Garcia-White Buffalo named BGCSLV Youth of the Year

AMAYA Garcia-White Buffalo, a junior at Centauri High School, was named Tuesday the 2022 Youth of Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley. 

“The Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis  Valley is happy to recognize Amaya Garcia-White Buffalo as the 2022 Youth of the Year,” said Executive Director Aaron Miltenberger. “While her challenges are similar to so many young people growing up in the Valley, her resilience and her connection to positive, caring adults and peers has ensured that she developed the resilience to become a true leader in our community.

“We are honored to support her continued growth and appreciate her family and our community partners including Antonito Together, Centauri Schools and Adams State University.” 

Garcia-White Buffalo joined BGCSLV at the age of 6. The Centauri High School junior is vice president of Student Council and a member of National Honor Society with 3.913 GPA. 

She is currently taking AP and dual enrollment classes for college credit. She is also a two-sport athlete who plays varsity basketball for Centauri and varsity softball at Alamosa. She has served a year on the Antonito Youth Leadership Council and participated in the National Hispanic Institute Leadership Summit at Adams State University.

As founder of Wolf Pack Unity, Garcia-White Buffalo gives Character Matter presentations at Boys & Girls Club, schools, and anti-bully clubs to encourage good character choices, inclusion, respect, and to value oneself, others, elders, environment, and all that is living. Through her work, she also encourages volunteering through intergenerational interaction, environmental cleanup, supply drives. She works with Tu Casa/Children’s Advocacy Center in raising awareness on sexual abuse.

Garcia-White Buffalo has volunteered with many local agencies in the San Luis Valley and throughout Colorado: Tu Casa, Sangre de Cristo Heritage Area, Conejos Clean Water, Alamosa Senior Center, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, LIGHT Project, Models for Miracles, Ronald McDonald House, G.I.R.L.S Stand Up Speak Out Anti-Bully Event, and Cherry Creek Troop Drive.