Joseph Frank III recently took center stage at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County’s (BGCKC) Youth of the Year Legacy Gala to accept the main award. This accolade is given to a teen member that exemplifies the highest standards in character, support of their Club’s programs, and commitment to their peers. He also received a $2,500 scholarship and will represent the Club locally as an ambassador for Club programs and community events, and in the Regional Youth of the Year competition.

“The Youth of the Year and Legacy Gala is a wonderful evening that brings the community together to celebrate the achievements of both a teen leader and a board member for their impact on the Boys & Girls Clubs and others,” says Zane Smith, BGCKC’s Executive Director. “The Legacy Board Member will continue to provide resources and support the children in the community. The Youth of the Year will represent the Boys & Girls Clubs and give a voice to the 8,000 children who attend Clubs locally and will be awarded an advanced education scholarship as well as opportunities to compete regionally, statewide, and possibly nationally for additional scholarships.”

Joseph has been performing with the Club’s Music Fusion ensemble and plans to continue with a career in the arts. The Club has given him the chance to perform and travel to places like Las Vegas and Chicago. He also performed at the Boys & Girls Clubs’ National Conference twice and hosted the National Boys & Girls Clubs’ Youth of the Year celebration multiple times, both in person and virtually.

In his own words in the Gala’s program, Joseph states that “his journey with the Boys & Girls Clubs has been truly transformative, shaping both his personal and professional growth. The experiences, whether performing at conferences, hosting events, or taking on leadership roles, have taught him invaluable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and creativity. The encouragement from mentors, combined with the close bonds he has formed with his peers has made him a more confident, capable, and compassionate individual.”

Presented by the Bakersfield North Rotary Foundation, the Legacy Gala also honored Michael Olague, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer for Bank of the Sierra, as a Legacy Board of Directors Inductee. As a committed champion of the BGCKC, Olague was recognized for the positive impact he’s had on the quality of life for the children at the Club. The Legacy Board appointments will serve as recognition of benchmark contributions to the Club’s sustainability and evolution made by Board Member Alumni.

The night’s inspirational speaker was Chief Lyle Martin, who worked for the Bakersfield Police Department for 32 years. With his wife, Connie, he has five children and eight grandchildren. As his address centered on “dreaming big” he says, “Don’t just dream big… Dream extremely big!”

Chief Martin has a long history of leadership roles and community service. In his speech, he told the crowd that your habits will define you and they require discipline and consistency. He summed up his speech with four attributes to ensure a successful life and career: put the needs of others ahead of your own petty wants and needs, do more than is expected of you, surround yourself with good people, and stay true to your faith (whatever your faith is). “You can accomplish anything on this planet if you follow these four rules,” he says.

With 71 locations throughout Kern County, BGCKC’s positive impact on the thousands of youth in Bakersfield is unsurpassed. For more information about the Youth of the Year program or BGCKC’s ongoing events, please visit www.bgckc.org.