The local Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale Mary Ellen and Robert McKee Branch has named Xavier Lopez as its Youth of the Year.

A Fountain Hills High School senior, Lopez has been a part of the Boys & Girls Club family for most of his life. He found out about his honor during a recent Boys & Girls Club dinner.

Lopez was humble while chatting about the recognition, saying that being named Youth of the Year means he gets to take on some extra responsibility.

“Being the branch Youth of the Year winner means that I have a voice and that I am recognized as a leader in my community,” Lopez said. “It means that I’m a role model to others.”

That last part is especially important, as Lopez said he enjoys working with local youth at the Boys & Girls Club.

Lopez was one of three candidates in the running for Youth of the Year from the McKee Branch. The process involved collecting three letters of recommendation, writing a speech, as well as three essays.

“We worked on the speeches and essays for weeks, making them better and better,” Lopez said. “It was pretty involved. I had to use my time wisely, know my speech and know what I stand for.”

The three essays involved writing about your “brand,” your vision for America and your club experience.

“If you know who you are as a person, it’s actually pretty easy to write about those things,” Lopez said. “Then the words just flow.”

As for Lopez’s experience with the Boys & Girls Club, he’s been a member since he was in first grade, attending Scottsdale’s Piper Branch.

“I went there from first grade to eighth grade,” Lopez said. “I came [to the McKee Branch] my freshman year, in the summer, and started working. I’ve been here ever since.”

Along with serving as a junior staff member for the McKee Branch, Lopez is also involved with the Club’s Keystone organization, which focuses on community service projects.

“As junior staff, mostly I watch the kids, make sure everyone is safe and they’re having fun, too,” Lopez said. “Sometimes I’ll be in the homework room helping the kids out with their homework, or I’ll run a rotation in the game room, or maybe I’ll be at the front desk helping parents.”

A part of the Club for many years, Lopez said that what keeps bringing him back for more are the relationships he’s forged over the years.

“There are so many different, diverse people that you wouldn’t meet anywhere else,” he said. “And it’s such a safe place with so many opportunities.”

Lopez highlighted the recently added music studio and the game room as attractions, adding that each piece comes together to make an impressive whole.

“Those are the kinds of things that bring people in, but I think what makes them stay are the relationships,” Lopez added. “From the teens to the kids to the staff, it’s great. The Boys & Girls Club is really unique, I feel.

“The best part of my day here is when I’m running a rotation with the kids and they’re all having fun. It’s great.”

With graduation on the horizon, Lopez plans to attend Scottsdale Community College before transferring to Grand Canyon University. His career goal is to become a counselor.

“I want to become a Christian counselor who helps people who are struggling in their faith with God,” Lopez said. “Growing up in the Club has made me realize how social and outgoing I am. You have to talk to people, make friends and build relationships with people to be a good counselor. The Boys & Girls Club has made me realize I’m good at communicating and understanding people. Those are my strengths and I think they apply well to counseling.”

While Lopez keeps working toward that goal, he’ll also be working toward the next leg of the Youth of the Year competition. As a branch winner, he’s now in the running for the Greater Scottsdale honor. From there, the competition moves onto state and finally national levels. Lopez said he’s honored to be the McKee Youth of the Year and he’d be happy to go even further.

“We’ll find out who wins the next level in February at a gala,” Lopez said. “I’m excited, but it hasn’t really set in yet. It’s kind of surreal. But I definitely want to win; it’s a great opportunity.”