Wildwood Teen Named YMCA Youth of Year

Typical 17-year-old boys aren’t known for volunteering their time to work with children or engaging in state and national government. But then again, Brian McKanna, a junior at and the recipient of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis Joseph P. Sunnen Youth of the Year Award, isn’t a typical 17-year-old boy.

McKanna received the Wildwood Family YMCA Youth of the Year award; then went on to receive the metropolitan area award. The award recognizes a young Y volunteer who demonstrates exceptional leadership skills and who best exemplifies the YMCA’s core values—caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith.

Beginning volunteerism for the when 13 years old, McKanna organized kickball and activities for Kids’ Night Out. He got involved in Y Teen Leaders, and that led him to Y Youth in Government.

McKanna has been involved in Youth in Government for four years at the Wildwood Y. Each year he visited Jefferson City for the program’s mock legislative session at the state capitol. He received the “Most Debated Bill” award within Missouri in 2009 and the “Best Featured News Story” award in 2010. He was elected technical Director of Video News for the 2011 and 2012 YIG state convention. This past July he attended the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs (CONA) in North Carolina where he was voted “Outstanding Media News” delegate.

Youth in Government is a Y civic engagement and service-learning program that offers high school students a model government opportunity. The program operates in two-thirds of U.S. states, and serves 60,000-plus high school students. The motto of the program is:  “Democracy must be learned by each generation.”

Lindenwood University in St. Charles generously awards a scholarship of approximately $62,000 to the young person named the Joseph P. Sunnen Youth of the Year. McKanna is planning to study for a career in broadcasting at Lindenwood University as a result of his media involvement in Youth in Government. He currently works in youth sports at the Wildwood Y where he coaches flag football and basketball—the very teams he himself participated in as a youth at the Y.

He said he is looking forward to participating in Youth in Government and CONA during his senior year, and vows to serve as a Youth in Government advisor well into the future.

"Four years ago I decided to attend something called YMCA Youth in Government, not expecting much, but I ended up loving it," wrote McKanna about his experience at the Y.

"I started out in the legislative branch and worked my way up to the media or video news. My first year in video news I was elected technical director and, in getting that title, was invited to the national convention (Conference on National Affairs) in North Carolina this past summer," he said.

"CONA was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget, especially since I was awarded Outstanding Media Delegate at the end of the conference."

McKanna said Y Youth in Government is a huge part of his life now. "Every year I look forward to going to Jeff City and seeing all my fellow Yiggsters from across the state. Since going to the program I’ve found my life’s calling, and am now looking forward to a career in broadcasting."

The YMCA of Greater St. Louis will present the award to McKanna at the annual Youth of the Year Awards Dinner on Feb. 7. The annual awards inner recognizes youth from many branches of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis. Thirteen other youths will be honored along with McKanna for outstanding service and potential. Lindenwood University provides approximately $33,000 in scholarships to each of those selected Branch Youth of the Year.

Cesar Silva, operational vice president, YMCA of Greater St. Louis, said Y volunteers are expected to be positive role models who help kids learn values and build positive self-esteem and confidence. “Brian’s positive attitude and enthusiasm are contagious. His leadership skills bring the best out of co-workers, of youth who participate in our sports programs, and of Youth in Government participants. We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”

Brian is the son of William and Pam McKanna of .

Editor's Note: Christie Greer is the district marketing director for the Wildwood Family YMCA and several other St. Louis region Y facilities.