March 6, 2002

Club selects Youth of the Year

Dino DePonio earns honor from Boys and Girls

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       In the midst of their explosive growth, the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Traverse held its Annual Appreciation Award Ceremony Monday evening, recognizing youth, staff and volunteer contributions.
      This year the club recognized Dino DePonio as Youth of the Year for his many contributions both as a member and a part-time staff.
      "I feel so proud to be picked out of all the other kids at the club," said DePonio, 15, a tenth- grade student at Traverse City West High School.
      DePonio has been coming to the Boys and Girls Club for three years, usually three days a week after school. In addition, he comes on Friday nights to attend and help out at the weekly teen dances. A basketball fanatic, he can usually be found on the courts when he isn't helping out in the office or with Smart Moves, a DARE-like program.
      "I've made good friends here, though there are not too many kids in the tenth grade," he said. "I like it, having the kids look up to me and it's fun to be here instead of working at Tom's bagging groceries. I could get more money elsewhere but I like it here."
      Meredith Wells, director of operations for the club, noted that it is harder each year to single out one youth for this acknowledgment. With enrollment climbing to more than 2,500 kids at multiple sites around the area, there are so many more kids to chose from.
      "The selection process is getting tougher now for Youth of the Year," she said. "When we considered Dino this year, though, it was a landslide by the staff."
      The awards ceremony also bestowed scholarships on a number of members, which they can use this summer at a variety of sports or arts camps.
      Chase O'Black received a scholarship to basketball camp, dovetailing perfectly with his favorite pastime. A member of the club for three years, O'Black attended a Pistons basketball camp four years ago and was thrilled to meet Isaiah Thomas. He attends the club after school three days a week.
      "I love playing basketball," said O'Black, a fifth-grade student at Central Grade School. "I also like going to Power Hour here and finishing my homework."
      Robin Buchner, the club's office administrator, was named Staff of the Year at the event. With help from the Kiwanis Club, she will head to the Boys and Girls Club's national headquarters in April for a week of training.
      Some of the club's growth over the past three years is due to expansion into area schools. This year, the Boys and Girls Club hosts sites at the five elementary schools in the Traverse City Area Public Schools that are designated as Community Learning Center: Interlochen, Glenn Loomis, Blair, Sabin and Traverse Heights.
      In addition, the Boys and Girls Club also sponsors programs at the Suttons Bay Middle School, Traverse City West Junior High, Traverse City West High School, Traverse City Central High School, Kingsley High School and the Bay Mills Indian School.
      "For the numbers, it is an incredible reaching out," said Teckla Dettmer, a member of the board of directors for one year. "These programs reach so many schools."
      Wells believes that the burgeoning enrollment demonstrates that the community was ready for more quality after-school programs.
      "The numbers just show a need," she said. "We want to serve the kids who need it and the kids who show up after school come because they want to."