AUSTIN, Texas –
Eighteen-year-old Ryann Jackson has grown up right before the eyes of the staff at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Youth Programs, her home away from home during much of her formative years.
So it was only natural that a longtime staff member – Andrea Black, JBSA-Randolph Youth Programs program director – beamed with parental pride when Ryann was announced as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s Texas Military Youth of the Year and winner of a $5,000 scholarship March 19 at a banquet in Austin.
“I was so excited when Ryann’s name was called,” Black said. “I’ve known her since she was 9. I’ve seen her grow from a young girl into a young woman – a leader with vision and goals.”
For Ryann, a Randolph High School senior who competed against students from Air Force and Army installations in Texas, the announcement was unexpected.
“I was shocked, but extremely honored to receive such a title,” she said. “I was also ecstatic that all of my hard work had paid off.”
Ryann, the daughter of retired Air Force Col. Robert Jackson and retired Air Force Master Sgt. LeReina Jackson, was one of two students chosen for the top honor in the state by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. In addition to Texas Military Youth of the Year, the organization selected the Texas Youth of the Year from candidates representing clubs across the state that were not associated with military installations.
Ryann moves on to compete for the title of Southwest Region Military Youth of the Year June 5 in Dallas; the National Military Youth of the Year will be announced at an event Aug. 16 in Washington, D.C.
Ryann and other candidates for Texas Military Youth of the Year were judged in four categories: candidate essays, which included essays about their club experience, vision for America’s youth, personal brand and military youth experience; a 15-minute personal interview with judges; a speech based on the content of their essays; and overall application quality, which included three letters of recommendation from individuals who can personally attest to the candidates’ achievement and potential.
The candidates also filled out a qualifications form, providing three reasons why they should be chosen National Youth of the Year and three examples of their academic excellence, service, commitment to healthy lifestyles and what they hope to accomplish as National Youth of the Year.
Examples of Ryann’s community service include setting up a tutoring program at her school with the Spanish Honor Society to help struggling Spanish 1 and 2 students and serving as a volunteer at the Haven for Hope shelter with the Keystone Club, a Boys and Girls Clubs of America that promotes leadership. She also serves as Keystone Club president at JBSA-Randolph Youth Programs.
Ryann’s other activities include athletic training, the National Honor Society and Randolph High School’s cadet dance team, student council and Junior ROTC detachment, which she serves as flight sergeant.
Ryann has been accepted to two universities and hopes to attend the Air Force Academy. She plans to major in political science with a minor in law and her end goal is to be an attorney in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
Ryann said that earning the title of Texas Military Youth of the Year means she can be a positive role model for other youth, both at Youth Programs and around JBSA.
“I hope I can be an inspiration to others to give back to their communities,” she said.