For 17-year-old Karson Fedinec, being named the 2025 Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Colorado isn’t just an honor — it’s the culmination of a journey grounded in resilience, service, self-discovery and faith.

The Moffat County High School junior is preparing to represent Colorado at the Southwest Regional Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year competition this weekend in Frisco, Texas. There he will stand alongside eight other finalists competing for the title.

Despite Fedinec’s expanding audience as the competition progressed, the reasons for his success remain firmly rooted with his family as well as the community of Moffat County.  

“I grew up in a pretty religious family,” Karson said. “That formed the principles of my work ethic and how I need to give my all in everything that I do.”

Fedinec’s journey toward Youth of the Year began when he joined the Craig Boys & Girls Club at age 6. He would eventually go on to become a junior staff member and mentor to other club members and staff. 

“I think my favorite part about being a junior staff member is that while I’m an employee, and I’m expected to keep the kids safe, I’m also encouraged to be a kid along with them,” he said. “I get to play games with them. I get to play kickball in the gym with a bunch of fifth graders, and I have a blast doing it.”

Karson’s love for learning, and his deep sense of responsibility, guided him through academics, extracurriculars and other aspects of life. 

“I hold very high scholastic standards for myself,” he said. “That’s something that I definitely pride myself in.”

It was this drive, paired with his growing leadership skills, that caught the attention of Erin Steger, the director of the Boys & Girls Club of Craig. 

“Karson is not like any 17-year-old I’ve ever met,” said Steger. “He is the definition of grace and kindness and he never ceases to amaze me with how much he truly cares about what he does in and outside of the club.”

Karson credits Steger for encouraging him to apply for Youth of the Year. While he was initially hesitant, he jumped in just days after learning he was eligible.

“I walked into Erin’s office about three days after finding out that I was eligible and told her that I had my first draft of my speech written out,” Karson said. “I wanted to get it memorized, and touch up how I wanted it to be, so I wouldn’t make a mistake.”

That was the beginning of a months-long process that included speech writing, public speaking, essay submissions, interviews and a lot of personal reflection.

“There’s certain criteria that you have to meet in your speech,” he said. “You basically have to talk about struggles you face, how you’ve overcome them and how the club has helped you to overcome them.”

As Karson prepared for the local and state competitions, Steger continued to serve as a mentor while also allowing Karson’s authentic and down-to-earth demeanor lead the way.

“Karson is a very easy kid to mentor because he takes initiative and runs with it,” Steger said. “I try to uplift him so when he does feel like he stumbles, I’m there to pick him right back up.”

The history of that mentorship runs deep, as Steger and Karson have worked together in multiple capacities at the Boys & Girls Club and in 4-H, where Steger serves as a swine superintendent.

“Last year, Karson kind of struggled in 4-H, and I wanted to help him,” said Steger. “That’s kind of where that bond really took place.”

She was also on the interview committee that brought Karson on as a junior staff member at the club. That interview was one of the key moments when she realized that he was going to do amazing things. 

For Karson, the mentorship-based relationship with Steger became foundational as well as inspiring. 

“Over the years, I worked with a group that was quite a bit older than me,” he said. “But, when the school year started this year, pretty much everyone that I had ever worked with was gone. Things fell into place where Erin and I were communicating more, and everything led us to where we are now.”

After winning the local and state Youth of the Year titles, Karson is bound for Texas with his speech, essays, aspirations and a deep and profound belief in the power of community.

“I’ve gotten the opportunity to stand up in front of hundreds of people and talk about things that are difficult to talk about,” Karson said. “It’s helped me come to terms with my struggles and fully incorporate them into who I am.”

That self-reflection, he believes, will continue to shape his future — especially as he eyes a career in aerospace engineering.

“Karson is the kind of kid that’s going to be successful no matter what he does,” said Steger. “He’s going to be successful just because of who he is.”

Beyond his own path, Karson knows the impact he’s having on younger club members as well.

“Walking into the club, especially after winning the state title, showed them that kids from a rural community like Craig can go out and do impressive things,” he said. “That was a really honoring and humbling experience.” 

That ripple effect is already in motion, as other youth from the club are exclaiming that they want to go to Texas just like Fedinec. 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado, which has served the community for more than 20 years, continues to play a vital role in nurturing that kind of belief with an approach of one child and one story at a time.

“We are there for the kids who need us the most,” Steger said. “At the Boys & Girls Club, we try to teach kids that the best version of themselves is themselves.”

And, at the heart of Karson’s journey, is a similar belief in being the authentic version of himself. 

“I told myself I was going to go in there and I was just going to be myself because if I was meant to win, being myself would be good enough,” he said. 

That conviction, to lead with vulnerability and sincerity, became a presence in his speeches, interviews and daily work at the club. It also resonates with those around him, reminding younger members and peers alike that strength often comes not from perfection, but from honesty.