Hawai‘i youth who are excelling both in and outside of the classroom were honored today on the Senate floor. This year’s finalists for the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaiʻi’s State Youth of the Year were recognized for their excellence in academics, volunteerism, and student involvement. These outstanding youth are valued members of their respective communities.
Mia Dahl is a freshman at the Hawai‘i Academy of Arts and Sciences in Pahoa where
She maintains a 4.0 GPA. As the Hawai‘i Island State Youth of the Year, she also volunteers to help other students at her school with homework and with the school’s garden. Mia aspires to be a pediatrician in her community one day.
Caylie Peterson is a sophomore at King Kekaulike High School, where she maintains a 3.7 grade point average. As the Maui State Youth of the Year, she has been a Boys and Girls Club member for six years and serves as a role model for the younger members. Caylie is active in her school’s Japanese Club and Drama Club. She created her own business by growing and selling chili peppers, lemons, and limes in her own garden. Caylie also represents the Hāʻiku Clubhouse in the annual Little Chef Big Chef competition.
Cornelius Phillips the Oahu State Military Youth of the Year finalist and is a member of the Keystone Torch and Pacific Teen Panel program, and he plays for the Schofield Teen Center basketball team. He is a senior at Mililani High School where he maintains a 3.6 grade point average. Cornelius is a member of the National Honor Society (NHS), volunteers regularly in service activities, and he recently won a scholarship to attend Louisiana Tech University.
Hannah Bethard is very involved in the SMART Girls program, an all-female leadership program. She is a sophomore at Radford High School. As an Oahu State Military Youth of the Year finalist, she is a member of both the cooking and art clubs, and she is the Vice Commander for her schoolʻs Junior Reserve Officersʻ Training Corps (JROTC).
The top honor of 2018 Youth of the Year was awarded to Shalain Maxin. Shalain is a senior at McKinley High School where she is co-captain in her schoolʻs JROTC and has attained the third highest rank in her batallion in the ROTC program. She is also a member of the Girls Power and Leadership-in-Training programs. Through club activities, she has created opportunities to both empower her peers and give back to the community.
# # #