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LYNN - Lynner Erin Muschette has earned one of the highest honors bestowed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Youth of the Year.

Muschette has won on the local level and will head to Woburn next month to compete on the state level.

The title recognizes a young person's outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and the Boys & Girls Club as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. She was also recognized for her sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

A 12-year member of the club, Muschette spent most of her summer months at the club's Creighton Pond Day Camp in Middleton. When she outgrew being a camper, Muschette crossed the line into counselor territory working as a counselor-in-training and last year as a lifeguard.

Muschette has also gone above the norm for high school students in terms of giving back to her community. Along with volunteering dozens of hours a week tutoring children at both the club and the Gregg House's after school programs she also helped raise money by walking. Muschette has involved herself with the HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children) Walk, The Walk for Hunger, The Heart Walk and the Walk for Cancer.

Throughout all her community service work, the Lynn Classical High School senior has also maintained a 3.91 grade point average while taking Advanced Placement and honors classes.

Boys & Girls Club of Lynn Executive Director Obie Barker called Muschette an outstanding role model.

"Having watched Erin come through the doors since the age of six and blossom into such an outstanding young woman, the staff and members of the club are extremely proud of her accomplishments and the example she established in her role as a mentor for our younger members," he said.

Along with the title of Youth of the Year, Muschette also picked up a plaque from the 99 Restaurant, a sponsor of the Boys & Girls Club nationwide, which will hang in the restaurant. Lynnfield 99 Restaurant Manager Larry Cosulito also handed over a $99 99 Restaurant gift certificate, a $99 WB Mason gift certificate and a $200 American Express gift card.

She also gets a $1,000 scholarship from the Reader's Digest Foundation, which has supported the Youth of the Year program for 60 years.

If Muschette wins at the state competition, she will then vie for the title of Northeast Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 scholarship. The five regional winners will then advance to Washington, D.C., in September to compete for the title of BGCA's National Youth of the Year, which comes with a $15,000 college scholarship and an Oval Office ceremony with the President of the United States.

Other awards given out during the Boys & Girls Club recently held Annual Awards Dinner included the presentation of the most prestigious awards. The first was the Daniel McSweeney Sportsmanship Award given in memory of longtime board member and former Lynn Police Chief Daniel McSweeney, which to Marshall Middle School student Kennedy Gomes.

The Lester Farwell Scholar Award given to the individual for their commitment in academics and participation in the club's many educational programs went to Sheila Gonzalez.

Junior Youth of the Year Awards went to Pierrelene Louis, a student at Breed Middle School and Wilfredo Feliz, a freshman at Lynn Tech.

The Club's highest honor is the Youth of the Year Award, which recognizes both a female and male for their leadership, service to the Club and Community and overall growth.

Marcos Castellanos, a nine-year member of the club was named 2008 Male Youth of the Year.

Marcos, a junior at Lynn Tech has been actively involved in many areas of the Club's programs and serves as a Life Guard at the Club's Day Camp Program.