Alumni Spotlight

Congratulations, Mario Peña,
2008 Alumnus of the Year!

Alumnus of the Year, Mario Peña

This year’s Alumni of the Year joined the Club when he was 13 years old.  He moved to Nashua from New York to live with his mother and two younger brothers.  His brothers were already members and they were very excited to bring him to the Club.  Mario was introduced to the staff using his middle name Anthony. 

As a Club member, Mario participated in all the youth development programs.  He was in Teen Council, graduated from Toastmasters, was active with the Smart Moves program and was very active in the Gym.  He excelled as a member of a new program called Los Amigos where he participated in the planning and building of the Los Amigos Park on Ash Street. Mario became a key spokesperson for the Club and was often invited by the mayor to participate in key city youth initiatives.  He also worked very hard to be selected to become a member of the Keystone Club.   Mario currently serves on the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Northeast Keystone Advisory Committee.

As a member, Mario was selected Youth of the Month numerous times and was selected the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua Youth of the Year in 2001. He went on to win the Boys & Girls Clubs of America State Youth of the Year.  As a state youth of the year winner, he was awarded a $25,000 scholarship from the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network program. Mario attended Daniel Webster College where he graduated with a BA in Business Sports Management.

While in college, Mario worked part time at the Club as our Hispanic Outreach Director.  Upon graduation he became the full time Director.  In 2004, he became our Individual Services Director.

While working at the Club he started the Los Amigos Conference to educate minority students about what they are responsible for to get into college.  This program has been recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  Over the past five years hundreds of club members from Boys & Girls Clubs all over the Northeast have attended.  This year he is again the conference manager.  The conference will be held at Clark University in Worcester MA.

Last July, he accepted a position as Director of Operations at the Waltham Boys & Girls Club.  He continues to live in Nashua with his wife, Devlin, and two children, Jayden and Tallya. 

vDo you know an outstanding alumni? If so, please click here to send us information or contact Kurt Norris, Director of Operations, at (603) 883-0523 x213 or kdnorris@bgcn.com.