Local youths honored at Pee Dee Boys/Girls Club event
Young leaders with strong ties to the Pee Dee region’s network of Boys & Girls Clubs were recognized earlier this month for their outstanding character, leadership, and determination during a special celebration in nearby Florence.
Taylor Lewis, the 2025–2026 Youth of the Year for the Rick & Susan Goings Boys & Girls Club, was named the 2026 Pee Dee Area Youth of the Year during the annual Steak-N-Burger Dinner held March 3 at First Presbyterian Church in Florence. The honor places her among the top youth representatives of the regional clubs that serve communities across the Pee Dee, including clubs in Hartsville and Timmonsville in Darlington and surrounding areas.
The recognition includes a $4,000 Carraway Turner Leadership Fund scholarship to support Lewis’ education after high school, whether she attends a trade school, technical college, or university. As the regional winner, she will also advance to the statewide Youth of the Year competition scheduled for April.
Lewis, who grew up in the small town of Hemingway, credits the Boys & Girls Club with helping shape her confidence and leadership abilities.
“The Club didn’t just give me a place to go after school — it helped me rewrite my story,” Lewis said. “I learned how to lead, how to listen, and how to grow.”
Lewis first entered the Club as a shy 6-year-old. Today, she is an eight-year member who attends Connexus Academy and participates in cheerleading, volleyball and soccer. She is also active in her church and the Young Missionary Society.
Despite growing up in a small community with limited opportunities, Lewis said she has always believed that her future could be bigger than her circumstances.
“I refuse to let where I started determine where I finish,” she said.
After high school, Lewis hopes to attend either Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, or Columbia University and pursue a career in law. Her goal, she said, is to advocate for children who feel overlooked or unheard.
“I want to fight for kids who were like me,” Lewis said. “I want them to know they are not forgotten — they are seen, and their story matters.”
The evening also recognized Adri’on Carson of Lake City as the 2026 Lake City Youth of the Year and regional runner-up.
Carson, a junior at Lake City High School, has been a Club member for 10 years. He runs cross-country and participates in the Student Government Association — opportunities he said he never imagined when he first joined the Club at age eight.
Through mentorship from staff and older members, Carson said he learned how to manage academics, athletics and leadership responsibilities.
“They never allowed me to settle for less than my potential,” Carson said. “They constantly pushed me to grow as a leader and stay focused on my goals.”
Today, Carson assists staff with younger Club members and serves as secretary at the Club, becoming a role model for others just beginning their journey. He plans to attend the University of South Carolina to study business administration.
Several other youth from across the Pee Dee — including communities connected to Darlington County — were also honored as Club Youths of the Year:
• Nicholas Anthony Durant – Florence
• Angel Smith – Hartsville
• Emonte Kelly – Pamplico
• Kyrielle Flynn – Timmonsville
The program also featured performances by youth from the Johnsonville Club and the Virtus Club, while students from Boston College volunteered to help with event setup and meal service.
LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
Scholarships for Youth of the Year winners are funded through the Carraway Turner Leadership Fund, created in 2019 through a donation from Health Facilities Federal Credit Union, now known as South Carolina Federal Credit Union.
The fund honors Sgt. Terrence Carraway and Investigator Farrah Turner, two Florence law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty during the tragic events of Oct. 3, 2018. Both had close ties to the Boys & Girls Club, and the scholarship program continues their legacy by investing in young leaders throughout the Pee Dee.
The regional clubs operate under the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which for 75 years has recognized exceptional teens through its Youth of the Year program.
Across the Pee Dee, clubs serve youth in communities including Florence, Hartsville, Hemingway, Johnsonville, Lake City, Pamplico and Timmonsville — providing safe spaces where students can focus on academic success, leadership development and healthy lifestyles.
Each year, thousands of teens nationwide compete in local and state Youth of the Year programs. Winners advance through regional competitions before one student is ultimately named National Youth of the Year and serves as a youth ambassador for the organization.
For many of the Pee Dee’s young participants — including those from Darlington County communities — the program represents more than an award. It represents an opportunity to discover their potential and step forward as the next generation of leaders.
The Pee Dee Boys & Girls Club headquarters is located at 310 W. Roughfork Street in Florence.
Their mailing address is P.O. Box 93, Florence, SC 29503.
For more information, please see their website at https://www.bgcpda.org/ or call them at (843) 662-1142.