By Lookout Staff

February 11, 2010 -- The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica has chosen as Youth of the Year a high school senior who found time to help clean the beach, feed the hungry and build much-needed facilities in Africa, all while on the honors roll.

OlaMide’ Oladipupo gives thanks. Photos curtesy of Boys and Girls Club

OlaMide’ Oladipupo, a 17-year-old student at Culver City High School, received the award -- which comes with a 4-year scholarship stipend to the student's college of choice -- at the Club’s Annual Youth of the Year Awards Banquet Saturday.

OlaMide, who wants to be a teacher, thanked the Santa Monica Club for giving her a "chance" and "opening my eyes."

“What the Club means to me is a chance," OlaMide said. "It gives you the chance you need to get good grades or make it to college. It gives you the chance to be yourself. It gives you the chance to make a difference.

"I thank the Boys and Girls Club for giving me the chance of opening my eyes to all I can achieve,” she said.

The highest honor for a Club member, the award was designed to recognize outstanding scholastic achievement, dedication to higher education, service to community, contributions to their family and overcoming any personal challenges and obstacles.

"In the past year, OlaMide’ has shown an exceptional dedication to community service, having participated in several key activities including her role as President of Keystone," Club officials wrote in a statement.

OlaMide also volunteered more than 200 hours to help with initiatives that inculded a beach clean-up in conjunction with Disney, a canned food drive and a trip to Kenya where she participated in the building of a medical facility and a secondary school for the local children, officials said.

"When not planning a fund-raising event or charity drive, OlaMide’ dedicates her time to helping those around her – she spends afternoons tutoring other Club members and is a role model each day to her two younger sisters," Club officials said.

Santa Monica Kiwanis President Dave Rosenberg and Microsoft's Sahir Weise present award.

The ceremony at the Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica Awards Banquet at the Olympic Collection in West Los Angeles also celebrated the three other Youth of the Year finalists:

• Kaitlyn Nickel, a junior at Santa Monica High School with career aspirations to be a Youth Minister.
• Alexa McCoy, a junior at New Roads High School with career aspirations to be a Pediatrician.
• Zuri Smith, a junior at City Honors High School career aspirations to be a Broadcast Journalist.

  Zuri Smith,Alexa McCoy, Kaitlyn Nickel. Photos curtesy of Boys and Girls Club

“These winners represent what the Club is all about and it’s a privilege to work alongside of these inspiriting teens,” said Aaron Young, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica.