The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence is set to honor three candidates at the 2022 Youth of the Year ceremony this week.

The event, set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Liberty Hall, “celebrates the life-long relationships that kids develop with the Boys & Girls Club,” a news release from the club reads. This year’s nominees for the award are Free State High School freshman Ohene Danso, Lawrence High School freshman Arabella Gipp and Lawrence High School sophomore Azura Clark.

That trio “embodies “the values of leadership service, academic excellence and healthy lifestyles,” according to the release.

The 2021 ceremony had to be closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the 2022 ceremony is open to the public and is free to attend. In addition to the Douglas County mask mandate currently in effect, attendees age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to attend. Guests will need to present their vaccination cards and matching IDs to enter the event, or may present proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours for entry. Guests under 12 are not required to be fully vaccinated.

Per the release, a panel of judges will spend Thursday afternoon interviewing each candidate and scoring their essays. At the event that evening, they’ll deliver individual speeches to the audience. Brian Hanni, the voice of the Jayhawks, will serve as the event’s emcee.

The winner, to be announced at the conclusion of the ceremony, will go on to represent Lawrence in the state competition. State winners advance to regional competitions, where winners move on to the National Youth of the Year event. The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence has produced the Kansas Youth of the Year in five of the last 10 years, according to the release, most recently Ruth Gathunguri in 2018 and 2019.

The release also provided more information about this year’s candidates:

• Ohene Danso is the son of Naomi and Alfred Danso. Ohene’s sister, Akosua, was a candidate for Youth of the Year in 2020 and 2021. Ohene hopes to attend an Ivy League university. He is most interested in Princeton and intends to major in information technology and hopes to become a professional volleyball player. Ohene plays volleyball whenever he can, including with the volleyball team at the Center for Great Futures.

• Arabella Gipp, the daughter of Jessica Gipp, has been involved with Boys & Girls Club since she was 5. Arabella has danced in multiple Lights On Talent Shows, played on volleyball and basketball teams, and is the current manager for the Ball 4 All Lakers team. Arabella just wrapped up her first high school season of volleyball and is already playing on a club team. Arabella wants to attend Stanford University, with plans to major in political science and sports and exercise science. Arabella hopes to become a politician and a volleyball coach.

• Azura Clark is the daughter of Kylene Dickerson and Marlon Clark. A member of the Boys & Girls Club since kindergarten, Azura is appearing in her second Youth of the Year competition. Azura plays on the Lawrence High varsity women’s basketball team. She also is a member of Lawrence High AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. Azura wants to attend the University of Connecticut or Baylor University and plans to major in psychology. She has career aspirations of becoming a therapist for athletes.

photo by: Photo courtesy of Jason Dailey Photography

Gipp

photo by: Photo courtesy of Jason Dailey Photography

Clark

photo by: Photo courtesy of Jason Dailey Photography

Danso