Alison Hosinski

In a virtual event held Saturday, Alpena’s Alison Hosinski was named the Michigan Youth of the Year Runner-Up by Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Hosinski earned runner-up from among 14 outstanding youth from across the state. She is set to receive a $500 college scholarship and continue to lead other youth in meaningful service-learning projects.

The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 74th year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures.

“We are so proud of everything that Alison does for the community of Alpena, and she truly makes the community a better place,” Boys and Girls Club of Alpena Executive Director Bradley Somers said in a press release. “I am so excited about the next generation of leaders with youth like Alison leading the charge.”

During the competition, the judges took an additional 15 minutes to deliberate and decide who would be named Michigan Youth of the Year.

Hosinski has been the first to place highest within the Michigan Youth of the Year competition for the local club, which adopted the organization name, The Boys and Girls Club of Alpena, in 1987.

Hosinski is a junior at Alpena High school where she participates in the Alpena Early College Program.

She has began working on a business administration degree at Alpena Community College and plans on transferring to Michigan State University to work toward an entrepreneurship degree, pending acceptance. She currently has a 4.022 GPA, while participating in many extracurricular activities.

Hosinski, a former foster child, is most passionate about creating a mobile application to create a community and provide resources to those within the foster care system.

Additionally, she is the President of the Youth Advisory Board for the Youth Volunteer Corps program through the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena. This program focuses on student-led, team-based, service-learning projects and instills a life of volunteerism within youth. She has been an active member since 2019 and has built upon her leadership skills tremendously.

Boys and Girls Club leaders say Hosinski is truly an inspiring young person and she will do great things as she moves forward.

If she could give advice to other youth it would be, “You aren’t defined by what is happening, and only you can change it, because your future depends on you.”

About Boys and Girls Clubs of America

For 160 years, Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,700 clubs serve over 4.6 million young people through club membership and community outreach.

Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54% said the club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia.