JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --
A Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., teen was selected as the Military Youth of the Year for the State of New Jersey.
Selena Buchanan, daughter of Army Sgt. 1st Class Clint Buchanan, 174th Infantry Brigade, was nominated for the award through the Garden Terrace Youth Program.
One of the programs offered by the GT Youth Program is the Boys & Girls Keystone Club. This is a leadership and character building club for teens ages 14 to 18. The club sponsors an annual Youth of the Year Program and this year was the first time that the Boys & Girls Clubs of America had a separate category for military teens.
The GT Youth Program staff observes teens for areas in leadership and character that they excel in, such as helping other youth and staff, community service, respecting the rights and property of others, being a good role model to other members, participating in activities and events and taking the initiative to lead the Keystone Club and Air Force Teen Council. The staff selects a Youth of the Month from these observations. The monthly winners are eligible to try out for our Youth of the Year Program.
Selena was one of the Youths of the Month. Through a process of completing a portfolio, interview questions, and performing a speech in front of an impartial judging panel, Selena was selected as the GT Military Youth of the Year from a group of six qualified applicants.
Selena is active in the local club as the Keystone president, Teen Representative of the Air Force Teen Council and the Northeast Region Teen Representative for Air Force Teen Council. Selena is also active in her school, church, youth sports and in her home as the oldest of four children.
Selena went forward to compete in the state-level competition. She was interviewed by a panel of judges comprised of prominent New Jersey business men and women. Selena was selected as the New Jersey Military Youth of the Year. She won $20,000 towards her college career as well as $1,500 in other monies.
As the State winner, Selena represented New Jersey in the Northeast Region Military Youth of the Year competition held in New York City. Selena went through the process of packet review and interviews and was selected as the runner-up in this competition.
The BGCA held their national Youth of the Year Competition in September in Washington, D.C. The BGCA staff was so impressed with Selena's performance at the regional competition that they invited her to speak at the ceremony. She was also given the opportunity to sit in on a "Teen Think Tank Breakfast" with executives from BGCA, military leaders and program supporters. This was an impressive opportunity for Selena and a positive reflection on the military youth programs.
Just recently, Selena was contacted by a foundation in Austin, Texas, where she will be attending college in the fall of 2014. This foundation was one of the supporters of the BGCA national program. They offered her an internship for the summer after her freshman year.
The opportunities continue to open for this young woman. The same opportunities exist for all teens who attend the JB MDL youth programs affiliated with the BGCA national programs.
The 2014 Military Youth of the Year competition is now underway.