Eielson hosts Youth of the Year

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The Youth of the Year luncheon was held here March 10 at the Yukon Club by the Mountain View Boys & Girls Club. It was the first time that the lunch has been hosted by a club other than the Juneau branch, which was recently closed down.

The luncheon was sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org), headquartered in Atlanta. They comprise a national network of some 4,000 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving more than 4.6 million young people, in all 50 states and on U.S. military bases worldwide.

Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff.

Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and family outreach.

"The Boys and Girls Club of America provides a positive environment for youth and that's very good," said Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell. 'We need more of that in our society so the kids don't find bad ways to go, but they actually find enjoyment in participating in positive things."

David Huff of the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club was named Youth of the Year, the highest honor a Boys and Girls Club member can receive. The title recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome.

"I wouldn't be here without the club. That's how important it is, without the club I wouldn't be here," said David Huff, three-year member of the Mountain View Boys & Girls Club. "It's wonderful, I've never been this honored before in my life, so it's really great."

In addition to winning this title, Huff will also receive a one-year tuition scholarship from the University of Alaska and a $1,000 scholarship from the Reader's Digest Foundation.

"I wasn't really that great of a person before I got to the boy's and Girl's club, and now they've made me into Youth of the Year. It's been a big impact on my life. I'll never forget them," he said.

Huff plans to continue to better himself and "[I see] college, [in my future]. That's the biggest thing, and public speaking."

"What it demonstrates is we have a lot of youth from all over the state that are doing great things with their lives, have aspirations on doing better things and the Boys and Girls Club of America are supporting that, giving them the opportunity to do that and encouraging them to do that through working with other Boys and Girls Clubs as well as in their community," said Lt. Gov. Campbell.

Teens were judged by both community and military leaders including Col. Jim Post, commander, 354 Fighter Wing, Col. Scott Wenke, commander, 168 Air Refueling Wing, and Lt. Gov. Campbell on a ten-page application as well as a speech.

Eielson's Youth of the Year candidate, William Mitchell, had a strong showing in the competition and will compete for the Pacific Air Forces Youth of the Year in May.