NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Graciela Medina, a junior at Hutchinson High School, was named the 2025 Hutchinson Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year at their banquet earlier this month.
"I was shocked," Medina said. "I was excited, but shocked, you know. So now that I just have to think about what's ahead of me and what I have to kind of get myself ready for, so it'll be fun."
Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. Medina wants to do two big things after high school.
"I want to enlist into the military," Medina said. "I think that'll be a really big challenge for me, and I want to attend school for athletic training as well. I think just doing the military and attending school will be really tough for me."
She's hoping to be able to help kids like her stay healthy and active.
"I've always enjoyed sports my whole life," Medina said. "I've always been an athletic girl wanting to be on the field, on the court. For me to not pursue my passion for soccer after high school, I think being able to be on the sideline, it would still make me feel part of like the, I guess like athletic whole thing."
Medina gains a $1,000 scholarship for the win, thanks to Heartland Credit Union. She's also headed to the Kansas Youth of the Year competition in the spring.