'Youth' winner tutors, volunteers for club

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Michele Malek is 2002 Youth of the Year for Hawai'i. The Farrington High senior hopes to be a nurse.

But what sets the Farrington High School senior apart from many of her peers is her dedication to help others by, for example, organizing blood drives or beautification projects.

These are some of the many reasons Malek was named the 2002 Youth of the Year for Hawai'i by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

"I'm overwhelmed because there were a lot of good nominees," said Malek, who competed against 15 other students statewide for the honor. "But I'm very happy."

The Youth of the Year program, in its 55th year, takes place nationwide and recognizes outstanding contributions made by a club member to his or her family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles that have been overcome.

Malek, a seven-year member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawai'i-Spalding Clubhouse in McCully, grew up with several challenges, such as growing up in a nontraditional family setting, being raised by her mother and grandmother, she said. But the challenges only encouraged Malek to better herself, she said.

"She's such a beautiful young person," said Lei Mahoe, director of the Spalding Clubhouse. "She's done a lot for (us)."

Mahoe said the clubhouse staff nominated Malek, who hopes to be a nurse one day, for her numerous contributions to their club. Malek has also worked as a tutor for school children, as well as volunteered with the Aloha United Way and the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind.

"She is an absolutely outstanding kid," said Amy Ruttkamp, spokeswoman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "It's amazing how wonderful these kids are."

As a state Youth of the Year winner, Malek received a $1,000 scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Pacific region competition on June 28 in Anaheim, Calif., where she will compete against winners from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington for the title of Pacific Youth of the Year and a $5,000 scholarship.