Jules Da Costa, a student at Madison West High School, has been named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County Youth of the Year, the organization’s highest honor for Club members.
Every year, the award recognizes a young leader who has demonstrated exceptional character, academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement. The winner was announced at a ceremony that took place on the evening of Friday, Nov. 7, at the Allied Family Center.
“Jules embodies the qualities we hope to see in all young people: dedication, courage, and a willingness to lift others as they pursue their goals,” said MMSD Superintendent Joe Gothard in a press release. “We are proud to see an MMSD student recognized for this prestigious honor.”
This year, all four finalists, all seniors, were students from MMSD, including:
● Raul Amaya, East High School: A four-year Club member and aspiring biologist who will attend UW-Madison. Raul says AVID gave him a community to share his voice, build confidence, and prepare for a future in the medical field.
● Kevin Portillo-Bazoria, Vel Phillips Memorial High School: A six-year Club member planning to study architecture at UW-Madison. Kevin cites his family’s immigrant experience and AVID/TOPS as sources of resilience, organization, and motivation to pursue his goals.
(Photo: BGCDC)
● Christian Rubio Robledo, Robert. M. La Follette High School: A six-year Club member planning to attend UW-Madison to study neuroscience. Christian credits AVID and the Club with helping him persevere through challenges and develop the skills and determination to give back to others.
Also recognized was West junior Atavia Johnson, who was named the Junior Youth of the Year winner for her outstanding work in both the classroom and community.
“We are immensely proud of all our Youth of the Year finalists,” said Michael Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. “Each student demonstrated remarkable determination and shared their stories with courage and pride. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible—especially our Youth of the Year sponsors—for their generous support of the outstanding AVID/TOPS program.”
