Soroptimist International of Buena Park held its annual “Smart Girls” graduation recently at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
The program has been held in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park for 9 years, with 22 young ladies participating in the program this year – the largest group yet – who were honored during the Smart Girls graduation dinner and ceremony.
Soroptimist International of Buena Park held its annual “Smart Girls” graduation recently at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
The program has been held in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park for 9 years, with 22 young ladies participating in the program this year – the largest group yet – who were honored during the Smart Girls graduation dinner and ceremony.
Graduates include: Alejandra Valenzuela, Alise Horton, Brianna Herrera, Ciera Kirros, Deija Medearis, Destiny Medearis, Hailii Campos, Hayley Sanchez, Jessica Bennett, Julianna Vidrio and Katie Cameron.
Others included Kayla Woodson, Kaylei Campos, Kimberly Marcial, Leah Lopez, Lolani Campos, Natalie Zavala, Nicole Kim Nguyen, Nicole Linh Nguyen, Shaina Truong, Taylor Good and Yvette Eleazar.
Girls ages 11 through 13, who are members of the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park’s after-school program may participate in the nine-month weekly program, which begins in October of each year.
The Club is reporting all sorts of awards this year that include:
Teen Director/Smart Girl’s Director Luz Valenzuela – “Woman of Distinction” award.
Taylor Good, 14, was selected as the “National Junior Smart Girl’s Ambassador,” after writing a 500-word essay and recording and submitting a video about herself as to why she should be the next National Ambassador.
“When I found out that I was the SMART Girls Junior Ambassador, I felt ecstatic,” said Taylor. “I wanted to do cartwheels; I can’t do cartwheels, so I just jumped up and down,” she said.
“We are so incredibly proud of Taylor; this wouldn’t have been possible without the entire community coming together,” said Valenzuela.
“We reached out to so many people throughout the city and everyone helped bring the big win to Buena Park; I’m so humbled by the love and out pouring of support that everyone has shown Taylor in the last few weeks,” Valenzuela said. “Taylor being nationally recognized, shows what a great group of teens we have at the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park, and what an awesome program Smart Girls is. It goes to show how great things happen when we all come together. A win for one is a win for all,” enthused Valenzuela.
Also, the annual “Smart Girl of the Year” club award was presented to Taylor Good.
And, the Soroptimists won the Regional Soroptimists award, “Celebrating Success,” for the Smart Girls program they work with each year.
Boys & Girls Club CPO Todd Trout said in the beginning of the Smart Girls program, they were wondering how they could get a leadership group together for the girls at the club.
“We met with the Soroptimists and looked at the junior and senior high school girls in our club who were from all different backgrounds and liked different music and wondered if it would work,” he said.
“The power of the Smart Girls program has made for a unified group – we are one,” Trout said.
According to Trout, there are 4,400 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the nation, but not all of those clubs have the Smart Girls program; the Buena Park club is the only one that holds their Smart Girls program for nine months; the others are only six-week programs.
“So, the Buena Park Club is sought-after as a role model,” Trout said.
Soroptimists member Joyce Zurn said she felt their group needed to head-up the program at the club and thus, the program got its start.
“This program wouldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t walked through the door of the club,” said Valenzuela. “This is what you created and we are so blessed by this program.”
“I’ve told the girls many times, that we never dreamed the Smart Girls program would be this big; we started out with six young beautiful girls,” said Zurn. “Someone from Soroptimists is at the club every week – it’s all volunteer – and we are so proud of all of you girls,” she said.
Buena Park Police Capt. Robin Sells was a guest speaker at the graduation, sharing some of the history of how she came to be a police officer in Buena Park and the not-so-easy climb it took to get there.
“There wasn’t a woman’s locker room when I started in my career and it wasn’t easy being the first female officer on the force,” said Sells. “Life is not easy, I kept hitting walls and you are going to hit walls and have challenges, but don’t give up on your dream,” she said.
“I’ve been doing the Smart Girls program for seven years; this is a place the girls can call home, Valenzuela said. “Girls say to me, ‘I need to be in the Smart Girls program,’ and that’s humbling to me,” she said.
“There’s a saying – ‘Life is a journey, best traveled with a friend’ – and I hope you girls will continue to let us be a part of your journey in life.”
