Youth wins top state prize Published June 26, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Joshua King Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- It is each parent's dream to see their children succeed. For Army Sgt. Perry Tyson, Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion recruiter, that dream is coming true. His son, Marcel, recently earned the Military Youth of the Year award for the Boys and Girls Club of New Jersey, along with a $5,000 scholarship. Marcel volunteers daily at the youth center on the joint base, coaches basketball for base children and serves as the Northern Burlington County Regional High School military liaison. "I feel very honored and blessed," said Marcel. "I want to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity." Competing against three other "outstanding" military youths from the state of New Jersey, Marcel's demonstrated leadership set him apart from his competitors. Advisors described Marcel as confident at the award ceremony, Tyson said, but what stood out to them was how his peers and competitors looked up to him. "Marcel is very outgoing and energetic, he is a go getter, a leader, and is very community minded," Tyson added. "He is very unselfish and is always looking out for the best interests of others. When someone tells him he can't do something, he always says 'I can. I will.'" Currently in San Antonio, Texas, Marcel is preparing and receiving training for the North East Regional competition scheduled for August. If he wins, he will head to the national competition. After that he will be attending Old Dominion University where he has been offered a ROTC scholarship. "He makes me feel proud as a father," said Tyson. "As a kid, if you have drive and determination, the sky is the limit."