. If she wins the state title, she'll go on to the Southeast Region competition, then further to the the National competition.
Other finalists for the Youth of the Year were 18 year old Gabriel Copeland and 15 year old Myron Dabney, both from Gainesville High School.
