HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – A 66th Force Support Squadron employee received the 2023 Boys and Girls Club of America Debra Williams Clark Spirit of Keystone Award during the 56th annual National Keystone Conference in Dallas, July 21.
Justin Oliver received the award in front of 1,500 teens for his work as Youth Programs teen coordinator here.
“It’s truly an honor to be selected for this,” said Oliver, who has served in the role at Hanscom AFB since November 2017. “In the spirit of the award, I’ve always wanted to help other advisors achieve what we do year after year, run a successful Keystone Program that engages teens and helps strengthen their leadership.”
The Spirit of Keystone Award commemorates the memory and legacy of Clark.
Keystone advisors receive the award for helping teens “develop a sense of pride, find their voice and be heard, and develop a sense of unity with other teens in the in the community,” according to the BGCA website.
As teen coordinator, Oliver serves as advisor to the Hanscom AFB Keystone Club, a teen leadership group for ages 13 to 18. The club focuses on four areas: academic success, career preparation, community service, and engaging teens.
“Justin is a tremendous role model for our youth and teens at Hanscom Air Force Base,” said Scott Craver, 66 FSS Child and Youth Services Flight chief. “This national award is a true testament to his leadership, passion and commitment to Hanscom’s community and the families we serve.”
Among his responsibilities, Oliver has facilitated the Military Youth of the Year honor at Hanscom AFB, a component of the BGCA National Youth of the Year program. In May, Ben Skorik, a junior at Shawsheen Technical High School, was selected as the Massachusetts Military Youth of the Year.
The Hanscom AFB Youth Center is affiliated with the Boys and Girls Club of America.
The Center offers a wide variety of after-school programs for children 9 to 18 years old. To learn more about the Youth Center, visit https://www.hanscomfss.com/youth-programs.