Kurt Cavalier Jr. Named Washington State Youth of the Year
We’re thrilled to announce that Kurt Cavalier Jr., a member of our RMAC Branch, was named the 2025 Washington State Youth of the Year on March 27 in Seattle! This prestigious award honors Kurt’s leadership, dedication to community service, and personal growth.
In just a year and a half at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County, Kurt has become a standout leader. His mentor, RMAC Branch Director Latasha Pinkney, shared, “Kurt has really grown into his leadership. He’s determined, he shows up, he’s respectful, and he uplifts the people around him. I’ve seen him build confidence and use his voice.”
Inspired by his freshman English teacher at North Thurston High School, Mrs. Anderson, Kurt dreams of becoming an educator.
Kurt also shines on the basketball court. He plays point guard for North Thurston High School’s varsity team and AAU basketball. With 14 years of experience, he values teamwork and often says, “Everyone eats,” meaning every teammate gets a chance to contribute.
Winning Youth of the Year was a powerful moment for Kurt. “Tonight was amazing. My heart was racing,” he said. “Hearing personal stories from other Youth of the Year winners across the state inspired me. Everyone here is a winner.”
Kurt’s family is incredibly proud. His father, Kurt Sr., said, “Everybody keeps telling me he’s an amazing young man, an amazing human being—and we tell him that all the time. He’s a great big brother, a great younger brother for his older sister. He truly is a person people look to for how to be.”
His younger brother Deshaun shared, “I really look up to him. The amount of dedication and work ethic he has really shows.” His friend Micah added, “He’s just my best friend. It’s inspiring what he’s doing—I’m so proud of him.”
His parents said they’ve loved watching him grow in confidence, especially through public speaking and leadership. “It’s been a real confidence booster,” said his mother Gwen. “We’ve seen him step into something new and thrive. We’re grateful to the Boys & Girls Club for giving him the space to grow.”
Thanks also goes out to the Agtarap family, longtime supporters of BGCTC and the sponsors of this years' Youth of the Year retreat, where candidates from three organizations across the state met to prepare and build confidence. Partners like Olympia Federal Savings, a founding sponsor of Thurston County Youth of the Year, help us offer these opportunities to our members.
Next, Kurt will represent Washington at the Pacific Region Youth of the Year competition in Los Angeles this June. We’re all cheering him on as he continues to inspire and lead.
Congratulations, Kurt! We can’t wait to see what you do next.