Niyasia Scott has been a member of the Boys and Girls Clubs Suffolk Unit for five years, and now she has been named Youth of the Year for the Suffolk club.

Scott, a junior at King’s Fork High School, will be among young people from across the Southeast Virginia region honored at the Youth of the Year banquet in Norfolk on March 9. One of them will also be given a $2,500 scholarship.

“It gives me an opportunity to impact the kids,” Scott said recently of her work with the club. “Just seeing them come up and hug me and they’re really excited to see that I’m here, it’s rewarding because I feel like they’re my little brothers and sisters.”

Scott has been volunteering with the younger kids in the club for two years and recently was hired to work the front desk.

LaMarr Coles III, director of the Suffolk Unit (and himself the 2010 Youth of the Year from the club), said he is proud of Scott. She lost her father when she was only 5 years old and has been able to overcome that obstacle that would have derailed other young people.

“I have been able to see her growing up,” he said. “It’s always good to be able to give back to a place that has done a lot for you.”

Scott, who has three older sisters and two older brothers, said she wants to attend the Art Institute after graduation and earn a degree in fashion design. She would also like to attend Old Dominion University and gain a degree in business management.

With those education plans, it’s obvious what kind of career Scott is planning — she wants to open her own fashion design business, with the tentative name “Fabulous Fabrics.”

She remembers seeing her older sisters wear cute clothes growing up, and that inspired her to think about fashion. She took a fashion marketing class at school last year and loved it.

“Scott said she would recommend membership in the Boys and Girls Club to anyone.

“The Boys and Girls Club has many opportunities to better themselves and enjoy life without getting into trouble,” she said. “It’s a safe haven and provides a responsible way to have fun.”

The Suffolk Unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs is housed at John F. Kennedy Middle School but accepts students from all over the city. It provides a safe place for students to stay after school until 8 p.m. as well as all day during the summer, and club members get food, structured activities, homework help, mentoring, special programs and more while they are at the club.

For more information on the clubs, visit bgcseva.org.