Dedicated teen wins Youth of the Year award

  • Published
  • By Nikki Bennett
  • Youth Center programs director
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The core value of service before self proves true even for Moody youth as young as age 14. 

Alfrederik Ward, son of Jackie Hargrave, Airman and Family Readiness Center child and youth program assistant, recently earned Moody's Boys and Girls Club of America Youth of the Year award. 

He will also be representing Moody against other youth in Air Combat Command and the Air Force, as well as in the BGCA state, regional and national levels. 

The Youth of the Year award is the highest honor that can be achieved by youth ages 14 through 18. This recognition program promotes service to the club, community, and family, academic performance, moral character and life goals. 

"Alfrederik displays energy and enthusiasm to the community by providing volunteer service to families living in a military community encountering typical stressors associated with military life," said Amy Thompson, Youth Center programmer. "Alfrederik is making a difference by setting a superb example for his peers while serving his community. He exhibits a strong capacity to make a great contribution to any team." 

He is currently the president of the local KEYSTONE club, which means Keeping Every Youth Strongly Tuned in on National Excellence. 

Under his leadership, the club submitted for a national project focusing on the service of AIDS and HIV awareness. His group designed an informational presentation, brochure and campaign titled, "Educate 2 Eliminate." 

In addition, Alfrederik and two of his peers travelled to Atlanta April 2-5 to represent Moody for the first time in several years at the National KEYSTONE Conference. 

Alfredrik has logged over 107 volunteer hours since August 2008. He volunteers at monthly Kid's Night Out and Family Skate Night events. 

He has participated in recent American Heart Association's Heart Walk and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life events. Alfrederik enjoys skateboarding and hanging out with his big brother, Kire, in his spare time. Alfrederik aspires to be an action movie film director and producer. 

The teenager was recognized for his achievement during the Moody Youth Programs' annual Youth of the Year Block Party. He received a new laptop and computer software that was provided by the Valdosta Sunrise Rotary Club, who sponsored the program for the second year in a row. 

"As of right now, I am preparing for college by taking classes like graphic arts and computer applications," said Alfrederik. "One day, you're probably going to see me at the Oscars getting an award for director of the year. Then, it would just take off from there. There would be no limit for how far I could go."