BGC names military youth of the year

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  During a ceremony at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, in Foxboro, Mass., sixteen distinguished leaders from Massachusetts businesses and philanthropies selected Tia McKinney-Burgess of the Hanscom Air Force Base Youth Programs as the Boys and Girls Club Massachusetts Military Youth of the Year, May 15.

"It's a great life achievement," said McKinney-Burgess. "I feel like I made my family proud, the Youth Center proud and Hanscom Air Force Base proud. I made the state proud too because they tweeted about it."

The Youth Center, a member of the Boys and Girls Club of America, recognizes young people for service to their club and community, academic performance and contributions to their family.

For McKinney, who will attend Alabama State University in the fall where she will study business, her aspiration to attend college stems from never wanting to stop learning and growing. Her dreams for the future include working with children as well as owning her own boutique.

According to Youth Center staff, this is the first year that the Boys and Girls Club have introduced a Military component to the youth of the year program. There will be a winner from each state as well as an overseas winner. There will be a regional and national military youth of the year competition.

"We're so incredibly proud of Tia and all that she has accomplished," said Ann-Marie Ely, Youth Center Sports and Fitness director and mentor. "It really speaks volumes to her character and what she gives back to the community, not only at Hanscom but to the Massachusetts community at large."

McKinney will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Tupperware Brands.

Among the many strong qualities McKinney-Burgess possesses, her willingness to be a role model to younger members of Youth Center stands out.

"I want younger children at the Youth Center to know hard work and determination and staying positive will take you a long way," McKinney said. "Often, people who are closed minded are more likely to be negative and that can really hold you back, a grudge can hold you back. You just have to remember that you are not doing it for anyone else but yourself and that should keep you on the right path."

A mindset she plans to take with her as she transitions to Alabama in the fall to return to where it all started.

"The Youth Center at Maxwell Air Force Base offered me a job," said McKinney. "It's where it all started for me and I'm looking forward to giving back to a new generation of military youth."

Ely believes that the future is bright for this year's youth of the year.

"I see tremendous potential in Tia after high school," said Ely. "She has so much leadership experience from being a member of the peer leader group at Bedford High and has used that to be a leader in her community here at the Youth Center."

For McKinney-Burgess, the role models in her life have come up big.

"My mom and my family most importantly have been tremendous role models for me. Going to church and praying about it has also been very important to me," she said. "Miss Ann-Marie and Miss Amy have both helped me to become a better person, both have helped me to strive and be more mentally and physically involved."

When asked what character trait she's most proud of that assisted in her success, her response was quick.

"I'm most proud of being a social butterfly because you get to experience other people. I don't feel like I'm afraid to put myself in other people's shoes," said McKinney-Burgess. "I feel if I'm open-minded, I'll have an easier time reaching out to my peers, as well as adults. So my ability to be social is something I am most proud of."