Congratulations to Taylor Lewis, the Rick & Susan Goings Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year for 2025 and 2026, on being named the 2026 Pee Dee Area Youth of the Year during the Annual Steak-N-Burger Dinner at First Presbyterian Church in Florence on March 3.
The title comes with a $4,000 Carraway Turner Leadership Fund scholarship to further her education after high school, whether that be trade school, technical college, or university. She also earned the right to represent the Pee Dee Area at the state competition in April.
Growing up in Hemingway, a town with a population less than 500, Taylor felt opportunity was out of reach. The colorful walls and laughter echoing through the Club piqued her interest when she stepped inside as a shy 6-year-old.
“The Club didn’t just give me a place to go afterschool – it helped me re-write my story,” Taylor says. “I learned how to lead, how to listen, how to grow.”
The 8-year Club member attends Connexus Academy and participates in a variety of sports, cheer, volleyball, and soccer, as well as being active at her church and in the Young Missionary Society.
“I refuse to let where I started determine where I finish,” she says.
Taylor plans to be one of the top lawyers in South Carolina after attending either Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, or Columbia University. Not for the title or money, but because she knows what it feels like to be voiceless. “I want to fight for kids who were like me – and tell them, ‘You’re not forgotten. You are seen, and your story matters.’”
That’s what the Club meant to her. “They [the staff] saw me as someone worth investing in,” Taylor says. “Because of you, I now walk with my head high, my heart full, and my dreams within reach.”
Congratulations to Adri’on Carson, the 2026 Lake City Youth of the Year and our runner-up!
Ardi’on has been a Club member for a decade. The junior at Lake City High School runs cross-country and participates in the Student Government Association – things he never dreamed of where he first came to the Club at 8 years old. He felt limited and struggled with focus and responsibility.
With steady support and mentorship from staff and older club members, he learned to balance academics, athletics, and leadership.
“They never allowed me to settle for less than my potential, constantly pushing me to grow as a leader and stay focused on my goals,” Adri’on says.
Today, he assists staff with the younger Club members and volunteers as secretary at the Club. He has become a role model and is committed to giving back to his community and encouraging others to believe in themselves, coming full circle.
He plans to study business administration at the University of South Carolina after high school.
We celebrate all the 2026 Club Youths of the Year who bravely took the stage and shared their powerful stories that evening as well.
- Nicholas Anthony Durant – Florence
- Angel Smith – Hartsville
- Emonte Kelly – Pamplico
- Kyrielle Flynn – Timmonsville
Special thanks to the Boston College students who generously helped with setup and serving, and to the Johnsonville Club and Virtus Club for their wonderful performances that lit up the room.
Contributions to the Carraway Turner Leadership Fund can be made through our website at https://bit.ly/SNB2026. To contribute to the Clubs or for more information, visit https://www.bgcpda.org/ or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at #bgcpeedee.
Carraway Turner Leadership Fund
In 2019, a generous donation from Health Facilities Federal Credit Union, now known as South Carolina Federal Credit Union, created the Carraway Turner Leadership Fund in memory of Sgt. Terrence Carraway and Investigator Farrah Turner, who both lost their lives as a result of the tragic events on October 3, 2018, in Florence. After learning of both officers’ close ties to the Boys & Girls Club, HFFCU CEO Robert Harris and the HFFCU Board created the fund in their memory supporting youth at the Boys & Girls Club.
The Fund provides scholarships to the Youth of the Year for pursuing education after high school. South Carolina Federal Credit Union continues the legacy of HFFCU as very generous supporters of the Boys & Girls Club.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs
Our mission is to inspire and enable all youth, from throughout the Pee Dee area, especially those that need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Our eight Clubs are located in Florence, Hartsville, Hemingway, Johnsonville, Lake City, Pamplico, and Timmonsville and fill the gap between school and home with a welcoming, positive environment in which kids and teens have fun, participate in life-changing programs, and build supportive relationships with peers and caring adults.
- Academic Success: Graduating from high school ready for college, trade school, military, or employment
- Good Character & Leadership: Being an engaged citizen involved in the community, registered to vote, and modeling good character
- Healthy Lifestyles: Adopting a healthy diet, practicing healthy lifestyle choices, and making a lifelong commitment to fitness.
What is Youth of the Year?
For 75 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year program has honored and celebrated the nation’s most inspiring teens – recognizing their commitment to outstanding leadership, service, and excellence.
Each year, one exceptional Club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth as well as a voice for all our nation’s young people. These individuals have exemplified the Boys & Girls Club mission and are proof to the impact Clubs make in transforming and saving kids’ lives. National Youth of the Year winners have achieved success in a variety of industries, including entertainment, politics, business, and sports.
Becoming National Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspiring journey. Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state, and regional Youth of the Year events. Six teens, including five regional winners and a national military youth winner, advance to the National Youth of the Year Celebration, where one outstanding young person is named Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s national teen spokesperson.
The National Youth of the Year is a role model, leader and advocate for the millions of youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs each year, and all of America's young people. As the teen spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Youth of the Year get the opportunity to meet the President of the United States. So far, Youth of the Year have met 13 U.S. Presidents.
