Base youth center programs best in AF

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danny Monahan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The David C. Jones Youth Center here recently won an Air Force award for its youth programs.

The youth center was awarded the 2006 Air Force Services Youth Program of the Year.

"This is truly an honor," said Ronda Knutson, youth center program director. "The staff deserves this award."

Before competing at the Air Force level, the youth center won the 2006 Air Combat Command Youth Program of the Year.

The base youth center was one of three high-achieving bases involved in the Youth Employment Skills program. Teens volunteering on base earn $4 an hour, which is deposited into academic scholarships available to them upon completion of high school. In addition, the teen center receives $2 for every hour a teen volunteers. In all, the teen center was awarded $8,800 for 2006 due to the efforts of its teen volunteers.

The youth center also had some of the highest achievers in FitFactor, an Air Force youth fitness program. Because of this, the Air Force granted the youth center $7,500.

However, none of their success would be possible without the staff, said Mrs. Knutson.

"The staff are dedicated, sincere and perfect examples of the core value: service before self," she said. "There are nights I have staff members working here until two in the morning for kids' events on the weekend."

Earlier this year, Kimberly Sheridan, youth center teen coordinator, stood in line for three hours at a local retail store to buy a new video game system for the youth center.

"If we're needed, we're needed," she said. "We're never bound by the normal nine-to-five hours."

In addition, many youth center projects rely on volunteers.

"The volunteers we have for our sports programs, 4-H, Above and Beyond Tutoring program and special events are great," said Rachel Miller, youth center pre-teen coordinator. "We could not have been successful without their help."

Based on customer feedback, youth center members agree with the award.

"Our program is evaluated and ranked by our customers, and, from the results of their feedback, they seem satisfied," said Mrs. Knutson, referring to the youth center earning the highest overall customer feedback score in the Air Force. 

"We're extremely pleased and proud to have won this prestigious award," said Lt. Col. Lisa McColgan, 5th Services Squadron commander. "Not only do we have an outstanding facility, we've got an outstanding team dedicated to making our programs a success. The Minot AFB Youth Team is ensuring today's youth have every opportunity available for future success."

The award will be presented in April at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.