Keystone members achieve "Gold" status, invited to national conference

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  For the past few months, six members of a teenager-run Moody club have been helping feed the homeless on weekends and logging their volunteer hours online.

The efforts of the Liberty Moody Keystone Club at the Youth Center have led them to be awarded the "Gold" status, which is the highest level a Keystone club can achieve. The members will also attend an invitation-only national conference scheduled for March 3 to 5.

"We're only the second base to reach Gold status and it's a first in Moody history," said Sandra Sadler, Keystone advisor. "I'm so proud of these teenagers for everything they've accomplished. They've spent a lot of their own time giving back to the community and thinking of others."

There are more than 600 Keystone Clubs around the world, but only 20 have achieved Gold status.

"It takes a total team effort and a high level of commitment to achieve this status," said Jean Michel, Air Combat Command Airman and family services branch chief. "The staff at the Moody Youth Center has developed a quality program that supports our youth's academic success, career preparation and community service."

Most teens involved with the program maintain an A and B grade average with the help of a tutor from a local college who comes to the club weekly. They also complete additional community service projects such as reading to school-age children. However, they said they feel they get the most from volunteering at a downtown facility dedicated to feeding the homeless.

"All the people we met were so thankful for the help and we were even inspired by some of them," said 16-year-old Chasity Cagle, Keystone president and daughter of Arthur Cagle, 23rd Operations Support Squadron. "There were two people there who were homeless and lived in a tent by a river, but were going to school full-time. They did this because they chose to pay for their education rather than bills."

Chasity, who was named as the Moody "Youth of the Year" and is now up for the Boys and Girls Club of America Youth of the Year, also attended the national conference last year and was excited to meet lots of different people.

"It was fun to meet people from all over the U.S. and see what they were doing in their Keystone Clubs," she said. "We also got to meet a couple of celebrities. I can't wait to meet this year's celebrities, who are being kept a secret, but I hope it is Justin Bieber."

At the conference, the Keystone members will participate in workshops that cover gang awareness, teen pregnancy, education and other events just for fun.

The Keystone Club, which caters to young adults ages 14 to 18, was founded in 1964 and aims to develop character, leadership, community service, education and career exploration.