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Toyota Awards Corolla to National Youth of the Year Winner

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National Youth of the Year Winner with Keys to Her New 2014 Corolla

Sometimes, those who strive to overcome personal obstacles need to be recognized. For Kiana Knolland, a resident of Kansas, this recognition came in the form of a 2014 Toyota Corolla. As the 2013-14 Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) National Youth of the Year winner, Kiana was the recipient of this brand new vehicle from Toyota Financial Services (TFS).


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This award recognizes Kiana as a teen Club member who has continually made contributions to her family, school, community, and local Club while also overcoming personal hardship.

Kiana’s efforts to better herself are demonstrated by her goal of becoming a lawyer. Knowing that receiving the best possible education is the pathway toward reaching her goal, Kiana took the initiative to write to a local private school, explaining her reasons for wanting to attend and therefore, received a full scholarship for her junior and senior years of high school.

“Kiana’s achievements are truly inspiring, and we are excited about the extraordinary future that awaits her,” said Al Smith, Group Vice President, TFS Service Operations & Corporate Planning, in a press release. “At Toyota, we relentlessly strive to do and be the best each day, and to improve our communities along the way… and we feel that Kiana’s character and determination represent those same values.”

Kiana was one out of hundreds of candidates in the Boys & Girls Club competing for the award. Eligible teens were first chosen on a local and state level until the field was narrowed to five regional winners. Kiana now attends Howard University in Washington, D.C. and plans to pursue a degree and career in the legal field.

“The Boys & Girls Club has been an integral part of my life,” she said.  “I am honored to represent an organization that has had such a tremendous impact on my character and well-being.”


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