Air Force honors its youth of the year in Pentagon ceremony

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Fifty-three teenagers received recognition at the 2010 Air Force Youth of the Year Award ceremony June 24 in the Pentagon auditorium.

Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, the deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, hosted the event and presented trophies to the major command honorees and plaques to the base-level honorees.

This and future youth of the year ceremonies offer a chance to "recognize the talent and potential of our youth," General Newton said.

"I'm looking forward to your success because you're going to be leading this nation in the future," General Newton said. "We need you, and we appreciate you."

"Today, the Air Force honors 65 five young people who represent the thousands of young adults whose mothers and fathers serve the nation as Air Force or civilian employees," said Anne-Marie Wallace, the chief of child and youth programs.

"These teens have distinguished themselves by being selected as the Air Force Youth of the Year at their active-duty, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserves installation," Ms. Wallace said. "Ten of the candidates were selected as the major command youth of the year and represent the service as the Air Force youths of the year."

The youth of the year program recognizes young people for contributions to their families, youth programs, schools and communities, Ms. Wallace said.

It is held in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Youth of the Year program, she added.

"The youth of the year program emphasizes development of the whole person, builds strong values and enables youth to become positive, contributing leaders within their community," Ms. Wallace said.

The MAJCOM youths of the year are:

- Jonathan Etters, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Air Combat Command
- Kaylee Burlingame, Maxwell AFB, Ala., Air Education and Training Command
- Mya Hudson, Joint Base Andrews, Md., Air Force District of Washington
- Chiara Foster, Tinker AFB, Okla., Air Force Materiel Command
- Joshua Perreault, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., Air Force Reserve Command
- Taylor Wincapaw, Peterson AFB, Colo., Air Force Space Command
- Ian Wildman, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Air Mobility Command
- Dakota Johnson, Gastonia, N.C., Air National Guard
- Leah Kathryn Maness, Osan Air Base, South Korea, Pacific Air Forces Command
- Amaya Hamilton, Ramstein AB, Germany, U.S. Air Forces in Europe

Listed below are all the youth of the year from each MAJCOM base:

Air Combat Command
Jordan Garcia, Beale AFB, Calif.
Matthew Burke, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Daniel Goldie, Dyess AFB, Texas
Bryana Schull, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
Asahi Mueller, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
Ashley Henderson, Holloman AFB, N.M.
Troi Reddick, Langley AFB, Va.
Tara Kathleen Evans, Minot AFB, N.D.
Eboni Register, Moody AFB, Ga.
Shawn Henderson, Nellis AFB, Nev.
SaDarius Clayton, Nellis AFB
Cameron Crockrom, Offutt AFB, Neb.
Bria Bradford, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
Celina Boyce, Shaw AFB, S.C.

Air Education and Training Command
Noel Zamot, Altus AFB, Okla.
LaChardonnay Johnson, Columbus AFB, Miss.
Tevin Patterson, Keesler AFB, Miss.
Sean Bennett, Lackland AFB, Texas
Jada Branche, Luke AFB, Ariz.
Domonique Lyons, Randolph AFB, Texas
Ty Stroble, Vance AFB, Okla.

Air Force District of Washington
Cory Garrett, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Special Operations Command
Jared Gibson, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Air Force Materiel Command
Porter Jefferson, Edwards AFB, Calif.
Megan Mickley, Eglin AFB, Fla.
Jasmine Carr, Robins AFB, Ga.
Aditya Phadke, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Air Force Space Command
Anastasia Thibodeau, Buckley AFB, Colo.
Alex Helwig, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
Tyheed Stephens, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
Sahya Lowe, Patrick AFB, Fla.
Stephanie Prantil, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

Air Mobility Command
Aepril Smith, Charleston AFB, S.C.
Jonathan Thomas, Charleston AFB
LaShanda C. Dargan, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
Kassandra Manchester, Dover AFB, Del.
Kellan Liswig, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
Michaela Murray, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
Azure Norman, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
Marcus Davis, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Chelsea White, McConnell AFB, Kansas
Jay Solo, Scott AFB, Ill.
Charity Taylor, Travis AFB, Calif.

Pacific Air Forces
William Mitchell, Eielson AFB, Alaska
Ryan Cummins, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Anne Ares, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
Malcolm Kirk, Kadena Air Base, Japan
Dalton Perdue, Misawa, AB, Japan
Ayanna Renee Thomas, Yokota AB, Japan

U.S. Air Forces in Europe
Austin Gill, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
Miguel Martinez, Royal Air Force Menwith Hill, England
Kelsey Gray, RAF Alconbury, England
Georgia Lau, RAF Mildenhall, England
Gabrielle Daniels, Vogelweh AB, Germany