Selected among several local outstanding youth, Faith McConnaughey of Sequim will compete against other Boys & Girls Club members for the Washington Youth of the Year title and a $1,000 college scholarship from Tupperware Brands Corporation.

As the new Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, 15-year-old McConnaughey was recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for her “sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community,” according to a club press release.

“Faith is an amazing young lady and is the perfect choice to represent our clubs at the 2014 Youth of the Year,” club unit director Dave Miller said. “Faith is the epitome of a ‘Club Kid.’ She started in the Sequim club at the young age of 6 and has made the club a ‘home away from home.’ It has been wonderful watching her turn into a vibrant, strong citizen with a very bright future.”

Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. As BGCA’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles.

Club staffers say McConnaughey always has given back to her club by demonstrating friendliness and genuine interest in each club member, generating a silent respect by fellow youth. After school she tutors many of club members participating in Power Hour, the club’s homework assistance program.

McConnaughey has volunteered at the Sequim Food Bank and visited with elderly Sequim residents in two nursing centers. She also helps raise funds for Project Violet, a program that provides research and advances technology to treat patients like Violet O’Dell — a Sequim youth who died of a rare inoperable brain stem tumor in 2012 at the age of 11.

If McConnaughey wins at the state competition, she will compete for the title of Pacific Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 scholarship.