Central Minnesota Teen Named Midwest Youth of the Year, Advances to Nationals

(KNSI) – A Central Minnesota teenager has been named the 2026 Midwest Region Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Brook’Lynn H., a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota, claimed the state’s top youth leadership honor this spring and has now won a regional title, earning her a shot at the national crown.

The win came with a $20,000 college scholarship, bringing Brook’Lynn’s total to $42,500 so far. That includes the $20,000 Home Team Scholarship and the $2,500 award she earned in March as Minnesota’s Youth of the Year.

The win makes her one of five regional finalists from across the country who will compete for the National Youth of the Year title. Brook’Lynn will represent the Midwest on October 1st in New York City, where she could win an additional $50,000 college scholarship.

She has participated in Club programs since kindergarten and graduated this year from Cathedral High School. Brook’Lynn has taken part in programs including Career Launch, Career Start, SMART Girls, Healthy Habits and Cavity Free Zone, and has served as an emcee for Boys & Girls Club showcases. She is involved with the Best Buy Teen Tech Center and serves on both the Club’s local teen advisory council and Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth Advisory Council. She plans to attend Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue a law degree with a focus on family law and to become a criminal prosecutor.

The Youth of the Year award, now in its 79th year, recognizes young people for leadership, community service, academic excellence, healthy living and workforce readiness. Minnesota Alliance Executive Director Bryan Donaldson has called the recognition proof of the value of out-of-school programming, saying it builds a workforce-ready, community-minded generation.

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