Eielson teen wins PACAF youth of the year

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  An Eielson teen was selected as the 2009 Pacific Air Forces Youth of the Year April 20, a feat which has earned her a $2,000 scholarship, plaque and a 2009 PACAF Bear from PACAF along with a congratulatory memo from Headquarters Air Force Director of Services.

Savanna Smith, a 17-year-old Junior at Ben Eielson High School and daughter of Master Sgt. Tracy and Staff Sgt. Freda Smith from the 168th Air Refueling Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron here, was selected for the honor because of her contributions to the community through involvement in the Eielson Youth Program and community service projects. She is also in the top ten percent of her class and has earned letters in both academics and the arts.

She has the opportunity to attend the General H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute, a youth leadership program this summer and said she is proud to see her efforts have paid off.

The Youth of the Year Program is conducted in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year Program. The mission of this program is to inspire, educate, and develop value-based leaders committed to personal integrity, professional ethics, and selfless service. Each year, teens across America and at military installation community centers overseas submit a package, much like an enlisted performance report.

"Children don't often get the accolades they deserve," said Stefanie Campiglia, teen director of Eielson youth programs. "Savanna deserves it; she's involved in a little bit of everything."

Although a volunteer, Savanna didn't get involved with the Youth Center with the intent to win an award.

"Going to the center started off as something I had to do after school since it was a program my parents put me in," said Savanna. "There was no wanting to stay longer, because I never took advantage of the clubs and programs the Youth Center offered, I just did my own thing. "

But Savanna came to realize that she could use the center as a means to acquire knowledge that could last her a lifetime.

Savanna is now the President of Keystone, a club for young people at the youth center that organizes local community service projects and confronts local issues, as well as a member of her school's drama club and track and cross country team. She recently joined RARE-T, a program at her school that trains students to educate other students about sexually transmitted diseases.

"In the past two years I have been inspired deeply by Keystone," said Savanna. "It has made me want to make a difference for my peers, and show them what we are really capable of, which is why I became so active, first by starting as vice president and then recently moving up to president."

Savanna said she came to love what she did even though at times it was challenging and submitting a package to compete for Youth of the Year was another challenge for her. The program, which is sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of America, requires applicants to turn in an eight-page package, including two essays, highlighting all of the things they do to help their community and family. The applicants must also be interviewed.

"Even though the writing part to some people may seem like the most difficult it was the public speaking that made me really nervous," said Savanna. "The practice interviews were a little scary."

After first learning of her win for PACAF Savanna said she didn't think it was a big deal because she was the only person to submit from Eielson. After learning that she competed against teens who had won for other bases she said she felt accomplished.

"Now I'm amazed," said Savanna. "I went from someone who didn't really care about programs that were available to me, to someone who received $2,000 towards my college education because I made the extra effort."