The Redmond/Sammamish Boys & Girls Club has announced Sulynn Miao as its 2012 Youth of the Year.

The Youth of the Year program is the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program promoting and celebrating club members’ service to the club, community and family, academic performance, moral values, life goals, poise and public speaking ability. Throughout the year, each Boys & Girls Club in King County selects a Youth of the Quarter and a Youth of the Year is selected from those candidates. The other finalists were Kaylee Hansen and Davis Woerner.

“When I found out I had won Youth of the Year, I was speechless,” said Miao, who lives in Woodinville and works in Redmond. “I am so completely honored by this award and it means the world to me that I can represent the youth in Redmond/Sammamish. I love working with kids and have always known it was my future, and this award has let me know I’m on the right path.”

A senior at Woodinville High School, Miao began her Boys & Girls Club experience as a volunteer in the drop-in program, continued on as a summer counselor in training and is now an employee at the Redmond Elementary Child Care site.

The judges for the competition were community member and club volunteer Mari Greshowak, City of Sammamish recreation coordinator Lynne Handlos and Boys & Girls Club board members Scott Olson and Heather Christensen.

“I was extremely impressed with each of our Youth of the Year candidates. Our decision was tough and they all deserved to win. I was amazed by their accomplishments and maturity,” Olson said. “For young adults to be that well composed and driven is a testament to their upbringing and to their desire to lead and impact our community. I think it is very difficult, as a young person, to commit to leadership and service as these three have done. They all lead by example and by action. Truly impressive.”

Miao now moves on to the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County Youth of the Year competition where she will compete against winners from the 13 other King County clubs. The annual event will be held on Feb. 12 at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle. The King County winner will move on to the state competition and potentially the regional and national level. The national Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year receives up to a $50,000 scholarship and is installed by the President of the United States.