Taylor Bryan (center), Niceville High School Youth of the Month for January, receives her Youth of the Month award from Niceville Exchange Club President Angie Toole (right) at the club’s January 23, 2024, meeting at Cafe Bienville. Taylor was introduced by NHS Principal (left) Charles Marello. (Contributed)
NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Niceville and Emerald Coast Exchange clubs have honored three outstanding Niceville students as Exchange Club Youths of the Month.
The January Youth of the Month recipients are Genesis Jimenez Chavez of Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College, Taylor Bryan of Niceville High School, and Sydney Athearn of Rocky Bayou Christan School.
The Niceville Exchange Club (NEC) and Emerald Coast Exchange Club (ECEC) honor youths of the month during the early portion of the school year. Recipients can apply for the clubs’ Youth of the Year scholarships valued at $500.
The clubs follow the National Exchange Club areas of impact: Americanism, Youth Programs, Community Service, and the national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse.
Genesis Jimenez Chavez, Collegiate High School
Genesis has a 4.7 weighted GPA, is shadowing a neonatologist as her capstone project, and is one of the driving forces in a student group promoting fentanyl awareness in the school district. She is president of the Interact Council and has 360 hours of community service, including diverse projects such as Special Olympics and the Autism Center. The bilingual student tutors Peruvian students and is the first alto sax chair in the school’s band. She hopes to work in the medical field as a doctor, emphasizing public health.
Taylor Bryan, Niceville High School
Taylor was nominated for her leadership (three years as student president of her class) and outstanding academics (4.33 GPA). She is the captain of the Niceville High School Band’s majorettes and is a four-time national championship twirler. Taylor’s father is a retired military pediatrician, and she plans to become a pediatric physician’s assistant. She is considering attending either Vanderbilt, the University of Florida, or Notre Dame after graduating from NHS.
Sydney Athearn, Rocky Bayou Christian School
Sydney is described as a very special student who has shown leadership in sports and academics. Sydney has a 4.59 GPA and has been involved in varsity sports, including basketball, volleyball, track, and cross country, as well as arts programs, including theater and music (vocal). She has been involved in community service projects throughout her high school career, including volunteer work at Jackson Guard and Bob Hope Village. This is not the first honor Sydney has received from the Niceville Exchange Club; in her sophomore year, she was the club’s Americanism Speech Contest winner and represented the club at the district level.
The Niceville Exchange Club has existed continuously for more than 30 years. The Emerald Coast Exchange Club began a little over 20 years ago.
During that time, the clubs have awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to Okaloosa County students at the local, district (state), and national levels, said NEC President Angie Toole.
At the district level, in addition to Boy and Girl of the Year scholarships, scholarships are awarded to the Americanism Speech Contest winner and the Accepting the Challenge of Excellence (ACE) scholarship for a student who has overcome obstacles to achieve academic excellence.
“These scholarship applications not only focus on academics but also include points awarded for community service and communicating personal beliefs,” said Ms. Toole.
Youth programs are a major focus of the National Exchange Club and local-level clubs, according to the National Exchange Club website. The organization’s youth programs include college scholarships at the community and national levels, mentoring, guidance, and service recognition to benefit and encourage our nation’s youth.
“America’s young people are our most precious resource,” says the National Exchange Club.
“They are who we trust with all of our tomorrows, and for that, they deserve every ounce of time and effort that we can pour into them today.”
For more information, visit the clubs’ websites here:
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