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Boys & Girls Club Honors Cristy Lopez-Duarte

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester honored its 2014 Youth of the Year Cristy Lopez-Duarte at the Crabtree’s Kittle House reception Tuesday, May 13. 

From left, Stuart Marwell, CEO of Curtis Instruments;  Athenia Lee, BGCNW teen center director; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year recipient;  Brian Skanes, BGCNW executive director; and R. Todd Rockefeller, BGCNW board president.

From left, Stuart Marwell, CEO of Curtis Instruments; Athenia Lee, BGCNW teen center director; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year recipient; Brian Skanes, BGCNW executive director; and R. Todd Rockefeller, BGCNW board president.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Humanitarian Dinner co-chairs Linda Mahon, Lee Manning-Vogelstein and Lisa Shrewsberry at the Youth of the Year Dinner.

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Humanitarian Dinner co-chairs Linda Mahon, Lee Manning-Vogelstein and Lisa Shrewsberry at the Youth of the Year Dinner.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Isaiah Figueroa, Youth of the Year finalist; Barbara Cutri, BGCNW director of operations; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year; Justique Carter, Chris Cutri Award recipient;  and Nethmi DeSilva and Akilah Figueroa, Youth of the Year finalist.

Isaiah Figueroa, Youth of the Year finalist; Barbara Cutri, BGCNW director of operations; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year; Justique Carter, Chris Cutri Award recipient; and Nethmi DeSilva and Akilah Figueroa, Youth of the Year finalist.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Brian Skanes, BGCNW executive director; Assemblyman David Buchwald, D-Westchester; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year; Justique Carter, Chris Cutri Award recipient; and Mount Kisco Mayor J. Michael Cindrich.

Brian Skanes, BGCNW executive director; Assemblyman David Buchwald, D-Westchester; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year; Justique Carter, Chris Cutri Award recipient; and Mount Kisco Mayor J. Michael Cindrich.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Brian Skanes, BGCNW executive director; Stuart Marwell, CEO of Curtis Instruments; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year; R. Todd Rockefeller, BGCNW board president; and John Crabtree, owner of Crabtree Kittle House Inn.

Brian Skanes, BGCNW executive director; Stuart Marwell, CEO of Curtis Instruments; Cristy Lopez-Duarte, 2014 Youth of the Year; R. Todd Rockefeller, BGCNW board president; and John Crabtree, owner of Crabtree Kittle House Inn.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The National Youth of the Year program, a Boys & Girls Clubs of America initiative, honors club members for developing superior leadership skills, overcoming personal challenges, achieving academic excellence, and performing outstanding service to the club and the community. 

As a 10-year member of the club, Lopez-Duarte, now 17, has shown outstanding dedication to BGCNW, her high school and her community. She has volunteered more than 300 hours of services since 2011 and is president of Liberty Keystone, a teen group that provides opportunities to gain valuable leadership and service experience. 

“As a young member of the club, I was a follower, but I have learned to be a leader in the programs and activities I’ve participated in,” Lopez-Duarte said. “I could not imagine the kind of person I would be without this club.”

Originally from Guatemala, Lopez-Duarte spoke of disappointments and tragic moments in her life, living as an undocumented citizen and her eventual discovery of the Immigration Reform Act, which now allows her to work, drive and apply for college scholarships in the U.S.

“Being in the country undocumented guarantees obstacles,” Lopez-Duarte said. “I remember first coming to the club. I was 4 years old in a new place in a new country. I didn’t know the language, and I didn’t have any friends. The club made it easy to adapt.”

Lopez-Duarte will compete in the New York State Youth of the Year competition in Albany on Monday, May 19. Lopez-Duarte will also be honored as the BGCNW’s Youth of the Year at the 2014 Humanitarian Award Dinner Saturday, June 7 at Lexus of Mount Kisco.

This article is part of a paid Content Partnership with the advertiser, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. Daily Voice has no involvement in the writing of the article and the statements and opinions contained in it are solely those of the advertiser.

To learn more about Content Partnerships, click here.

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