The Center for Whitley County Youth

The Center for Whitley County Youth Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Center for Whitley County Youth, 201 W Market Street, Columbia City, IN.

Youth Development Center that surrounds Whitley County teens with authentic relationships, good role models, and opportunities to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible For updates or cancellation notices, check our Program Pages:

The Center's Executive Director (Jeff Wike)
https://www.facebook.com/thecenterwcy.execdirector?fref=ts

The Center for Whitley County Youth (General)
https://www.facebook.com/TheCenterWCY

2 weeks after the Cook-Off and we are still brimming with gratefulness💓Huge shoutout to our student servers who absolute...
05/01/2026

2 weeks after the Cook-Off and we are still brimming with gratefulness💓Huge shoutout to our student servers who absolutely ROCKED their role--we are so proud of them!!!

Caydence is this year's Jerry Walker Memorial Scholarship recipient🎉Caydence has been committed to The Center’s mission ...
04/24/2026

Caydence is this year's Jerry Walker Memorial Scholarship recipient🎉

Caydence has been committed to The Center’s mission throughout her many years of involvement. She started as an ASC student, then moved into a SERVE position, became an active participant in high school programs Ground Zero and iLead, and eventually secured an internship under the ASC Program Directors. Caydence truly has put in the time and effort to gain most fully what support, guidance, and opportunity The Center strives to provide invested students. She is now pursuing her degree in Elementary and Special Education at Huntington University, and we are thrilled to be able to continue assisting Caydence’s professional development through the JWMS. Congratulations, Caydence!

The Jerry Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in Jerry’s honor, to partner with Whitley County young people whom Jerry cared deeply about. Jerry Walker served on The Center’s Board of Directors for more than 6 years, and was a passionate volunteer, donor, and advocate for helping young people find hope and equipping them to thrive in life.

We are thrilled to announce our Columbia City Student-of-The-Year is...Sierra🎉💛Sierra first joined us at ASC her 6th gra...
04/23/2026

We are thrilled to announce our Columbia City Student-of-The-Year is...Sierra🎉💛

Sierra first joined us at ASC her 6th grade year at ISMS. She immediately established herself as a kind and respectful student who cared about the welfare of others. Her diligence in conducting herself according to The Core Values earned her a special invite to The Adventure Trip in 2023; her maturity proved to mesh well with the high school students. Since then, Sierra has continued to grow in initiative with looking for ways to assist Program Directors and keep programming flowing well. As her first year in the SERVE program, Sierra has shined bright as a person of distinguished character, integrity, and attention to detail.

We are so grateful for you, Sierra!🙌

Our Whitko Student-Of-The-Year Award goes tooooo...EMILY🎖📣Even as a middle schooler, Emily was always quick to help wher...
04/23/2026

Our Whitko Student-Of-The-Year Award goes tooooo...EMILY🎖📣

Even as a middle schooler, Emily was always quick to help wherever she needed to. Through her actions and character, Emily lives out the SERVE name: she is always ready to help and her passion for supporting Center programs and her fellow students is so evident. Her light shines so brightly everywhere she goes, and we know that we can always count on her. Her leadership, empathy, and desire to see other people succeed will continue to bless everyone around her!

We are so thankful to have Emily on our SERVE team! Congratulations on Student-Of-The-Year!

Our Whitko Volunteer-Of-the-Year Award goes toooo... Lane🙌🏻🎉Lane started volunteering at ASC Whitko because he needed vo...
04/22/2026

Our Whitko Volunteer-Of-the-Year Award goes toooo... Lane🙌🏻🎉

Lane started volunteering at ASC Whitko because he needed volunteer hours for college, but it has become much more than that. Lane comes into ASC each week ready to help however he can, meet students where they are, play a silly game, and have meaningful conversations. As program directors, we know that we can count on Lane to help lead an activity or talk with a student who needs a listening ear. He has been such a blessing to our program and our students, and we are so thankful that his journey with The Center is just beginning!

Thank you, Lane! We are so grateful for you!

We are THRILLED to announce the Columbia City volunteer of the year is....Riley Langley💐Riley has been part of Ground Ze...
04/22/2026

We are THRILLED to announce the Columbia City volunteer of the year is....Riley Langley💐

Riley has been part of Ground Zero since the very beginning, faithfully serving and investing in students year after year. She has a natural ability to connect with students and make them feel seen, known, and valued. Beyond that, her creativity and skill as a videographer bring our program to life, capturing moments and creating engaging Instagram reels each week that reflect what is going on. Riley is someone we can always count on. She shows up consistently, serves wholeheartedly, and plays an active role in the lives of our students. Her dedication, talent, and genuine care make a lasting impact, and we are incredibly grateful for the way she pours into this ministry. She is truly a blessing and more than deserving of Volunteer of the Year.

Thank you, Riley! We love you🧡

🏆🏆🏆 Triple the win, Triple the flavor!Big news from Thursday’s Cook-Off—Big Hungry BBQ swept the competition, and earnin...
04/21/2026

🏆🏆🏆 Triple the win, Triple the flavor!

Big news from Thursday’s Cook-Off—Big Hungry BBQ swept the competition, and earning all three awards: Best Appetizer, Best Entrée, and Best Dessert 👨‍🍳🔥

HUGE congratulations to the Big Hungry BBQ team for serving up bold bites and sweet southern charm that stole the show—and our hearts. Thank you for bringing your A-game to the 17th Annual Benefit Cook-Off!🧡

Behind every bite at this year’s Cook-Off was a dedicated team of chefs using their talents to make a meaningful impact ...
04/20/2026

Behind every bite at this year’s Cook-Off was a dedicated team of chefs using their talents to make a meaningful impact on the lives of local youth.👨‍🍳 Each dish served was more than just a great meal—it was part of something bigger!

A HUGE thank you to Pho-Shi, Big Hungry BBQ, and Cibo for bringing incredible flavor, energy, and heart to our 16th Annual Benefit Cook-Off. 🍽️💙 Your creativity and commitment truly set the tone for an unforgettable evening.

From thoughtfully crafted menus to mouthwatering bites that brought people together, your contributions helped transform this event into something truly special—all in support of an incredible cause. We are deeply grateful for your time, passion, and care in the kitchen!

WHAT A NIGHT!38 student servers, 453 generous guests, and one amazing community! THANK YOU for making our 17th Annual Be...
04/19/2026

WHAT A NIGHT!

38 student servers, 453 generous guests, and one amazing community! THANK YOU for making our 17th Annual Benefit Cook-Off a night to remember!🧡

Thanks to your generosity, we stirred up more than just great food—we raised $72,216 in night-of giving (not counting matching gifts or sponsorships!) 👨‍🍳🔥🎉

Stay tuned👂to see the winning team for the cook-off, Student-of-the-Year, and Volunteer-of-the-Year!

7 DAYS UNTIL OUR ANNUAL BENEFIT COOK-OFF🎉Here's a sneak peak at our cooking teams this year👀
04/10/2026

7 DAYS UNTIL OUR ANNUAL BENEFIT COOK-OFF🎉
Here's a sneak peak at our cooking teams this year👀

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201 W Market Street
Columbia City, IN
46725

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