Ade Oni presents the 2011 “Youth of the Year” award to 17-year-old Jacob Beverly for his leadership and integrity within the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta organization.

Seventeen-year-old Jacob Beverly thought he was invited to the 66th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta Tuesday night only to give a speech.

He didn’t realize that he was also being honored as the recipient of the 2011 “Youth of the Year” award by the organization.

“From the moment I walked in this summer, this man has led without any hesitation,” said Ade Oni, employee at the Boys & Girls Club. “He walks into the room and people follow. When he has something to say, people listen.”

“The Boys & Girls Club has shown me that I can be anything I put my mind to,” Beverly said after the meeting. “I’m more honest; I’m a better person at heart.”

He plans to attend the University of Florida after high school to study theater arts and hopes to become an actor.

Throughout the evening, guests and members were honored as examples of community excellence, including Trav Paulk who candidly accepted the 2011 “Man of the Year” award.

Vice President of Operations Brian Flemming said Paulk had changed entire lighting systems, fixed floorboards and put in electrical systems for the baseball field.

“I’m actually embarrassed. I mean, I’m glad and it’s a nice plaque. It’s probably the first thing I’ve ever won,” Paulk said. “The thing that’s most important is that we were able to do what we did in this economy. It really is a blessing to be able to bless someone else.”

“To stand up here and hold a plaque that says ‘Man of the Year,’ is really a falsity,” he said. “You’ve got to carry out whatever we say — I’m not saying that because we’re mighty and powerful. We’ve got an easy job to come to the board meetings once a quarter and come up with these great ideas that are probably impractical. To be honest with you, I’m  not even sure how I got on this board in the first place.”

“This is not for me, it’s really for them,” he said about the employees who work on a daily basis for the organization.

Diane Howard was awarded the 2011 “Woman of the Year” for her community garden programs that have spread throughout the region. She has created 55 community gardens in three counties.

“If she can find a patch of dirt, she will plant a garden,” said Flemming.

Robert L. Soper presented the Louis Kafoure Memorial Service Award for the second time this century so far to the City of Valdosta for their cooperation with various projects over the last decade.

“As we started talking about these projects, it grew into a very large project, then it grew into a campus,” said Soper. “Almost an entire city block in downtown Valdosta that’s dedicated to serve nothing but kids.”

City Manager Larry Hanson, who spent his childhood at the facility and whose 19-year-old son is currently a basketball coach, said the city was “proud to support their efforts to serve our young people.”

Other awards that were given at the meeting included:

• Old Reliable Award was given to Dr. Charlene Blache of Quitman.

• Extra Mile Award was given to Susan Steel.

• Officers for 2012-2013 include: Johnny Ball, Chief Volunteer Officer; Jack Langdale, Vice President Support Services; Kevin Hiers, Vice President Administrative Services and Trav Paulk, Vice President Operations.

• Incoming Board Members Class of 2012-2014 include: Angela Crance, Dennis Hampton and John LaHood.

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