Youth of the Year Larry Renteria

Youth of the Year Renteria, Alumni Cabral
tell of Boys & Girls Club influence

October 02, 2014
Santa Paula News

Two champions of accomplishment were celebrated at the September 23 Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley Breakfast of Champions where 2013 Youth of the Year Larry Renteria and Alumni Speaker Lauren Cabral told of how the club has changed their lives.

The annual breakfast, a sell out, was held at the Community Center and featured KEYT news anchor/reporter Paula Lopez as the featured speaker.

Maricela Soriano, Branch Director of the Santa Paula Club Site introduced Renteria, “A very special man,” with great moral character and Santa Paula High School scholar with a 4.3 GPA.

The Youth of the Year program has been an integral part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than 60 years and is the highest honor given to members of the organization. 

Finalists are chosen based on their dedication to the club, community and family, academic performance, moral character, life goals and leadership ability.  

Renteria has been an active member of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula for the past five years; a SPHS freshman, he is a member of the basketball and swimming teams. When he graduates SPHS Renteria plans to attend the University of California Berkeley to obtain a degree in criminal justice. 

He is described as “very focused” with the potential to do great things.

Renteria is also, “An all around great guy,” said Soriano, “and we’re very honored to have him as a club member... “ 

Focus, Renteria told the crowd is everything.

“I have to stay focused on my plan, if not I would be lost,” and being a member of the B&GCSCV has helped him stay on course.

“As a club member I set goals and reach them and keep setting goals,” to remain focused and attain success.

During the five years of his club membership Renteria said he has “always found a caring staff member to help me,” no matter the request or the timing of same.

And the club’s Mentorship Program of which “I am a proud member of has allowed me to join Big Brothers-Big Sisters at the high school,” to mentor younger children.

“I am very proud of that,” as well as the scholastic achievements that will allow Renteria to attend Berkeley where he plans to study criminal law.

Renteria said, “I want to become a lawyer,” to “help people stand up by using words,” just as he has used his verbal skills to defuse difficult situations.

A self-described realist, Renteria realizes his personal dreams won’t be met without the planning and goal-setting necessary for personal and professional success.

And noted Renteria, “I know with the support and the guidance of my family and the Boys and Girls Club,” his goals will be reached.

Club Executive Director Jan Marholin introduced Lauren Cabral, a recent California Lutheran University graduate now working at the California Oil Museum as the assistant educator.

A club member from 1998 to 2002, Cabral said although she is a Santa Paula native who “grew up here, I went to school in Ventura,” better equipped to deal with her lack of social skills.

A self-described “weird” child, “Thanks to the club I was able to develop those social skills,” that also helped her studies and grades.

She returned to SPHS and when she graduated she attended Ventura Community College and then CLU where she obtained a degree in art.

“I really think the club had a major effect on my life, I don’t think I could have done that,” without the support of club staff and the interaction the venue provided for supervised activities with other Club Kids.

“Just having an adult tell me ‘you’re fine, you’re weird but you’re fine,’ and now I have the opportunity,” to teach other children at the museum.

Science is showcased at the museum in a way that is “tangible and fun,” for the students as well as for Cabral.

“I thank the club so much for all the opportunities,” that Cabral said helped her accept being a “weird kid” now teaching and encouraging others.

Lauren Cabral





Site Search

E-Subscribe

Subscribe

E-SUBSCRIBE
Call 805 525 1890 to receive the entire paper early. $50.00 for one year.

webmaster