Boys & Girls Club Names Youth of the Year

Michelle Arzate and Ty Shamblin

Source: United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County

United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County name Ty Shamblin Youth of the Year for their organization. Teen Directors and Club Directors selected one youth from their site to compete for UBGC Youth of the Year. The top two contestants this year were Michelle Arzate representing the Goleta site and Ty Shamblin representing the Carpinteria site.

“I was so impressed with both candidates. They come from two very different circumstances but are both driven,” shared Chief Pat Walsh, who was a judge for the Youth of the Year and is on the Board of UBGC. “They realize what they have at the United Boys & Girls Club, and that is it helping them succeed and teaching them values. It was interesting because both candidates made a similar comment. One of the questions asked was, ‘what’s something the youth is facing and challenged with today?’ They both shared how social media is a huge factor and how it’s a false reality. People are striving for clicks and likes, but it is really about how you treat each other. I think that was really insightful to hear that from a couple of teen members in our community.”

After Shamblin found out he would be representing the 2,800 members UBGC serves he shared, “After tonight I learned that I really can give back more to my community. There’s a lot of good to give. I hope other people see that with hard work and commitment anything is possible.”

Special thanks to our judges Michelle Apodaca from Deckers, Councilmember and immediate past Mayor of Carpinteria, Fred Shaw, Carpinteria Superintendent of Schools Ms. Diana Rigby, Vice President of Market for Cox Communications Ms. Kirsten McGlaughlin, Lompoc Police Chief Pat Walsh and Dr. Carol Del Ciello who set aside time from family to come out and make the evening exceptional.

Shamblin will next compete at the Coastal Area Council Competition in March of 2019.  If he should win there, he will then compete for State Youth of the Year honors in Sacramento.