Crowell named Vance Youth of the Year

  • Published
  • By Kate Begiebing
  • 71st Services
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Taking a glimpse at Vance Air Force Base's recently named Youth of the Year, Matthew Crowell's past, it's easy to believe he will fulfill his hopes for his future.
The Vance Youth of the Year is selected each year by the Air Force Services Youth of the Year Program committee, in conjunction with the Boy's & Girl's Clubs of America Youth of the Year Program. Crowell submitted an application for the Youth of the Year but said he was "shocked and honored" to find out he had been chosen.
He is the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Miles Crowell. Colonel Crowell is 71st Flying Training Wing director of staff.
Matthew is 16 years old and a sophomore at Oklahoma Bible Academy. He maintains a 3.3 grade point average and is a member of the football and bowling teams, as well as being involved in drama and speech club. He volunteers time with the National Roller Hockey League as a certified referee and Students Performing Unselfish Deeds, which he helped found. He also participates in the Adopt-A-Teacher program and is a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. He was captain and most valuable player of his hockey team, plays the french horn in his high school band,and tutors fellow students in different science subjects. He has also been on the principal's list several times for academic achievements.
At Vance, Matthew is actively involved in the teen center and was the first youth on Vance to reach the U.S. Air Force Fit Factor agility level at Vance. Fit Factor is an Air Force fitness initiative for youth ages 9 through 18.
Kate Holdeman, Vance youth program coordinator, said Matthew is well deserving of the title Youth of the Year.
"I find Matt to be a leader in the truest sense of the word. He has a can-do attitude and is always willing to step forward and place himself in a position of accountability and responsibility. He's not afraid to do what he believes is right even in the face of peer pressure," Mrs. Holdeman said.
He has been selected as one of the eight finalists for the state of Oklahoma. He will travel to the state capitol Tuesday to compete against other Air Force and Boy's & Girl's Club members for state Youth of the Year. If he wins at the state level, he will then compete for the title of Southwest Region Youth of the Year.
As for what's in store for Matthew's future, he said he hopes to "be successful in everything I do."