Outstanding teen goes to nationals

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarrod Grammel
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --   A teenager from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) 2013 to 2014 Southeast Military Youth of the Year in Atlanta, June 21.

Stephanie Ramer, a recent high school graduate, will compete at the national level in Washington, D.C., this September after being chosen from seven candidates of the Southeast region.

"It feels really awesome," she said. "I'm really honored for the chance to go, because I really do feel like I'm representing all of these great military kids. There are so many of them who take it upon themselves to achieve in academics and to start their own volunteer programs and to get involved with their centers."

When she initially won for Moody, Stephanie Ramer said she hoped to go as far as she did. But she never imagined she would be so well received by judges and other attendees.

"After the ceremony, a lot of people came up to me and said 'you really inspired me to do more and to help teens because you're kind of setting this example against the stereotype that all teens are lazy and want to be on the internet all day,'" said Stephanie Ramer. "It's great to be able to change that and show that we are doing something."

Sandra Sadler, 23d Force Support Squadron youth programmer, has helped Stephanie Ramer through the process of the Youth of the Year program and works with her at the Moody Youth Center.

"I think she's been successful because of her motivation and her family behind her," she said. "I also think it's because she's doing something she's passionate about with Notes of Hope."

Notes of Hope is a program Stephanie Ramer started in high school that makes and sends holiday cards to cancer patients.

In previous years, military children competed alongside non-military children. However, this year they have their own category.

"They normally compete against traditional clubs whose lifestyles are a little bit different than military teens," said Sadler. "I don't think everybody recognizes what our teens have to go through when their parents are in the military."

Ramer agreed that being a military child can bring many challenges but encouraged other teens not to let that stop them from getting involved.

"I think it takes a lot of determination because it's very hard moving all the time," said Stephanie Ramer. "That's something all military kids have to go through. And it's hard to get involved at every single base when you'll just be moving again.

"But I think that really made me strong, and made me get out and if something's not working for me, go out and change it," she added."

Stephanie Ramer's mother, Anne Ramer, was happy to see her daughter win but said the competition had a lot of great children.

"I'm really excited for her," she said. "All these kids were doing incredible things back in their state, and it was great to see them come together like friends. ... I listened to each of their speeches, and I would've liked to be able to give the award to each one of them.

"I wanted my daughter to win, but after hearing their stories, I thought each one of them was an excellent candidate," she added.

Stephanie Ramer said she is looking forward to the nationals competition in Washington, D.C., where she will have the opportunity to meet with President Barack H. Obama in the White House Oval Office and participate in a 9/11 ceremony.