Stormie Batten. ()
A high school senior from Keflavik, Iceland, who juggles a long list of volunteer and school activities, is this year’s Youth of the Year for the European Command region.
Stormie Batten, 18, will travel to New York at the end of July to compete for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year, an award that offers a $10,000 scholarship.
Batten is a senior at A.T. Mahan High School at Naval Air Station Keflavik and is one of the busier students, serving as the editor of the school newspaper, co-editor of the Poetry Club and as a volunteer at the Teen Center. She also has participated in varsity soccer, volleyball and basketball while carrying a 3.5 grade-point average.
Her packed schedule leaves little free time.
“There are 24 useable hours every day and I use them to the fullest,” said Batten, who also finds time to teach an art class.
Batten — who is named “Stormie” for the storms that occurred when she was born in Adak, Alaska — won the Navy Region Europe’s award earlier this year before being selected the top youth in Europe. Jessica McBride, 18, a senior at Naval Station Rota, Spain was selected first runner-up for the Navy Region Europe award.
After graduation, Batten plans to attend Old Dominion University and pursue a medical degree.
“I was in shock,” she said when she heard the news.
The Youth of the Year program honors outstanding members who excel in academics and contribute to a member’s family, school, community and Boys & Girls Club. This is the program’s 57th year.
