photo by: Leah Evans Photography

The nominees for the 2026 Youth of the Year. From left to right, Leah Anderson, Liv Abbey, Laila Reetz.

Three teens have been selected as nominees for Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence’s annual Youth of the Year recognition, and judges will decide who wins the title next week.

Youth of the Year is the premier recognition program for Boys & Girls Clubs across the country and it highlights the relationships members develop with the Club from as early as kindergarten through high school. This year’s nominees include Liv Abbey, Leah Anderson, and Laila Reetz.

Next week, judges will choose who will be the 2026 Youth of the Year after the nominees present their individual speeches to the audience and after the judges already spent hours prior to the ceremony interviewing each Youth of the Year candidate and scoring their essays and short answer questions.

The ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Drive. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.

photo by: Leah Evans Photography

Liv Abbey

Abbey is a senior at Free State High School, and she is the daughter of Aaron and Kimberly Abbey. According to a press release from the Club, she would like to pursue a career as a teacher, library technician or Boys & Girls Club staff member. Abbey said she is motivated to share her experiences of personal loss and bullying, including how her passions for art and the Club have helped her move forward.

photo by: Leah Evans Photography

Leah Anderson

Anderson is a junior at Free State High School, and she is the daughter of Keshia Anderson and Harlan Epps. She has a love for dance and is involved in multiple school activities and her church. She is interested in pursuing a career as a counselor or therapist, and is currently interested in attending the University of Kansas, the release said. Anderson will be speaking about how her journey through the Club has been foundational in giving her a vision of what she wants for her future.

photo by: Leah Evans Photography

Laila Reetz

Reetz is a sophomore at Free State High School, and she is the daughter of Richard and Amy Jaimez. The release said she is a mentor for her siblings as well as a member of the Free State Girls Wrestling Team. She is interested in pursuing a career as a children’s therapist or lawyer and is hoping to attend college at the University of Tennessee. Reetz is inspired to participate in Youth of the Year because the Club has been a source of mentorship and support.

For high school students to earn a Youth of the Year nomination, they must embody the values of leadership service, academic excellence and healthy lifestyles. The release said the three candidates for 2026 “are shining examples of the powerful, positive impact the Boys & Girls Club has on its members.”

In addition to selecting Youth of the Year, the Boys & Girls Club will also hold Junior Youth of the Year, which features elementary school students who will speak about what participation in the Club has meant to them.

There is one fifth grade nominee from each of the 11 Lawrence elementary school Boys & Girls Club sites. The nominees are Madison Thuma, Cordley Elementary; Izzy Wichman, Deerfield Elementary; Alex Garcia, Hillcrest Elementary; Jordan Johnson, Langston Hughes Elementary; Naomi Quinteros, New York Elementary; Cj Davison Symmonds, Prairie Park Elementary; Will Diepenbrock, Quail Run Elementary; Stella McCall, Schwegler Elementary; Sage Leiva, Sunflower Elementary; Emma Reddell, Sunset Hill Elementary; and Jensen Aitken, Woodlawn Elementary.