POST FALLS — Nary a dry eye could be found in the audience as it was announced Thursday evening that Eva Santiago-Rosenberg is the 2024 Kootenai County Boys and Girls Clubs Youth of the Year.

"I’m feeling just overwhelmed with so many good emotions,” the New Vision Alternative High School junior said after the announcement, surrounded by congratulations and well wishes from friends and loved ones.

“This is definitely a new experience for me," the 16-year-old said. "I’m glad that I’m here, for sure.”

Santiago-Rosenberg's tears were matched by a room filled with glistening eyes as the teen took the stage to accept her award, but handed back the microphone for a moment as she composed herself. She then thanked the Boys and Girls Club and gave a shout-out to a few staff members who are dear friends and mentors.

"I love you guys all so much," she said. "I'm very honored to win Youth of the Year, so thank you."

It was an evening of hearts on sleeves at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center as contestants for Youth of the Year shared essays detailing hardships overcome, goals achieved and dreams they intend to chase.

Santiago-Rosenberg is a staff member at the Jordan Johnson Boys and Girls Club in Post Falls, where she first enrolled as a member when she was in fifth grade.

In her essay, "What Matters to Me," she wrote about her life goal of finding success working as a veterinarian when she grows up. She shared how much family means to her and how she adores the kids she works with at the club.

"They are always so sweet and they have so much character to each one of them and it's so amazing to see how each kid works and how they function on a day-to-day basis," she said, reading her essay to the crowd.

She said it always makes her day when the kids give her pictures they drew or crafts they made, regardless of who they are from.

"When I'm having a bad day, I come to work and the kids never fail to cheer me up with a hug or give me a compliment about how I look or even as simple as hearing about their day," she said.

Santiago-Rosenberg has come a long way in her young life. She was diagnosed with depression when she was in eighth grade and continued to spiral as she grew apathetic about school, ran with a rough crowd and stopped going to the Boys and Girls Club.

"I began to not like the people at the club because I felt as though they were against me when in reality they were just trying to help me do better," Santiago-Rosenberg said.

She wound up in jail after getting in trouble for running away, fighting and drug paraphernalia. Upon release, she went into counseling and rediscovered a life of sobriety. She switched to New Vision to work on her grades — she'll be graduating one year early now — and found new friends along the way.

"I also started to work at the Boys and Girls Club and once again they became family to me and supported me through my ups and downs in life because management at the Boys and Girls Club never gave up on me."

Santiago-Rosenberg said the club is what helped her find herself where she is today.

"I have not only become a better person, but also made a family with the people at this club, from friends to staff," she said. "And I thank them for always being there for me without a doubt in my mind."

Jordan Johnson Clubhouse Director Natasha Malgren said she is incredibly proud of Santiago-Rosenberg.

"My first time meeting her was when she was in the more rough part of her growing up, and I gave her tough love, and I’m just proud of how she’s grown," Malgren said. "When she approached me and was like, ‘Hey, I know that I was kind of a dumb kid, but could you give me a chance to work here?’ I said, ‘Absolutely.’ And just watching her grow up over the last year, I just love her. She is amazing.”

The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon exemplary teens in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living healthy lifestyles.

As well as the prestigious Youth of the Year title, Santiago-Rosenberg won one year of paid tuition at North Idaho College, provided by the North Idaho College Foundation, $2,000 to use toward post-secondary education and a laptop. She'll represent the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kootenai County during the state competition Feb. 22 in Boise.

Other 2024 Youth of the Year contestants:

Coeur d'Alene Club — Khloe Sands, David Catalone, Gabriella Wilburn and Kaylyn Willis

Post Falls Club — Gabe Johnson and Cale Carver

Junior Youth of the Year for Coeur d'Alene: Jazzlyn Winter

Junior Youth of the Year for Post Falls: Alexander Malgren

    Eva Santiago-Rosenberg, a New Vision High School junior, reads her Youth of the Year essay Thursday evening at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls. Santiago-Rosenberg won the 2024 title and will go to Boise to represent the Kootenai County Boys and Girls Clubs at the state competition in February.
  

    Coeur d'Alene Boys and Girls Club member David Catalone smiles as he concludes reading his essay Thursday evening during the Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County's Youth of the Year event in Post Falls.
  

    Cale Carver, a Post Falls Boys and Girls Club member, delivers his essay during the Youth of the Year event Thursday evening at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center.
  

    Mark Kuhnhausen, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kootenai County, gives opening remarks Thursday evening at the Youth of the Year event in Post Falls.