West High School’s Jules Da Costa Named Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County Youth of the Year

MADISON, Wis.—Jules Da Costa, a student at the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) West High School, has been named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County Youth of the Year, the organization’s highest honor for Club members. 

“Jules embodies the qualities we hope to see in all young people: dedication, courage and a willingness to lift others as they pursue their goals,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “We are proud to see an MMSD student recognized for this prestigious honor.”

Every year, the award recognizes a young leader who has demonstrated exceptional character, academic achievement, leadership and community involvement.

This year, all four finalists were students from MMSD, underscoring the district’s commitment to supporting student growth through programs such as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)/Teens of Promise (TOPS) and year-round Boys & Girls Clubs initiatives. 

“For years, I let other people’s narrative of me dictate my story, but through AVID, I learned to write my own,” Jules said. “I learned to step out of my shell, advocate for myself and collaborate with others—skills that will carry me far in life.”

Many MMSD students participate in AVID and TOPS through support at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, where the Clubs provide mentorship, community, and additional resources that help students apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world experiences.

The other finalists, all seniors, were:

• Raul Amaya, East High School: A four-year Club member and aspiring biologist who will attend UW-Madison. Raul says AVID gave him a community to share his voice, build confidence, and prepare for a future in the medical field.
• Kevin Portillo-Bazoria, Vel Phillips Memorial High School: A six-year Club member planning to study architecture at UW-Madison. Kevin cites his family’s immigrant experience and AVID/TOPS as sources of resilience, organization, and motivation to pursue his goals.
• Christian Rubio Robledo, Robert. M. La Follette High School: A six-year Club member planning to attend UW-Madison to study neuroscience. Christian credits AVID and the Club with helping him persevere through challenges and develop the skills and determination to give back to others.

Also recognized was West junior Atavia Johnson, who was named the Junior Youth of the Year winner for her outstanding work in both the classroom and community. 

“We are immensely proud of all our Youth of the Year finalists,” said Michael Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. “Each student demonstrated remarkable determination and shared their stories with courage and pride. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible—especially our Youth of the Year sponsors—for their generous support of the outstanding AVID/TOPS program.”

The winner was announced at a ceremony that took place on the evening of Friday, Nov. 7, and raised more than $170,000 to support the AVID/TOPS program.

For more information on the Youth of the Year program, please visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County website. For information regarding AVID programming within MMSD, please visit the district’s website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County

BGCDC is a local not-for-profit youth development organization serving thousands of youths in multiple locations, including four school-based sites and four traditional Club sites, including the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center. The Clubs inspire kids to dream big and provide them with the essential skills they need to succeed at a crucial time in their lives, offering impactful programs in five key areas: Character & Leadership Development; Education & Career Development; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. See the impact they make in the life of each Club member here: www.bgcdc.org.