Within in the next week, 19 girls and 12 boys will find out who has been selected as the 2016 Boy and Girl of the Year.

After rigorous interviews and selection processes, the YMCA of Selma and Dallas County and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International local chapter will each select a student to honor and award scholarships.

“I love to see how our kids are doing in our area,” said Girl of the Year co-chairman Carolyn Dunaway. “It’s important to me to know that we still have positive, wonderful kids that live here, that are going to school here and that have great futures.”

On Tuesday, May 3, the Girl of the Year program will be held at the Larry D. Striplin Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m., sponsored by Delta Kappa Gamma. The program is free and open to the public.

Of all the girls who had applied, three top girls are selected from local and county schools to compete and must meet the 19 ACT and 3.0 GPA requirements. Girls are given points for academic success and extra curricular activities such as school and community involvement. The girls also undergo interviews and are graded on an impromptu essay.

The top girl from each school is given a $200 cash award. The overall winner is given a $2,500 scholarship and named Girl of the Year.

The YMCA’s Paul M. Grist Boy of the Year banquet will be held Thursday, May 5 at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center at 6:30 p.m. with guest speaker Michael Johnson. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for $20. Dinner is included.

YMCA executive director Ann Murray said this year 25 free tickets will be given to boys ages 6-12 to inspire them to strive to be the best they can be and to participate in the program in the future.

“Every year it’s amazing to me what outstanding young men that are being raised in Selma,” Murray said.

The YMCA and the Boy of the Year participants are honored to have Johnson to attend the banquet.

“He’s a great role model for these kids,” Murray said.

For the Boy of the Year program, two boys are selected from local and county schools. Boys are graded on their academic and athletic success, community involvement and outstanding Christian leadership.

The boy of the year is given the Bill Ellzey Scholarship, a value of $1,000.

For Boy of the Year tickets, contact Murray at (334) 874-9622.

Biographies on the Girl of the Year candidates will publish Sunday, while Boy of the Year profiles will publish Wednesday.