Youth of the Year

Congratulations, Gio Desir! Gio is a senior at Woburn Memorial High School and has been a loyal Club kid for more than a decade. He is passionate about basketball, family, heritage and faith. At the Club, he demonstrates leadership as a member of Club Ambassadors at at WMHS, he is a founding member and treasurer of the Black Student Union.

Congratulations, Rani Amin! Rani is a junior at Woburn Memorial High School who is passionate about social justice and is actively involved in the embRACE Club, participating in numerous community initiatives that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. She has been a Club member for nine years, and is the Treasurer of the Intrepid Keystone Club.

Congratulations, Caleb Sawicki! Caleb is a ten-year member of the Club where he excels in the Intrepid Keystone Club, junior staff program, and numerous sports programs. Caleb is an incredible role model to younger members with his positive attitude and the joy he brings every day. He will continue his studies at UMASS Amherst and hopes to become a teacher.

Congratulations, Lauren Szwed! Lauren is a member of the National Honor Society and the drama and music programs at Woburn Memorial High School. At the Club, she is an active part of the Intrepid Keystone Club and the junior staff program. She will continue her studies at Emerson College and hopes to become a film director.

Congratulations, Lainey Gaiero! Lainey is a junior at Burlington High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society and a field hockey player. She is a lifelong member of the Club, Vice President of the Intrepid Keystone Club, and advisor to the Gemstones program. Lainey hopes to have a career in social work in the future.

Congratulations, Alaina Szwed! Alaina has been a Club member for eight years and is a member of both the Jr. Staff program and Intrepid Keystone Club. She has volunteered more than 250 hours over the past year and is an excellent role model for our younger members. Alaina will be attending Salem Street University next year to study marketing.

Congratulations, George Whitfield! George has been a member for twelve years, having first participated as a young camper in the Club's summer camp. He has taught origami classes at the Club for years and is a leader in the Intrepid Keystone Club. George will continue his studies in engineering in the future and we are all so proud of him!

Congratulations, Christine Murray! Chrissy is a lifelong member of the Jamie McKeown Boys & Girls Club, having participated in a leadership role in the swimming pool, Keystone Club and everything in between. Chrissy will continue her studies at Massachusetts Maritime Academy & we are so proud of her!

Congratulations, Andrew Crawford! Andrew, or A.J., as members and staff know him has been a leader in the Clubhouse for many years. We are so proud of his accomplishments & wish him well as he continues his studies at Assumption College.

The James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn is proud to announce that Calvin Knowles has been named the 2015 PFC Joseph L. Drew Youth of the Year. Calvin has been a member of the Club since a young age when he joined the Project Learn afterschool program at the Linscott Elementary School. He recently graduated from Woburn Memorial High School and will begin his studies at the University of Connecticut in the fall.

Congratulations, Andrew Winston! Andrew was named this year’s Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Woburn. He is currently a junior at Northeast Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield, MA where he is studying dental assisting. He is also a member of the Intrepid Keystone Club and the Jr. Staff at the Club. Andrew also advanced to become a finalist at the Massachusetts Youth of the Year competition this spring. We are so proud of all of his accomplishments.