SALEM — Three Salem High School students are up for the Boys & Girls Club of Salem's Youth of the Year award, which will be given out tonight at the club's annual award dinner.
Finalists Jingyuan "Jenny" Zhang, Michelle Nunnelley and Joshua Garcia are all sophomores at Salem High School, and all previously were named Youth of the Month by the club.
Jenny, 15, first came to the Boys & Girls Club after she moved to Salem from Reading, Mass., when she was in the eighth grade. She later became a volunteer at the club, working as a junior counselor.
"It's really helped my transition," she said.
She works with students in the homework room, helping them with their studies and any other problems they have.
"It makes me feel so good," she said. "It's that warm and fuzzy feeling inside."
Jenny lived in China until she was 6, where her grandmother worked as a cardiologist, inspiring her to become a doctor someday, she said.
"She really inspired me just to chase after my dreams and keep on working," she said.
She said she tries to be a positive influence on the kids at the club.
"I try to see the best in things and I try to pass that on to them," she said.
Michelle, 15, went to prekindergarten and kindergarten at the Boys & Girls Club before attending the club's summer camp, where counselors encouraged her to stay involved by becoming a counselor herself.
"I just like teaching the kids new things," she said.
"You can see them over a period of time become more socially adapted."
Jenny, who hopes to go to an Ivy League college to study either music or science, said she was shocked to be nominated for the award, but did not care about winning.
"I don't mind who wins," she said. "They're both my friends and they're both worthy of getting it."
She said helping the students never feels like work.
"I have younger brothers and sisters myself, so it's fun coming here," she said.
Joshua, also 15, said he spends almost all his free time at the club.
"I'm at the house or I'm at the club," he said. "So it's like my second home."
He assists students with art projects at the club, and helps out at dances and family fun nights. "I like helping the kids because I can find out different cultures they have," he said.
Joshua hopes to become an architect.
He said he has developed a "good bond" with the kids at the club over his years of involvement.
The winner of last year's Volunteer of the Year award, he said he was honored to be nominated for another commendation.
"It was awesome knowing that they trust me," he said.
The winner will be announced tonight at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem's 43rd annual award dinner at the Atkinson Country Club.
Each finalist receives a savings bond; the winner receives two scholarships and an awards package.
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