YMCA presents Youth of the Year award

The YMCA of Greater St. Louis has named Jordan Deitering, 17, of Chesterfield, as the 2013 Joseph P. Sunnen Youth of the Year. Along with 14 branch winners, Deitering was presented with her award at the annual Youth of the Year Awards Dinner on Feb. 12.

The awards annually recognize Y volunteers who best exemplifies the YMCA’s core values – caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith.
The award recipients have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and volunteered their time to their local Y and their community.

“Through various programs at the Y, young people can develop leadership skills, grow confidence and receive guidance and encouragement to reach their potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities,” said Gary Schlansker, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis. “We are honored to be a part of the lives of Jordan Deitering and all of the Youth of the Year recipients and congratulate them on this well-deserved accomplishment.”

Each year, Lindenwood University awards a scholarship of approximately $62,000 to the Sunnen award winner and approximately $33,000 in scholarships to Branch award winners.

Deitering is active at the West County Family YMCA both as a volunteer and employee. She began volunteering at the Y by teaching swim lessons, helping with the swim team and being a counselor-in-training at day camp.

Deitering now works as a Child Watch attendant, lifeguard and swim instructor at the branch. Additionally, Deitering has volunteered at St. Luke’s Hospital for more than two years and with the Special Olympics at her school for two years.

“I’ve known Jordan for several years and she is a shining example of the difference the Y can make in a youth,” said Teen/Child/TAH Director Jeni Koenigsfeld, who nominated Deitering for this award.

“She understands the difference that a great role model can make in the lives of the kids she works with and aims to be that great role model daily.”

Deitering graduated from Parkway Central High School in December. She is the daughter of John and Karen Deitering.

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Sarah Moran, a Eureka High School senior, was named Wildwood Family YMCA Youth of the Year.

Moran has worked in the sports department at the Y for over a year, coaching multiple sports teams and officiating games.

In nominating Moran, Y staff members described her as “a leader amongst the staff, reaching out to new staff members, introducing them to others and answering any questions they have.”

Outside the Y, Moran is an active soccer player, participating with both school and club teams.