Sonoma Valley High School senior Andrea Ayala-Hernández won the Youth of the Year award at a celebration hosted by Teen Services and the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma Valley.
The organizations honored four finalists at the event held on the evening of November 6.
The Youth of the Year award is given to an exceptional student involved with Teen Services or the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma each year. It emphasizes values of both leadership and community service.
Each finalist receives a scholarship of $500, with the winner receiving another $500 to help fund their postsecondary education, which is sponsored by the Ted Cutler Memorial Scholarship.
All four finalists for the award this year attend Sonoma Valley High School, and have taken on leadership and volunteer roles within Teen Services, making an impact on their community.
Ayala-Hernández was awarded the Youth of the Year award after delivering a powerful speech on her journey from feeling invisible to taking on leadership and advocating for others. Ayala-Hernández and the rest of her slate won the election last year to serve as SVHS’s 2025-26 student council leaders.
“At teen services I would always join any clubs and activities that were available because I wanted to push myself out there,” she said. “I started the Youth of the Year program [in] freshman year and have slowly made my way up to this big opportunity.”
Ayala-Hernández and the other three finalists, junior Mariana Aguirre Carranza, senior Evelyn Peñaloza, and senior José Perez, were previously chosen as the January, February, March, and September youths of the month, respectively.
Additionally, Teen Services awarded senior Sebastian Martinez-Estrada with the Carol Downing Volunteer of the Year award, which is given to a student who is dedicated to serving others in the community.
At the event, Martinez-Estrada spoke about his experience volunteering and taking leadership. He discussed volunteering, and how it helped him become a better leader.
Leadership is at the heart of the youth of the year awards and celebration.
“To me, leadership does not mean being the loudest, but having the determination to share your voice,” Ayala-Hernández said. “It’s not easy to become someone who isn’t afraid to share their opinion, but there is always help and countless opportunities that will help you become that person.”
Ayala-Hernández has attended the Boys and Girls club since she was in kindergarten, and Teen Services throughout middle and high school. She plans on attending a 4-year college in the fall, and wants to major in something that will allow her to advocate for others.
