FORT KNOX, Ky. — Niya Rogers admits she and her younger sister Alecia are very competitive.
They’re also very supportive of each other. So when staff members at Devers Middle School and Teen Center announced in October 2021 that they were seeking candidates to participate in the 2022 Boys and Girls Clubs of America Military Youth of the Year competition, both girls raised their hands.
The Rogers had arrived at Fort Knox a year prior to last year’s announcement, so neither girl had competed before. Niya recalled seeing the wall of fame on display at the Center and admiring how many photos of past winners hung there. She also recalled realizing how much effort it would take to win.
“At first I was like, ‘That seems like a lot of work,’ but then I was like, ‘But I could get a lot of scholarship money,’ so I decided to try it,” said Niya. “When I saw the wall, I realized I would be finishing off a row.”
Devers Middle School and Teen Center director Nakita Gavre said most past winners were involved in two or more years of preparation prior to winning their competitions. Because of Niya’s age and inexperience in competing for Youth of the Year, Gavre said her winning is quite a feat.
“We’re all really proud of her,” said Gavre. “We’re proud of them both.”
Niya said there were times when she had her doubts about whether she would win.
“It was just a lot of information, and it was me just trying to process everything that was going on,” said Niya. “I would think, ‘Oh my goodness this is a lot of work,’ or, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m not going to get this done in time.’”
While Niya, a sophomore at Fort Knox Middle High School, worked to build her portfolio and prepare for the competition, she was joined by Alecia, a 6th grader at Scott Middle School. Their mutual competitiveness and support provided motivation for both of them to succeed.
“We’re a very competitive family,” said Niya. Alecia laughed and nodded in agreement.
Though Niya will move up to the Kentucky competition at Fort Campbell, Alecia won’t advance. Devers staff set up the junior competition as a way for younger competitors who wish to someday compete in the Military Youth of the Year competition to have a better understanding of how the process works.
Niya said the competition will give her an opportunity to work on her public speaking skills.
“I am personally not somebody who likes to do speeches in front of big crowds,” said Niya. “I feel like I have to get over that now—“
“… especially moving up to the next competition,” said Gavre.
Niya takes it all in stride.
“It’s just like in school because it’s all been kind of unpredictable,” said Niya. “I do okay virtual, but I would rather be in person so they can really see me, and I can actually see their faces.”
While Niya focuses on the state competition, Gavre said not only will she have the support of Alecia and her family, she will also have the full support and confidence of Devers, even beyond her time at Fort Knox.
“We are definitely confident in Niya. She’s put her whole 100% effort behind it,” said Gavre. “And I know she’s super annoyed by us—“
“… just a little bit,” Niya said, grinning.
“We nag a lot; like ‘Have you done this? Have you done this? Let me hear your speech,’” said Gavre, laughing. She turned toward Niya. “How many times have we said, ‘Let me hear your speech’ in the past month?”
“I have no idea: way too much,” said Niya. “I should keep a notebook with tally marks for every time. I’d probably fill up the whole entire thing.”
Neither girl will compete at Fort Knox after this year as their father has PCS orders to Fort Bliss, Texas for the summer. Niya will continue to represent Fort Knox through the 2022 season, however. And Gavre said she has reached out to Fort Bliss to help the girls get plugged into a Boys and Girls Clubs of America program there.
Back at Fort Knox, both girls’ images will be enshrined on Devers’ wall of fame — one of them completing a row.
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