Hunter Lhotak was name 2024-2025 South Dakota Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year at the state competition held in Pierre on February 26th. Hunter is the son of Gina and the late Jeremy Lhotak.

When asked what made him decide to apply for the competition, Hunter said that the Wagner Boys and Girls Club staff encouraged him to apply. Hunter has been a member since he was eight years old. The competition can be a daunting process as it requires an application, a speech, three essays, two letters of recommendation, volunteer hours, a resume and a cover letter. Of all of these requirements for the competition, Hunter found that the writing of the three essays was the most challenging part.

In order to get to the state competition, he had to first win at the local level between the Wagner and Marty Boys and Girls Clubs. After that came the state competition. Hunter competed against four other students from Yankton, Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City. At the state level all of the materials from the local competition are once again used in the judging. The speech part of the competition consisted of a composed, three-minute memorized speech. There was also an interview portion that consisted of Hunter telling his own personal story, how he has helped the club and how he plans to give back to the organization.

While in Pierre for the competition during down time, he and the other candidates played games together, took a tour of Pierre’s Boys and Girls Club, took a tour of the Capitol and sat in on a session of the South Dakota House of Representatives where they announced Hunter as the winner of the Youth of the Year competition. Hunter attended the competition with his mom, Gina; Pat Breen, Executive Director of the Wagner Boys and Girls Club; and Amy Doom, Health & Life Skills Coordinator of the Wagner club.

Being named South Dakota Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year does earned Hunter a $2500 scholarship and allows him to continue to the next level of the contest. At the end of June, Hunter will travel to Chicago to compete at the Midwest Regional level against competitors from twelve other states in hopes of winning a $20,000 scholarship along with another title and the chance to continue to the next level of the contest which would be the National competition held in Washington D.C. where the five regions send their winners for a final competition.

Hunter’s advice to future contestants is to have a good platform to work with as he himself has recently started a new club program at the Wagner Boys and Girls Club that after initiating it here, he will try at other clubs around the state. It is called Pass and Receive. When asked how he felt about being named South Dakota’s Youth of the Year, Hunter responded that he is “honored but not complacent” and ready to win at the Regional level. He also said that the competition and preparing for the competition has helped him learn more about himself and inspired him to come up with programming for club members.

Hunter is a senior at Wagner Community School. During his high school years, he has been a part of many extracurricular activities including football, National Honor Society, baseball and Activities Council. He is also an active member of the East Lake Andes Luther Church where he helps with communion and youth activities. After graduation, Hunter will attend Mount Marty where he will play football and study exercise science, eventually going on to chiropractic school after graduating from Mount Marty.

Congratulations Hunter and thank you for being a wonderful representive of Wagner.