Justin Cox of White Center was recently named King County Youth of the Year at the Boys and Girls Club's annual luncheon at Benaroya Hall.

Cox, 18, was honored for his life goals, academic performance, personal character and community service. He was also awarded a $2,500 education scholarship.

"I'm excited," Cox said. "It was something that hit me by surprise."

Cox represented the Southwest Boys and Girls Club and competed against 11 contestants from other King County clubs to win the title. Each teen was awarded a $500 education scholarship and evaluated based on an interview and a speech given at the ceremony.

"They're all hardworking teenagers," said Ryan Schaedig, Southwest Boys and Girls Club education director. "Every year, whoever wins it, really deserves it."

All nominees must first be named a youth of the quarter at their club. Then, those teens, if they wish, apply to be named club youth of the year. From there, he or she goes to the King County competition.

"I didn't expect to win for King County," Cox said.

Schaedig shared the teen's sentiments.

"It was shocking," he said. "I did not expect it."

Cox became a club member three and a half years ago when he moved to Seattle from Compton, Calif. His older brother brought him there to play basketball, but over time Cox realized the club had more to offer than just sports.

"Eventually I was coming in for homework help, computer access and a lot of other things," he said.

Cox's mother sent him from Compton to live with his father in Seattle in 2003. She hoped this would help him focus on school and avoid trouble.

"It was pretty rough down there," the teen said. "You see people getting beat up almost everyday. Drugs, weapons ... it's really easy to get into."

Now a freshman at South Seattle Community College, Cox has overcome a great deal by making good decisions, said Mark Pursley, Southwest Boys and Girls Club Director.

"He could be dead or in jail as opposed to being a kid in college," Pursley said. "He made the right choices and they're paying off for him. I'm really proud of him."

Yet, Cox doesn't let his past inhibit his future.

"He comes across as having this past and background, but not dwelling on it," Schaedig said. "He's taking it and moving forward."

The teen put a great deal of time and effort into the essays and speech required for the competition. He focused on the differences between his life in Compton and in Seattle. The Boys and Girls Club helped him to assimilate and taught him how to give back to his community, he said.

"After he got up there and gave his speech, a lot of peers came up to me to tell me how well he did," Schaedig said.

Cox is the leader of the Keystone group at his club. This is a national organization affiliated with the Boys and Girls Club that emphasizes leadership and community service. Keystone, Cox said, is his favorite part of being a member at the club.

"You can always just go to the club and have fun," he said. "But, when you're in Keystone, you're actually doing things to help the club and help the community so you feel good about yourself."

Now a staff member, Cox works with elementary-school children at the Southwest club's after-school program.

"Little kids gravitate to him," Pursley said. "He'll show the kids basketball moves but also tell them to do their homework. The same thing he brings, he expects out of the kids who look up to him."

Cox is the first Southwest club member to win Youth of the Year for King County. On March 20, he will compete at the state level. If he succeeds, he will then go on to regionals, where he will compete with teens from 11 western states. From there are nationals, bringing the top five contestants from all over the country to Washington, D.C., where the winner will be installed in the Oval Office.

"I haven't really thought that far yet," Cox said. "You get to meet the president, that's real scary."

Cox hopes to go into local law enforcement after transferring to a four-year university and receiving a degree in criminal justice.

Pursley thinks the teen's outlook on life will bring him far.

"Justin has perspective that there's bigger and better things out there," he said.

Meghan Peters is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory and may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com.