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Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade is proud to announce it has named Sebastian Garcia (17), its 2026 Youth of the Year. A panel of community partners served as the judges to select this year’s Youth of the Year.
To achieve the title of Youth of the Year on any level, Club members must embody the values of leadership and service, academic excellence and a healthy lifestyle. They should exemplify the critical impact that Boys & Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people. The scoring includes candidate essays, an interview, a speech, letters of recommendation and overall application quality.
Garcia, a senior at Miami Beach Senior High School, is a member of the South Beach Club. Born and raised in Miami, FL, Garcia has made a lasting impact at the Club by speaking up for others, fostering a positive environment and stepping up as a leader. He participated in Project Blue Whale, which deepened his commitment to leadership, and took part in Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s annual “Wild About Kid” Gala and Claws for Kids.
Beyond the Club, Garcia serves as president of the 5,000 Role Models, is a member of the Student Government Association and the Yearbook Club and was part of the varsity football team. He carries a 3.8 GPA and is set to graduate in June 2026.
Garcia has been accepted to Suffolk University, with additional college decisions still pending. He hopes to attend Boston College or Louisiana State University, where he plans to major in business marketing. His long-term goal is to hold a position as head of marketing, president or CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
“Being involved in Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade means having a place that I can call a second home, a place where I can grow as a leader and be able to support and give back to the community and others,” said Garcia. “I want to continue using my voice to advocate for others and inspire the people around me. My goal is to keep growing as a leader and make a positive impact wherever I go.”
“Sebastian is a shining example of what it means to be a Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade member,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade President Alex Rodriguez-Roig. “He has demonstrated outstanding leadership, a deep commitment to his community and an unwavering drive to succeed. We are incredibly proud to name him our 2026 Youth of the Year and look forward to watching him represent Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade at the state level.”
Garcia and other teens from Florida Boys & Girls Clubs competed for the 2026 Florida Youth of the Year title. The winner of the state title received a $2,500 scholarship, laptop and printer.
Every year since 1955, youth from various Boys & Girls Clubs across Florida have competed for the opportunity to represent Florida as the Florida Youth of the Year. The winner of the state title then competes in the regional competition. Five regional winners then move on, and one is named the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth of the Year.
The National Youth of the Year serves as both an exemplary ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs youth and as a strong voice for all the nation’s young people. He/she receives a new car courtesy of Toyota, as well as scholarships and cash totaling $60,000. The National Youth of the Year, along with the other four regional runners-up, then travel to Washington, D.C. and speak to members of Congress and meet the President of the United States.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade has been serving youth in the community since 1946 and is proudly celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2026. What once was a single building and site for boys has grown to six Clubs and sites combined serving thousands of boys and girls year-round, providing programs in the areas of character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, cultural arts and sports, fitness and recreation. Club staffing, initiatives, and programs are designed to inspire and enable area youth and provide them with the resources to succeed and share in the American Dream. For more information, please call 305.446.9910 or visit www.bgcmia.org, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
