Violet Miehle, a senior at Malibu High School, has been named the 2011 Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Youth of the Year. Miehle plans to go to college in the fall, the first person in her family to do so. She hopes to be a special education teacher in the future. Due to a learning disability, Miehle was placed in special education classes in fourth grade, but tested out of the classes in middle school.
“I know firsthand what it feels like to be singled out and teased by my peers… I want to make a difference in lives and be a voice for special needs kids,” Miehle said.
Miehle has been a Boys & Girls Club member since she was in the sixth grade. On Feb. 22 she will compete against Youths of the Year from 26 other Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Los Angeles County. The winner will progress to a statewide competition, who then competes for the title of “Pacific Region Youth of the Year” and a $10,000 scholarship. The five regional winners from throughout the country will compete for the title of “National Youth of the Year” and a $15,000 scholarship presented by President Obama in Washington, D.C.