Teen awarded Massachusetts Military Youth of the Year

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Green-Lanchoney
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A Hanscom Air Force Base teen has won the title of Massachusetts Military Youth of the Year and a $1,000 college scholarship through the Boys & Girls Club of America, which is affiliated with the Youth Center here.

As the new Massachusetts Military Youth of the Year, 17-year-old Jordan Bowen, daughter of Christopher, an Air Force veteran, and Tina, Hanscom School Age Program director, has been recognized by the Boys & Girls Club for her sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.

Jordan will now compete for the title of Northeast Region Youth of the Year and an additional $10,000 scholarship. Regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C., in September 2014, to compete for the title of BGCA's National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of up to $50,000 and will have the opportunity to meet with the president of the United States in the White House.

"We are all so proud of Jordan and what she has achieved through the Boys and Girls Club," said Ann-Marie Ely, the Hanscom Youth Center Sports and Fitness director. "She continues to be an excellent role model for our military youth."

According to the website, being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a BCGA member can receive. As BGCA's premier youth recognition program, Youth of the Year recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as overcoming personal challenges and obstacles. Youth of the Year encourages Club members to reach their full potential by achieving academic success, leading healthy lifestyles and contributing to their communities.

"(The youth center staff) helped encourage me a lot while I was going through the process. I don't usually like talking about myself," Jordan said. "I do it because I want to, not because I will get a reward."

Jordan was not only helped by youth center staff, but by members of the base community who came together to coach and encourage Jordan through mock interviews. Hanscom Force Support Squadron flight chiefs interviewed Jordan to prepare her for the competition.

"We created questions, evaluated her responses and provided feedback on ways to improve on or emphasize her strengths. We were each provided Jordan's application, just as the real judges are, to assist us with the process," said Robyn Endo, Airman & Family Readiness Center chief. "We all found Jordan to be an articulate young woman, whose experience as the daughter of a military family has shaped her appreciation of military service and selflessness evident by her many school and volunteer endeavors. Jordan is a committed, positive and engaging youth truly deserving of this recognition."

Jordan has been involved in many extracurricular activities including yearbook, the school step team and is a member of the principal's advisory group. She also takes time to tutor other students after school at the Youth Center.

"Before Jordan was of age to participate in the Boys and Girls Club she always had a giving participation to the community; whether it meant she was putting her allowance into the jars at check-out counters, donating her clothes to charity, participating in food donations for food pantry or donating her reading books to underprivileged schools," her father, Christopher, said. "She tries very hard to lead by example by providing her surrounding community with a better outlook on what teens can and will accomplish if given the right material and support."

Jordan is completing her junior year at Bedford High School where she carried a rigorous academic load including Latin I and Spanish III. She plans to fine tune her course load during her senior year to include classes that will prepare her for her future in physical therapy. Jordan aspires to attend Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania because of its excellent physical therapy program as well as its close proximity to the training camp of her favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.