Youth of the Year
Adriana achieved an incredible milestone by making it to the Wisconsin State Youth of the Year competition on Monday, March 10th! Competing against 17 outstanding youth from Boys & Girls Clubs across the state, Adriana’s dedication earned her a spot among the top four finalists.
As a state finalist, Adriana had the honor of delivering her inspiring speech alongside the three other finalists at the event. Her hard work was recognized with a $1,000 scholarship.
We are SO PROUD of Adriana and all she has accomplished
Our 2025 Youth of the Year Candidates
Devon Wells is a Senior at Vel Phillips Memorial High School. Devon is a passionate, hardworking, and driven person who uses his music and advocacy skills to shed light on Mental Health struggles and provide a voice for others. In the fall of 2023, Devon had the incredible opportunity to write a piece for Our Lives Madison, a Madison based magazine that works to highlight queer-folk making change in Wisconsin. The piece was titled Silent No More, and shared Devon’s experience coming out, and also highlighted some of the amazing work he did with the Wisconsin PATCH Program. Devon has also been working to share their original music with others, in hopes that they can connect with others and shed light on struggles of mental health. Devon hopes to attend Berklee School of Music in Boston Massachusetts, where he plans to major in songwriting and choral education.
Annette Morales is a kind, outgoing Boys and Girls Club member and West High School’s YOY candidate! She is deeply involved in her community, working as a youth group leader and choir member in her church, being a pillar of her AVID/TOPS class, as well as participating in her school’s cheer team. Committed to uplifting youth in all spaces, she worked as a teacher’s assistant in second-grade classrooms helping children with literacy and social-emotional skills. Annette is looking forward to utilizing her leadership skills in this year’s competition!
Adriana Villagomez is a senior and this year’s
La Follette High School Youth of the Year! She is a strong and passionate advocate ready to uplift youth in the community through inclusivity and empowerment. Adriana is the co-founder and leader of Union Latina at LHS, as well as a third-year committee board member of By Youth For Youth, both of which have supported her growth as a leader. She is excited to continue to show her dedication to advocacy in her future career as a bilingual pediatric healthcare worker, taking action to make all patients feel welcome within their identity. Adriana is prepared to take the first steps toward her goal and is filled with joy to have the opportunity to voice her aspirations.
Leah Gage is a dedicated and driven sophomore at Monona Grove High School. With a passion for building, creating, and hands-on work, Leah thrives in environments that allow her to explore her creativity. She is an engaged member of Model UN, Softball, and Marching Band, where she consistently demonstrates leadership and teamwork. Looking ahead, Leah is excited to pursue a career in the sciences after high school, driven by her curiosity and commitment to making a meaningful impact.
Event Photo’s
