LAWRENCE, KS (KCTV) -
Trei Dudley got a big send-off Thursday as she heads to Washington to compete for a national Boys & Girls Club honor.
Dudley is competing for the title of National Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Dudley is the Southwest Youth of the Year and is competing against four other regional winners.
The winner will be chosen by next Wednesday. She will need to write an essay and participate in an interview panel.
Dudley said she was overwhelmed by the rally, saying it felt surreal to see so many kids cheering for her.
"I felt on top of the world, really," she said. "It was amazing, just amazing."
The teen has already won $11,000 in scholarships for her regional win. She could win another $50,000 if she garners the nonprofit organization's highest honor for its youth.
The Youth of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions to the youth's community, school and local Boys & Girls Club as well as personal challenges and obstacles that the youth has overcome.
Dudley is a graduate of Lawrence Free State High School and a member of the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club. She is a freshman at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Supporters say she has a "never give up attitude," and has overcome a broken home and domestic violence. She mentors other youth.
She hopes to inspire others and open her own center for troubled youth some day.
"I witnessed a lot of abuse when I was younger," Dudley said. "It was hard to deal with."
She said her Boys & Girls Club was a refuge for her, and allowed her to escape from her problems. She said she believes in giving back and said helping others helps you.
"The feeling you get from it is more than you could ask for," Dudley explained.
Her mother, Cathy Brittain, said she is super excited for her daughter.
"It shows in her character in how the students react towards her," she said.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
