14 finalists, winner, announced for this year’s Fall River Youth of the Year

Mayor Paul Coogan, in conjunction with the School Community Partnership, hosted the Youth of the Year Ceremony on Thursday at Diman Regional.

Durfee High School senior Aderline Diaz Fernandez came home with this year’s top honor.

According to Fall River Youth Violence Prevention, this year’s 14 finalists included Lauren Kuchar, Landry Caron, Rui Brito, Alaysia Wright, Brooke Macedo, Nicole Lobo, Anthony Grannum, Abigail Santos, Charles “CJ” Mendez, Madison Pereira, Sarah Moniz, Hailey Furtado, and Nevia Sang.

Finalists represented Durfee, Diman, Atlantis Charter, and the Fall River Youth Outreach Program.

The Youth of the Year Award is designed to recognize and honor the outstanding contributions and achievements of the young people of Fall River who have served their community through leadership, knowledge, skill and/or service. The award is sponsored by the School Community Partnership, a task force of Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community.

The award is a three-part process: a nomination by a caring adult, an essay by the youth and an interview. Youth were nominated based on their accomplishments in 2022 in the areas of: personal achievement, leadership abilities, healthy living and/or community involvement. The essay required the youth to explain why “you matter” by talking about the positive attributes and characteristics that make them unique and the reason why the world is a better place because they are in it.

Aderline Diaz Fernandez received a $1,000 scholarship on behalf of Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community and the City of Fall River. She plans on pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry.