Youth receives award for community service Published Oct. 20, 2006 Cannon Youth Center CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Victoria Adams, 15, is this year's Youth of the Year award for the Cannon Youth Center. Victoria has developed a reputation for excellence and having a servant's heart. Whether she is holding office as a member of Clovis High School's student council or being listed on the National Honor Roll, her accomplishments don't end there. She led her peers by example through several community service projects such as the Matt 25 Hope Center remodeling, the local Trek for Trash, Curry County Teen Court and volunteering at Cannon's Family Child Care Center. She has also served the youth center with the same drive and determination. Victoria sacrificed her time as Keystone Club President and volunteered numerous hours to Parents' Night Out, the Easter Eggstravaganza, the Kite Carnival, the Tween Lock-in and various fundraisers. She continued to strive to succeed by attending Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) Leadership forums, Teaching Responsible Adolescents in Leadership (TRAIL) activities and a 4-H Adventure camp. "Victoria's leadership and sense of community service is unseen in this day and age. Under her leadership Cannon Youth Programs has achieved much for the community," said Daniel McBride, Cannon youth programs director. The Youth of the Year program, which is administered by BGCA and has been nationally sponsored by the Reader's Digest Foundation since 1947, recognizes outstanding contributions to a member's family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club, as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. "The Reader's Digest Foundation has been the proud sponsor of the Youth of the Year program for 59 years," said Susan Fraysse Russ, Reader's Digest Foundation executive director. "We are thrilled that we can honor amazing teens like Victoria Adams for their dedication and hard work." Victoria competed against others for the Youth of the Year title for New Mexico and the Air Force. She was named runner-up for Air Combat Command. Several programs are offered to children at the youth center. The school age program, for children age five to 12, provides the opportunity to develop life skills, self-confidence, self-respect, self-reliance, respect and personal understanding. The open recreation program, for children nine to 18 provides age appropriate activities to make a positive difference in a young person's life. These programs use leadership, education, career, health, arts and fitness as building blocks to help youth become healthy and well developed adults.