Leadership, confidence and community spirit were on full display as nine outstanding young leaders were honored during the annual Youth of the Year Awards Ceremony at Minot Air Force Base. Hosted at the Minot AFB Youth Center, the event celebrated five Junior Youth of the Year candidates and four Youth of the Year candidates who spent months preparing essays, speeches and personal portfolios that reflected not only their achievements, but their growth as leaders.

The ceremony is part of the national Youth of the Year initiative through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the organization affiliated with the Minot AFB Youth Center. Through its Keystone Program, a leadership development initiative for teens to learn essential skills in leadership, service, teamwork and community engagement while navigating the unique challenges of military life.

Pre-Teen and Teen Coordinator Jay Wyatt opened the ceremony by explaining the significance of the Military Youth of the Year distinction, introduced in 2013 to recognize exceptional teens served at Boys & Girls Club-affiliated youth centers on military installations.

Through partnerships with the Armed Services, the program provides safe spaces, consistent mentorship and opportunities for youth to develop resilience and leadership skills. Winners at the installation level advance to state competition, where they compete against other military bases and local clubs. From there, participants may advance to regional competitions in Chicago and even the national level, earning scholarships along the way.
“This program is one of the most impactful leadership development opportunities for youth,” Wyatt emphasized, noting that participants complete four essays, a speech, a résumé and a cover letter. Junior candidates complete an essay and speech as preparation for the senior competition.

This year’s nine candidates included Gabi Hamill, Amelia Martin, Alex Langan, Addison Cunniff, Fatimazahra Elbouab, Youness Elbouab, Milli Gomez and Bryleigh McBride.

Youth Program Director Sara Acord praised each nominee’s dedication. “Every single one of the candidates has already achieved something extraordinary, and regardless of who wins they all walk away as champions in my heart,” she said.

The Junior Youth of the Year category highlighted five young leaders beginning their journey.

Amelia Martin was named Minot’s Junior Youth of the Year winner. After four years at the youth center, she described the program as a place where she can express herself and explore new interests. Preparing alongside her peers strengthened her confidence and public speaking skills. She shared that winning made her feel proud and relieved, not just for herself but for her friends who worked hard beside her. Amelia said she hopes to continue helping others by being a positive example and encouraging fellow youth to believe in themselves.
Runner-up Addison Cunniff described the youth center as her “third home,” a safe and welcoming environment where she feels free to express herself and grow.

In the Youth of the Year category, candidates reflected on how the Keystone Program challenged them to move beyond comfort zones and discover their leadership voice. Bryleigh McBride, named Traditional Youth of the Year, shared that while she had always taken school seriously and maintained strong grades, she once struggled to find direction as a leader. Keystone pushed her to use her voice, take initiative and lead with purpose, helping her become the leader she knew she could be.

Runner-up for Military Youth of the Year, Youness Elbouab, echoed that sentiment. Before joining Keystone, he worked hard academically but had not fully stepped into leadership roles. The program stretched him, teaching him to lead intentionally and with confidence.

Fatimazahra Elbouab was named Minot’s Military Youth of the Year. In her essays, she wrote about her belief in opportunity and her desire to support underserved youth. She credited her parents and Mr. Wyatt for their guidance throughout the process.

Being named Military Youth of the Year, she said, brings her closer to her goals and gives her a platform to make meaningful change, from supporting youth to protecting the environment. She looks forward to preparing for the state competition by refining her speech and essays and is excited to meet fellow young leaders along the way.

She hopes her journey inspires other military-connected youth to pursue leadership roles and use their voices to create opportunities for others.

While awards were presented and titles earned, the evening underscored a deeper message: leadership is learned through challenge, teamwork and perseverance. Throughout months of preparation, the candidates supported one another, practiced together and learned how to work as a team to achieve shared goals. They were challenged not only academically, but personally, discovering strengths they didn’t know they had.

For parents in the audience, the ceremony was a powerful reminder of the impact of mentorship and opportunity. For the youth watching, it was proof that their voices matter. As the applause faded and photos were taken, one thing was clear: at Minot AFB, the next generation of leaders is already rising, confident, compassionate and ready to serve their community.

More photos from the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mafbpa/albums/72177720332169730