Leadership, honesty and integrity are words that come up time and again when people describe the character of Megan Perez. She was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio 2008 Youth of the Year in January. She went on to be named the 2008 South Texas Regional Youth of the Year the next month.

A senior at Warren High School, Megan plans to attend college this fall to work toward her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. An outstanding student and athlete, Megan has set an example for others to follow throughout her high school years. But it took an extraordinary amount of determination on her part to achieve this level of accomplishment.

In second grade, Megan still could not read and was diagnosed with the learning disorder called dyslexia. However, she was determined to overcome this hurdle and excel in academics. By middle school, she moved from a dyslexia reading class into a regular classroom setting and, making all As and Bs, was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. In high school, her academic performance continued its ascent and she was inducted into the Spanish Honor Society, the Mau Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Never one to shy away from academic challenges, Megan has taken AP and dual credit courses in high school to give herself a head start on college. Megan will graduate from high school in the top 10 percent of her class.

In addition to a rigorous academic course load, Megan has been actively involved in extracurricular activities, including water polo and swimming. She was named captain of both squads as a result of her outstanding leadership ability.

At the Boys & Girls Clubs' Teen Center, Megan has demonstrated tremendous leadership in numerous community service projects, including Meals on Wheels, Sandwiches under the Stars, Christmas toy drives, food bank drives, and blanket and toy collections for UNICEF to distribute to needy children overseas. As a direct result of the leadership she exhibited at the Teen Center, she was named President of the branch's teen leadership organization, The Keystone Club three years in a row.

Megan has shown additional initiative and dedication to others by serving as a mentor at an elementary school in her neighborhood and in her work as a swimming instructor for new swimmers. She worked at the Boys & Girls Clubs as a staff member, helping the younger Club kids in the Learning Center, the Gymnasium and the Aquatics Center.

Through her achievement in academics and sports and in service to others, Megan sets a shining example for other young people to follow. Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio is proud to have Megan as an outstanding representative of the organization.