LYNN — If you want to feel confident about the next generation of leaders, meet Divine Egbuta.
A Lynn Classical sophomore high honors student and varsity basketball player, Egbuta has been named Boys & Girls Club of Lynn 2025 Youth of the Year. She was selected from a field of five finalists who delivered impactful speeches to a panel of judges.
A native of Nigeria, Egbuta said the Boys & Girls Club played an important role in her naturalization process after moving to the United States, calling her experience at the club “nothing but amazing.”
Her involvement at the club and in the community is extensive. Egbuta is the youth leader of Lynn Lady Leaders, in which she is leading a group of 15 to attend the Youth Grand Pitch contest, seeking funding for a peer mentoring program she started last year. She also helps with the club’s dance team, cheer team, Torch Club and cooking club.
“Throughout my time here, the club has provided me the opportunity to be a good role model and a peer mentor for the younger members of the club,” Egbuta said. “I’ve made great connections and built long-lasting relationships that I will cherish forever.”
Egbuta is president of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn’s Keystone Club, a leadership development group that focuses on community service, career development, service to the club and college readiness.
“I make sure that the teens of the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn stay involved in the community,” she said. “We are constantly volunteering at My Brother’s Table as our way of doing our part in helping the community. I also make sure that as Keystoners we are always working on college and career prep by attending college tours.”
Egbuta is an entrepreneur who uses her experience to lead self-care workshops with younger club members where they learn to make lip scrubs, lip gloss and hair masks.
“Divine emerged from a field of five fantastic finalists and we are thrilled to have her as our Youth of the Year,” said BGCL Executive Director Brian Theirrien. “We are proud of her and all of the finalists. They represent the best of the best at our club and serve as positive role models for all members. We look forward to Divine representing us in the state competition.”
The other finalists were Brian Arias, Manuel Dosreis, Julius Jonassaint and Alpha Jean.
Egbuta, who was a 2024 Youth of the Year finalist, hopes to study psychology in college. For now, she is determined to live up to the responsibility that comes with being named BGCL Youth of the Year.
“I will confidently represent the Boys and Girls Club of Lynn,” she said. “I will represent all members, from kindergarten to seniors, with the same level of enthusiasm. I will also continue to take action in the community and be the change that is needed for a promising future in the community.”
The judges for the Youth of the Year included BGCL Board President Adriana Moschella, Vice President Erin Muschette, Lynn English High School Principal Dr. Rardy Pena and Deputy Superintendent of Lynn Public Schools Molly Cohen.
For more than 75 years, the Boys & Girls Club national Youth of the Year program has honored and celebrated inspiring teens and their incredible journeys. Stories of outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle have made Youth of the Year America’s premier leadership and recognition program for teens.
Each year, one exceptional club member is selected to be the National Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Club youth and a voice for all of the nation’s young people. These individuals have exemplified the Boys & Girls Club mission and are proof of the impact clubs make in transforming and saving kids’ lives.
