MacDill names Military Youth of the Year 2016

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Quilla
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Each year, a member of the youth center between the ages of 14 and 18 is selected as the Military Youth of the Year at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. That youth embodies the values of leadership, service, academic excellence, and a heathy lifestyle.

On Feb. 16, 2016, after an application process and meeting a board of judges, Vivika Sheppard, a 10th grade student at Robinson High School (RHS), was announced MacDill's Military Youth of the Year for 2016.

"It has been a great pleasure working with both of you," said Loretta Gaines, assistant youth director with the 6th Force Support Squadron, to Sheppard and runner-up Kimdria Mitchell, 12th grade student at RHS. "You both are prime examples of what leadership is, and examples of what we love to have representing the youth center!"

The Military Youth of the Year recognizes a teen on a military installation who has overcome enormous odds and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments.

Since the age of nine, Sheppard has been an active member of the youth center at each Air Force base her family was stationed, while still maintaining excellent grades in school and physical fitness through activities such as biking and running. 

"I had been looking at Youth of the Year since I was little," explained Sheppard. "I knew I wanted to see my photo on the wall, and have the opportunity to travel and meet new people."

Sheppard says her favorite memory of the youth center is when she volunteered with the little league basketball at MacDill during the 2015 summer season.

"That was the best experience because they were five and six year olds learning how to play basketball for the first time," she said. "It was great teaching them how to dribble and shoot the ball, and it was cute seeing them high-five each other."

In 2016, Sheppard went on as a new member of Keystone, which is a Boys and Girls Club of America program that focuses on academic success, career preparation and community service for teens.

For her first event, she participated in a fundraiser that donated gift cards to a children's home.

"You just don't realize how much of an effect your actions have until the director is saying 'Thank you so much,'" she said. "$5 gift cards aren't a big deal to many people, but it is a big deal to them."

Overall, Sheppard says her biggest take away as a member of the youth center is the camaraderie that comes with friendships.

"There is a very limited amount of kids who have their parents in the military," she said. "It is nice to be able to talk to the kids here because they have the same lifestyle."

As MacDill's Military Youth of the Year, Sheppard will now move onto the state level to compete with members from different bases located in Florida before hopefully moving to the regional level.