NATCHEZ &8212; Faye Minor&8217;s trademark humility was in full effect as she spoke of receiving the Boys and Girls Club Professional of the Year Award at the club&8217;s statewide conference late last month.

&8220;I was so surprised,&8221; said Minor, executive director of the Natchez-based Boys and Girls Club of the Miss-Lou. &8220;When they were introducing the award, when it became clear who they were talking about, I thought, &8216;Who, me?&8217;&8221;

But don&8217;t let Minor&8217;s humble manner fool you, one of the club&8217;s national staff members said. &8220;She&8217;s humble, but she&8217;s tenacious when it comes to getting what she needs for the club,&8221; said Regional Service Director Clyde McGuire.

And that determination is one of the reasons the club has seen the growth that helped Minor win the award out dozens of other professional staff members from clubs statewide, McGuire said.

The winner is selected by the national office in Atlanta based on the growth of a club, in sites and/or the number of youth served; financial and staff stability; the person&8217;s reputation in the community; the person&8217;s ability to build partnerships; good character; and leadership abilities.

Under Minor&8217;s leadership, &8220;the club has seen tremendous growth. And Faye meets the community so well. Also, she&8217;s tenacious &8212; when thinks of something she needs to do for the community, she won&8217;t stop until it&8217;s done,&8221; McGuire said.

The club opened in 2002 at the former Sadie V. Thompson High School with Minor, a former Adams County Youth Court staffer, at the helm.

Since then, it has added locations at McLaurin and Morgantown elementary schools, Robert Lewis Middle School and at the Sunshine Shelter, a temporary home for abused and neglected children.

It has also set up and runs locations in Fayette and, most recently, in Vicksburg.

The national office &8220;isn&8217;t opening any new clubs, so any new (sites) that open have to be opened under another club,&8221; Minor explained.

Her next goal: to spruce up the club&8217;s original Thompson site with, among other things, a fresh coat of paint.

Minor said the work is all worth it to see what youth who come through the club&8217;s programs are able to achieve.

&8220;Watching a kid make it is the best thing,&8221; Minor said.

&8220;To see kids who have grown up in the program graduate high school and go on to college when, before, they never dreamed of anything that high &8212; that&8217;s my reward.&8221;

Minor now goes on to compete in the national Professional of the Year competition in May.