Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2025 National Military Youth of the Year event at The Ritz-Carlton in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Kevin Wolf/AP Content Services for Boys & Girls Clubs of America)

WASHINGTON — A teenager from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., who is passionate about advocating for mental health in the military, was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Military Youth of the Year award.

Jacob, 16, was chosen among five teenagers who traveled from military installations overseas and across the country to The Ritz-Carlton in Washington for the title of BGCA’s National Military Youth of the Year on Thursday. He will advance to compete for the BGCA’s National Youth of the Year on Sept. 18, representing military kids worldwide.

“This just really shows how much [the] Boys & Girls Club matter, and how much military kids matter,” Jacob said.

Jacob from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., won the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2025 National Military Youth of the Year at The Ritz-Carlton in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Kevin Wolf/AP Content Services for Boys & Girls Clubs of America)

The BGCA keeps the last names of the finalists confidential for safety purposes, according to a club spokesperson.

Growing up with a father who is a service member with schizophrenia, Jacob has witnessed firsthand how mental health issues are often overlooked in the military community.

“People didn’t want to talk about it, frankly because they didn’t have the knowledge about it,” Jacob said. “Mental health is so important, especially in the military community because they can get impacted the most.”

He hopes to help break the stigma around discussions surrounding mental health in the military, and among teenagers.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing my ideas and sharing my platform to so many other people at the national conference,” he said.

As the winner, Jacob received a $20,000 scholarship from BGCA and a Toyota Corolla. He anticipates attending New York University after high school and plans to use the prize money to fund his dream of becoming an actor.

BGCA’s 12th annual Military Youth of the Year recognizes young military dependents, ages 14 to 18, from about 450 BGCA-affiliated youth centers on U.S. military installations worldwide for their commitment to leadership, community service, academic success and good character.

“We feel it [BGCA’s Military Youth of the Year program] is our very micro-contribution to what these families ultimately are potentially sacrificing on all of our behalf so that we can live in a free nation … the greatest nation in the world,” said Jim Clark, CEO of the BGCA.

The other four finalists were: Avonlea, 18, from the U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza, Italy; Jaylyn, 17, from Naval Base Guam; Summer, 18, from Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Avalea, 16, from U.S. Army Garrison Fort Campbell, Ky.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2025 National Military Youth of the Year event at The Ritz-Carlton in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Kevin Wolf/AP Content Services for Boys & Girls Clubs of America)

Jacob and the other finalists told their personal stories of hardship and resilience as a military kid, and how the BGCA supported them in their journey to the club’s supporters, staff and military leadership at the event.

When Jacob entered the competition, he did not think he had a strong military story to share. He now wants military kids to know that “whatever their story is, it’s valuable.”

“There is no traditional military kid experience,” Jacob said. “Everyone’s different, but uniquely the same because we’re all military-connected. I really want to represent all those stories.”