“I like to come to the Boys and Girls Club to keep me from doing bad things,” Hilliard said. “The Boys and Girls Club has taught me a lot of things and they work with me a lot. Whenever I need something, I know where to come.”

Hilliard has attended the Boys and Girls Club since he was in the third grade. Now, a 16-year-old upcoming sophomore at Charles Henderson High School, Hilliard has developed a leadership role among the other members at the club.

Michael Jennings, a volunteer at the club, began coming to the Boys and Girls Club in January, when he met Hilliard.

“He was a really quiet kid, but I could tell he had leadership qualities,” Jennings said. “He helps us a lot, as far as getting things organized for the club. We never have any problems out of him; he listens well. Overall, he is a pretty good kid and has a good head on his shoulders.”

At school, Hilliard maintains all As and Bs, and he sees the importance of trying hard and being successful in academics.

“High school is nothing to play with,” Hilliard said. “You’ve got to do your work. You’ve got to do what the teachers tell you to do. Study hard, don’t give up and keep going.”

Hilliard makes an effort to pass those thoughts on to the younger members at the club by helping them out with their homework during the school year.

“He helps around the club anytime that we are needing help with homework in the after school program,” said Wayne Buchanan, director of the Boys and Girls Club. “He is willing to help the younger members.”

“He works well with the younger ones,” Jennings said. “They actually look up to him like a big brother.”

He also helps them during their play time and free time.

“I help them shoot basketball and teach them how to dunk,” Hilliard said.

His older brother, Zavian, is a volunteer at the club, and Hilliard says that he looks up to him in a similar way that the younger members look up to him.

“When I need help, he teaches me things that I need to learn,” Hilliard said. “When it was time for high school, he told me what to look for.”

Although he will only be a sophomore in the upcoming school year, Hilliard is already making college plans.

Currently, he is a wide receiver for the CHHS football team, but he plans to play football at Auburn University or Troy University. He also wants to be a mechanic.

“If something is broken down, [my father] will tell me what to do and sometimes I fix it,” Hilliard said. It is not something that comes naturally; however, he said he likes to learn about it.

“Tias is a great young man,” Buchanan said. “He gets along with his peers and respects all of the staff and volunteers. He has a bright future ahead of him. We are very glad that Tias is part of this Boys and Girls Club.”