Shady Side Academy student named Boys & Girls Club of Western PA 2025 Youth of the Year

Tayshawn Lyons is settling into a new role at a place he calls his home away from home.

Lyons, of Stanton Heights and a sophomore at Shady Side Academy, was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania 2025 Youth of the Year for his leadership, exceptional achievements and dedication to inspiring others.

“It was a surprise and it was an irreplaceable feeling,” said, Lyons, who recently turned 16.

He first heard the news of the honor during what he thought was a routine meeting at the Boys & Girls Club in Lawrenceville, where he is a weekly fixture.

“I walked in and everyone screamed ‘surprise’ and it was awesome,” said Lyons, who joined Boys & Girls Club about two years ago.

Club activities have become a staple in Lyon’s life and he’s an active member of BGCWPA’s Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse located on Butler Street.

His first activity at the Clubhouse was participating in a course on financial literacy.

“This is the greatest decision I ever made,” Lyons said of joining BGCWPA. “It’s built me up so much as a young man. If I didn’t have this I probably wouldn’t be where I am.”

He serves on the BGCWPA Youth Advocacy Council and said he enjoys participating in teen night activities, a professional pathways tech internship and even hitting the slopes during a ski outing to Seven Springs.

Additionally, he participates in the S.E.L.F.I.E. Project, a social and emotional learning program emphasizing inclusion and equity.

Lyons was awarded a full-ride scholarship to attend Shady Side Academy.

Lyons credits his mother Takia Burton and cousin Tanya Phillips for raising him and providing stability in his life.

“They’ve worked in developing me and they keep me on track — and the BGCWPA, too. I’m so humbly grateful,” Lyons said.

Lyons maintains a 3.9 GPA and participates in football and track at Shady Side Academy.

He’s set to go on a college tour road trip to the south this spring and said Morehouse College and Georgia Tech are two must-visit campuses.

Lyons is keenly interested in the tech world and hopes to study software development, computer science or technological engineering after high school.

The Youth of the Year award is the pinnacle of honors a Boys & Girls Club member can receive.

Lyons has a toddler sister and in his spare time, he loves to listen to music.

“It’s like my therapy. I like R&B and it really speaks to me,” Lyons said.

Baptized last year, Lyons is dedicated to Christianity and is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in the Hill District.

“That was big for me to get baptized,” he said.

Lyons described being a “club kid” at BGCWPA as a safe space.

“I can grow, learn and discover my purpose. I’ve gained leadership skills and the club has encouraged me to dream big — to turn dreams into goals and goals into reality,” he said.

Lyons said the 2025 Youth of the Year recognition is more than just a title.

“My goal is to use this platform to inspire as many people as I can. I plan to represent the Boys & Girls Club in my community with pride and excellence and show what can be accomplished through being purpose-driven, whether it’s mentoring, speaking engagements or community service,” Lyons said.

He said adolescence hasn’t always been easy.

“I feel like the biggest challenge for me was finding my purpose. I was kinda lost and I didn’t know who I was or what I was meant to do. I realize now I was called to inspire people and a big turning point in my journey came in eighth grade when I joined the Boys & Girls Club,” he said.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania serves more than 7,500 youth throughout the Pittsburgh region.

Scott Flurry, director of teen and career development at BGCWPA, commended Lyon’s achievement.

“Tayshawn exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose and passion,” Flurry said. “He has a vision to empower others and a heart for giving back to his community. His achievements are a testament to his drive, resilience and unwavering faith. He represents so well what it means to be a Club kid.”

As BGCWPA Youth of the Year, Tayshawn will compete at the state level at the Pennsylvania Youth of the Year competition, with the potential of advancing to regional and national levels.

Lyons will be recognized at BGCWPA’s FOR KIDS Gala held on March 29 at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland.