Meet Alejandra Palomar, the winner of the 2009 Marisa Martinez Youth of the Year Award. 

 Alejandra has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin for five years.  She has become a role model for the younger members and enjoys helping the staff.

 Alejandra was born in Mexico and her family moved to the United States when she was four years old.  She has worked very hard at being a success in school, and learned English outside of the home.  In 6^th grade, she won the award of Those Who Excel when she was able to move from a bilingual to mainstream classroom.  She has been beating the odds ever since!

 A junior at Elgin High School, Alejandra gets good grades, and as a senior will be in advanced Spanish and Computer classes.

 According to Alejandra, “the Club is a place that feels like home.”  She credits the Club with filling her “with qualities I need to be an outstanding citizen.  I have learned a wide range of things from learning how to behave to setting goals and making plans to reach them.”

 Here at the Club, we have no doubt that Alejandra will reach any goal she puts her mind to!  We are proud to have her as our Youth of the Year.