Candice Reed/For the North County Times

SAN MARCOS -- It was a razzle dazzle awards show Monday night, complete with dance numbers, songs and nominees dressed to the nines.

The setting wasn't the Academy Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Hollywood, though. It was the Youth Awards Celebration at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos.

Many of the nominees arrived with their parents, and before the night was over, more than 250 people had assembled to hear winners announced for various awards, including Youth of the Year.

More than 75 youngsters were honored as finalists from the club's three sites -- Woodland Park After School Program, After School Academy and the Jennifer Loscher Branch.

"This is the biggest youth event of the year," said Shelly Anguiana, club operations director. "This is the time we set aside to recognize the outstanding students and youth leaders. The youngsters here take this evening very seriously."

The Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos has been serving the community since 1979 and currently serves more than 1,500 youngsters.

On Monday night, the culture center at the Jennifer Loscher Branch was decorated with balloons and posters showing the youngsters' projects and accomplishments.

Alfonso Cortez, a Youth of the Year nominee, had pasted pictures of his family and friends on poster board, including a picture taken of him moments after he was born. Valerie Primonte had mounted photos also and included awards that she had received from both the club and her school.

"This is a great opportunity for the kids to show off and I make sure to come by every year," said Dan Graves, of San Marcos. "My children came here years ago and they still talk about the afternoons they spent playing with their friends. Boys & Girls clubs are an extremely important part of any community."

The awards gala went without a hitch, with entertainment provided by the Dreamers, the City Kids and the Mysticals youth musical groups.

Even with all the festivities, suspense over who would win the final Youth of the Year award had the nominees anxious and squirming in their seats.

Finally, the moment they had been waiting for arrived and the winners were announced: Maritza Garcia, from the After School Academy and Brittney Tunnell from the Jennifer Loscher branch won Youth of the Year, while Rafael Ponce-Zelaya of the Jennifer Loscher branch took the title of Keystone Youth of the Year.

"This is such an honor for me," said Ponce-Zelaya, 18, who was dressed in a trendy tuxedo that he purchased in Los Angeles. "I had such a tough time for so many years and I finally found this place. It feels so great to accomplish my goals and to be a mentor. This is the type of place that changes lives. I know it changed mine."

3/27/01