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Fort McCoy family member Maelyn Pitsenbarger has been named the Wisconsin Military Youth of the Year by Boys and Girls Clubs of America for her leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication in living a healthy lifestyle.
The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 74th year, the program honors the nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures. As the Wisconsin Military Youth of the Year, Pitsenbarger will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state, will receive a $2,500 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and will go on to contend for the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national title.
In 2018, Pitsenbarger attended the Military Youth Leadership Forum in Southbridge, Mass. The Army's youth program is designed to teach teens ages 14 to 18 resiliency skills so they can avoid high-risk behaviors and build resilience. The Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) brings together youth from installations around the world to discuss issues relevant to youth. YLF focuses on issues which the teens have declared most relevant to their lives. Participants use a consensus process to identify the top three Armywide youth issues and their recommended solutions. Each year, Army leaders are invited to the forum and are briefed on the issues by the teens.
After the YLF experience Pitsenbarger applied to be on the Army Teen Panel (ATP) for YLF. The ATP serves as the "voice of Army youth" for senior leaders and adult staff. Members of the teen panel are selected during a competitive process. Teens attending the forum are selected by their local installations and accompanied by CYS staff. Pitsenbarger served three years on the Army Teen Panel.
Pitsenbarger also attended the Military Teen Ambassador Conference and the 2019 National Keystone Conference. Pitsenbarger has helped with Fort McCoy Child and Youth Services’ Day for Kids event and a variety of other community service activities. She is also key member of the Keystone Club.
Keystone Club is the Boys & Girls Club’s most dynamic teen program. It affords teens an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and service experience. Teens conduct activities in four areas: academic success, career exploration, community service, and teen outreach. Boys and Girls Clubs of America provides clubs with the tools and resources to create a positive place for teens as well as for kids
Pitsenbarger has graduated early from high school and has begun taking general education college courses at the local technical college. In the fall, she is headed to Alabama to Enterprise State Community College to work on an associate degree in business management.
“We are incredibly proud of Maelyn and all the Youth of the Year nominees,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Being named Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor. As the Wisconsin Military Youth of the Year, Maelyn will serve as a spokesperson for kids and teens across the state who face the many unique challenges associated with military life.”
Founded in 1947 as Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club. Youth of the Year representatives are the workforce leaders, innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.
This summer, Pitsenbarger will compete for the title of Midwest Region Military Youth of the Year and an additional $20,000 college scholarship. Five regional winners will advance to the virtual National Youth of the Year event in October 2021 to compete for the title of National Military Youth of the Year. The final stage of the journey, National Youth of the Year, presents the opportunity to receive an additional scholarship of $50,000 and a brand-new Toyota Corolla.
For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit www.youthoftheyear.org.
(Article prepared by the Boys and Girls Club of America.)
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2021 15:00 |
| Story ID: | 393476 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WI, US |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Wisconsin teen named 2021 Wisconsin Military Youth of the Year, by Aimee Malone, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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