Gipp named Runner Up at Kansas Youth of the Year
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Arabella Gipp proudly represented the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence (BGCLK) at the Kansas State Youth of the Year competition, held this past Tuesday at the Townsite Tower in Topeka, Kan. A fixture at the Club since kindergarten, Gipp shared her profound connection and transformative experiences with the Club through her nearly 4,800 days as a Club kid — leading up to her senior year of high school.
Gipp, the daughter of Jessica Gipp, was the runner up at the 2025 Kansas Youth of the Year ceremony. In her speech, she reflected on all of the major life events she has experienced alongside the Club. With her mother and many staff and mentors present in the audience that night, it was clear she had an amazing support team with her for one more major event before her graduation. The 2025 Kansas Youth of the Year winner, Khaai W., is a member at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas and will go on to represent Kansas at the Southwest Region Youth of the Year in June.
A Lawrence High School senior, this marked her third time representing Lawrence at the state competition. From her first year competing in 2022, so much has changed. “My first year at State was virtual, and I didn’t get to spend the day at the Capitol. My second year was right after COVID, so we didn’t get to do all of the bonding activities,” said Gipp. “This was the first year I felt like I could really connect with the other candidates.”
Six candidates (five traditional and one military) spent the day together in Topeka getting to know one another. Gipp and her fellow Kansas candidates attended The Pennant for dinner and games the night before, spoke with the KBI to share a teen perspective on getting their cybersecurity message out to youth, and interviewed with the panel of judges before settling back in at the Townsite Tower for the evening’s dinner and ceremony. On Wednesday, the group traveled to the Capitol building to meet with legislators and learn more about the processes and procedures of our government and stress the importance of after school programming. Representative Barbara Ballard and Senator Marci Francisco, both of Lawrence, attended the ceremony and allowed Gipp to shadow them for the day.
“Hearing stories and experiences from Club kids, from all areas in Kansas, shows the impact of our programs and really solidifies why we do what we do,” said Laci Maltbie, CEO of BGCLK. “Arabella spoke with such confidence, pride and authenticity, she is the perfect representative for our Club here in Lawrence.”
Although her Youth of the Year journey and her time as a Club kid is coming to an end, Arabella is excited for what the future holds. “My next steps are graduating high school and going to Johnson County Community College to major in graphic design,” said Gipp. “I will hopefully still be working at the Club while I stay in Lawrence during college.”
When asked if she would still visit the Club after she moves on, Gipp didn’t hesitate. “I will definitely visit my mentors and keep in contact with all the friends I made along the way.”
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The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, visit www.bgclk.org.