Hanscom names its "Youth of the Year"

  • Published
  • By J.C. Corcoran
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Officials at the Hanscom Youth Center have selected 14-year-old Robert Brown as their choice to represent Hanscom at the AFMC level competition for the Youth of the Year Program. As the Hanscom nominee in the program, Robert will receive a $500 Savings bond and a certificate recognizing his selection.

The program develops Club (Boys and Girls Clubs of America) members who are articulate, well groomed and knowledgeable spokespersons for their Club and community.

Robert is the son of Capt. Robert and Libby Brown of Hanscom. He attended Hanscom Middle School this past year and has been a member of the Youth Center here for three years. His father is assigned to the 850th Electronic Systems Group.

Nominees for the Youth of the Year Program compete in six written narrative areas that include Home and Family; Moral Character; Community (involvement); School; Service to Club; and, Life Goals.

Additionally, each nominee is required to submit two personally written essays that are judged for their content and grammar. Topics for this year's competition were, "What the Club means to me," and "Why a post-high school education is important."

As part of his second essay Robert wrote, "Not everyone wants to go to college but I do. My parents have always told me that they wouldn't be where they are today without graduating from college."

Robert goes on to say that he attended a Boston College University basketball camp and had the opportunity to meet Head Coach Al Skinner. According to Robert, Coach Skinner told him that, "I know you want to be the best student athlete you can be but to attend Boston College University you must remember that student comes before athlete."

According to Robert's parents he is very active in the Hanscom community, in church and with his Middlesex AAU basketball team. "The one thing we hear from his activity leaders is that Robert is a very respectful and mannerable young man," said his father.
"We are so happy to see him receive this award and tell him to keep up the good work, continue to set good examples for his younger brother Zach, and work hard at all you do," he said.

As for his future, Robert hopes to attend Texas University and receive a degree in Marketing. Until then his love for sports will keep him focused toward his goal.

"I would love to get an athletic scholarship," he said, "but I know how hard those are to get. But first, in order for me to attend a nice college my grades in high school must be above average. My dream of playing division one basketball will never get off the ground without good grades."

Should Robert go on to win at the AFMC level, he will attend a Leadership Camp at the University of North Carolina sometime in the near future.