Dover teen named ‘Youth of the Year’

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A local teenager and daughter of a Dover Airman was recently named Team Dover's Youth of the Year, recognition she earned through her dedication and volunteer contributions to Dover Air Force Base's Youth Center.

Ashley Brizendine, daughter of Master Sgt. Michael Grove, Jr., 436th Operations Support Squadron plans and programs NCO in-charge, was recently named Team Dover's Youth of the Year.

"We are very proud of Ashley because of her drive to succeed in all of her endeavors, and the time and effort that she has given to the community," said Roxanne Lee, the Youth Center's assistant director. "Ashley is a mentor for our younger kids, a tutor, and the president of two of our clubs. She has helped to organize several community-service projects."

Though any child belonging to the Youth Center can be selected for the award, based on a package submission, Ashley's package stood out because of all of the community service that she has done for the club, said Ms. Lee.

Ashley has lived at Dover for four years and loves animals. She has a dog named Coda. Aside from animals, Ashley's favorite past time is volunteering at the Youth Center.

"She really enjoys going to the Youth Center," said Sergeant Grove. "I think it gives her a place to hang out and socialize with other [military children] her own age."

Though Ashley said it is fun networking with her peers, she consistently seeks a deeper delight tutoring the younger members at the Youth Center.

"The most excited I saw her was when she came home after tutoring one of the younger children with math and she had seen the time she had given really helped that child learn how to complete these math equations," said Sergeant Grove. "It was like Ashley was helping a younger sibling she doesn't have."

Ashley said she was very proud when she won the award. She believes the Youth Center is a valuable place for newly-arrived children to come and immediately meet friends.

Ashley's mother, Kristy Grove, was equally excited about her daughter winning the annual award. She realized that all her accomplishments meant something to someone other than herself or her parents, she said.

"We are very proud of our daughter," said Mrs. Grove. "We're proud of all that she did to win this award; she did because she wanted to, not because she had to."

Her father echoed this sentiment.

"Like many other military children, she has had to move, changing friends and schools time and again," said Sergeant Grove. "But through all of that she has maintained outstanding grades in school and is overall growing up to be a very responsible and caring young lady."