Krista Nelson, 18, received the 2008-2009 Boys and Girls Clubs of King County’s Ballard Youth of the Year Award and spoke to a crowd of 350 at Benaroya Hall Feb. 10 about the personal growth she experienced as a club member.

The Ballard High School senior has taken a leadership role with the school’s chapter of the National Honors Society. She also brought girls lacrosse to the school. Nelson volunteers Thanksgivings feeding the homeless at the New Horizon Ministries downtown, and last summer worked with a 7 year-old boy with Downs Syndrome.

“The summer flew by with challenges and successes with this boy,” said Nelson in her speech. “When it was all over, I thought that was it, that he was going to just be a reference to my work experience…That wasn’t the case. A week before the new school year started, Paul, his mother and father came to see me at work at Zeek’s. To see Paul’s face light up when he saw me making his pizza brought joy to my eyes. I realized (working with him) wasn’t just another job.”

Nelson has attended each Keystone National Conference since she started high school, including Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Garden Grove, California, and will attend the Atlanta conference in March. Keystone is a Boys & Girls Club group that promotes youth leadership and community contribution.

In attendance were a contingent of Nelson’s “fan club,” including her mother, Kari, her sister, Erika, family friend Sue Miller, and advisor and program teen director of the Ballard Boys & Girls Club, Alison Souke. Erika graduated Ballard High in ’03, and had volunteered with the Greenwood Boys & Girls Club’s arts and crafts drop-in program. Their brother, Ross, was also involved in the Boys & Girls Club. They each attended Whittier Elementary, then Whitman Middle School.

“She did a great job and received a tons of compliments on her speech,” said Souke.

“I just have great kids,” said an emotionally moved Kari. “I’m just so fully blessed.”

“I watched all three children grow up,” said Miller with pride. “They’ve always had many interests and activities since they were young kids. They latched onto stuff to try. They were also outstanding students.”