photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World photo

Lawrence High School freshman Arabella Gipp was selected as the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence's 2022 Youth of the Year on Thursday night at Liberty Hall.

Lawrence High School freshman Arabella Gipp was selected as the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence’s 2022 Youth of the Year on Thursday night at Liberty Hall.

Gipp was chosen as the winner from among three nominees. The other two were Free State High School freshman Ohene Danso and Lawrence High School sophomore Azura Clark.

Gipp dedicated the honor to her mother. She’ll move on to represent Lawrence in the state Youth of the Year competition — the winner at state moves on to the regional contest, and the winner of the regional contest moves on to the national contest. The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence has produced the Kansas Youth of the Year in five of the past 10 years.

All three candidates delivered individual speeches to the audience at Liberty Hall, and there were also dance performances from the top three finishers at the club’s recent Lights On Talent Show.

The 2022 ceremony also marked a return to form — it was open to the public, after last year’s ceremony was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.