Tyree Tillis: Youth of the Year 2021
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland is honored to introduced Tyree as our Youth of the Year for 2021. Tyree joined The Club in 2010 at age 7 and now, as his high school graduation draws near this June, 2021, he reminisces “My 11-year membership at BGCO has given me a significant educational advantage. I always had access to tutors and academic support. The Club staff provided me with much-needed support and, most importantly, I had a safe place to grow up in West Oakland.”
“I know the lifelong leadership and social skills I developed through the Club are skills I’ll use for a lifetime”
Personifying BGCO’s mission results, Tyree has the vision and the drive to start his own clothing line — The Elephant in The Room (TENTR), a brand that promotes being comfortable with uncomfortable topics. That drive also has him poised to “graduate from high school, attend college and study business, then return to his community and volunteer.”
“The Club taught me the importance of being mindful of my actions in public.
Although my community was not always safe, I was always safe, the Club provided that; a place where I learned to appreciate the power of not doubting yourself.
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The highest honor that a Boys & Girls Club bestows on a student-member is the Youth of the Year designation which recognizes recipients for their exemplary contributions (to family, school, community, and Boys & Girls Clubs); and for their academic excellence.
Tyree will no doubt continue as a positive contributor to society. The BGCO Youth of the Year scholarship — $5,000 per year for 4 years to assist with his college expenses — is sure to help.
Tyree has been an active BGCO student-member for 11 years. learning. growing, and developing, and now epitomizing our intended mission results - positive contributors to society.
Please join us in congratulating Tyree for all that he has achieved thus far, including the highest honor that Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland bestows upon a student-member - The outstanding Youth of the Year for 2021.
“In the time that I have known Tyree, I have been impressed with his hard work ethic and determination to do his personal best. Tyree has always demonstrated upstanding leadership skills both in and outside of the Club.””
“Tyree is an extremely determined, active, individual with a work ethic that is bar none. He is a young man who brings a lot of knowledge and skills to most everything he involves himself in. He works extremely hard and is determined to succeed.”
The Youth of the Year program celebrates 14 to 18 year-old student-members’ outstanding contributions to their family, school, community, and their Boys & Girls Club; recognizing their academic excellence, moral character, life goals, poise and public speaking, as well as personal challenges and obstacles they’ve overcome. Historically, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s five regional winners have been honored at a Congressional Breakfast on Capitol Hill and have a chance to meet the President of the United States in the White House each fall.