Teen named Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year for GFAFB

  • Published
  • By Tim Flack
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  "Obstacle" isn't a word that worries 17-year-old Xander Burch - who was recently selected as the base's Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year.

He's adjusted to various cultures while living on military bases around the world; battled for his orange belt in Tae Kwon Do; and volunteered to help clean up after typhoons and earthquakes.

He's also dealt with a hearing disability, which he sums up as a "minor obstacle" in his life.

Now he's preparing to compete against the other Youth of the Year nominees in Fargo for the North Dakota title. He'll also head to Washington, D.C., later this year to represent the base in a conference for youth from Air Force installations around the world.

He said he's not too worried about the upcoming competition in Fargo, and that he's going to "give it my best and focus on just being me."

He's also really happy he'll get to the chance at "spreading the message about military families" to a broader civilian audience.

While many of the teens he goes to school with in Thompson have lived in North Dakota for most of their lives, Xander's lived in Iceland, Italy, on Guam and in Maryland.

"It gives me a broader perspective on other cultures, people and religions," he said.

Jacob Lindquist, a staff member at the base youth center, called Xander "an amazing young man ... with a great thirst for knowledge."

One of the most difficult aspects on the Youth of the Year competition was the package the teens had to submit. They were rated on everything from their moral character and school performance to their life goals and the obstacles they've overcome.

Xander's mother, Joanne Burch, said she reached out to people who've known her son, including former teachers and friends of the family, to submit letters on his behalf for his submission.

"The response was just phenomenal," she said. "We had more than what we needed."

His father, David, is a retired U.S. Navy chief. He said one of the things he most appreciated about the Boys and Girls Club program on military bases was that it provided something familiar for his son as they - like most military families - moved around the world.

Xander hopes his base title will help him be a mentor and role to other members of the club.

"I want to be kind, but firm ... be supportive," he said.