Club Member & Staff Member selected for Keystone National Steering Committee for BGCA

Walton County Boys & Girls Club is celebrating recently for being selected for an opportunity of a lifetime with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as a teen member and staff member join the National Keystone Steering Committee for the 2018 Keystone Conference.

Each year there are thousands of applicants that are narrowed down to the final positions for BGCA, this year Mequelle Jones, Teen Coordinator for WCBGC and Ronny Monford, Teen Keystone Vice President were selected from the Walton County Boys & Girls Clubs.

Keystone is one of BGCA’s most dynamic teen-led programs, said WCBGC

Senior Executive Club Director Monica Trimble.

“It affords teens an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and service experience. They conduct activities in three areas: academic success, career exploration, and community service,” she explained.

Each year, the BGCA national selection team searches for outstanding teens that are making a difference in their Club. Teens who apply must write an essay around the question “Why should they be selected and what have they done to make a difference."

For both teens, this opportunity will not be taken for granted and will enrich their continued development as youth leaders.

“Being selected to not only represent my Club, my County, but the organization has been a great honor,” Club member Ronny Monford said. “I have been able to meet new people from all over the United States that have the same passion as I do to help make the world a better place. After our first committee meeting, I have a better understanding of the quote, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."

For Ronny, he said, “I found my voice in Keystone thanks to my Club.”

Staff member Mequelle Jones said, “This council has opened my eyes to the impact we as staff in Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia make on the youth we serve every day, and I can see myself on the National Level impacting youth across the world.”

Trimble is full of pride for her staff member and teen Club member’s participation in this year’s national committee.

“I’m so proud of Ms. Jones and Mr. Monford for being selected to represent our Club and organization at the national level,” she said. “They’ll be in our history books for helping lead the 51rst National Keystone Conference in Atlanta, June 20-24 this summer. “