Ellie Beacoat III has been chosen as the Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area and will compete for the South Carolina Youth of the Year title on April 25-27 in Columbia.
Youth of the Year is the highest honor that a member of the Boys & Girls Club member can receive. Each state winner receives a $1,000 college scholarship and a chance to pursue one of five regional titles. Regional winners receive $10,000 college scholarships and a chance to meet the president of the United States. The eventual National Youth of the Year wins an additional $50,000 in scholarship money.
The title-holder is recognized for outstanding contributions to his or her family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. The contenders are encouraged to also strive for academic success and healthy lifestyles.
Becoat’s personal obstacles came in the form of loss when his father died last spring. The 18-year-old chose to stay near his family rather than pursue his dream of attending a college in Charleston. He will still attend college, though closer to home, at Francis Marion University.
Becoat’s resume includes a fair amount of community service. He painted a mural in a Pamplico barber shop, cleans up the cafeteria at the Boys & Girls Club, and has been known to sweep a classroom, rake a garden, or clean the outside of his school. Becoat has assisted his school’s custodians in their work and participates in a church choir and brotherhood organization while helping with fundraising and cleaning at the church as well.
Academically, Becoat has been named to his school’s honor roll multiple times. He is also a member of the honor society there and was inducted into the Beta Club in middle school. JROTC saw Becoat participate for two years and the teen also played basketball and football in middle school and high school.
He placed first in the art competition at the Boys & Girls Club State Education Day, twice and plans to study art in college in the school of graphic design.
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