Wynona J.

Like many military youth, Wynona moved around a great deal growing up. The continuous change and readjustment made her shy and timid around peers. When she moved to Fort Meade and joined the BGCA-affiliated Youth Center, Wynona discovered an untapped potential for leadership.

As vice president of Youth Sponsorship, Wynona set out to help other youth manage the difficult transition to a new school and garrison. This helped strengthen her communication skills and how to make people feel comfortable. Though just 14 years old, she was selected to attend the Youth Leadership Forum held in North Carolina. With other teens from across the state, she identified, discussed and problem-solved challenges facing youth today.

Wynona hopes to study psychology and law at Johns Hopkins University when she graduates from high school.