JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The best and brightest in the Boys and Girls Clubs are in the Capital City competing for Youth of the Year.
They've come from across the state for the Mississippi Youth of the Year and Military Youth of the Year competition.
Forty eight thousand kids participate in the program statewide each year.
Members from 17 clubs and two military bases arrived Thursday.
Saturday Tatiahna Allen from Columbus won military youth and Iesah Coleman of Biloxi won state youth titles.
They were each awarded $1,000 scholarships. The goals of the boys and girls clubs are to create academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles in participants.
Boys and Girls National President and CEO Jim Clark was keynote speaker.
"This is the highest honor that we have in Boys and Girls Clubs of America to recognize our youth for the obstacles that they've overcome and for the success that they've achieved at this young age," said Clark.
Allen and Coleman will compete for regional titles June 18th through the 23rd in Atlanta.
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