2026 PFC Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year
Congratulations, Aditya!
The Club held its 62nd Annual Awards Night on Thursday, April 2, 2026. It was a phenomenal night of recognizing Club members who have shown respect, kindness, and those who always put forth their best effort at all six of our Club locations. The night culminated with the most prestigious award bestowed on a Club kid – Youth of the Year. The 2026 PFC Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year is Aditya A.!
Aditya has been a member of the McKeown Boys & Girls Club for 9 years, where he’s been involved in activities from swimming to service learning to athletics. He is currently the President of the Intrepid Keystone Club. A senior at Woburn Memorial High School, Aditya is an excellent student and has experienced tremendous success in DECA. Next year, he will study engineering at a four-year institution.
In his Youth of the Year application, Aditya writes the following in his essay: “Hundreds of kids pass through the Club doors every year. What makes my experience different is not what was offered, but how I chose to respond. I learned to treat every space as an opportunity to grow. I learned I had to contribute to my own belonging. Most importantly, I learned to think about who I want to be before I become them.”
About the Youth of the Year Program
Youth of the Year candidates are nominated in an open process. A group of finalists is selected by the Club’s professional staff. The finalists are then asked to complete an application consisting of essays and letters of recommendation. They are then interviewed by a panel of judges comprising members of the Club’s professional staff and community leaders. Criteria considered during the nomination, application, and interview process are: academic success, commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle, passion for their experience at the Boys & Girls Club, and overall good character & leadership. The panel of judges makes the final decision on the winner. The following individuals served as judges in the 2026 competition: From our professional staff, Sean Thomas and Claire Duke. And from the community, Jorge Andrade, Maria Teresa Nagel, and Samantha Stone.
As the 2026 PFC Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year, Aditya A., also received the $2,000 Charles T. Morgan Memorial Scholarship, generously donated by the Morgan Family. Charles T. Morgan was the Club’s first-ever Boy of the Year in 1965. Charlie was a lifelong Club kid who was always there for the Club whenever needed. Charlie was incredibly proud to be a Club alumnus. He supported the Club through its ups and downs and remained connected to the organization throughout his lifetime. In fact, he also served as the Aquatics Director at the Arlington Boys & Girls Club.
Aditya A. will represent the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn at the 2026 Massachusetts Youth of the Year competition on May 3rd and 4th at Gillette Stadium.