12-year-old receives award from Major League Baseball

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Andrew Garrison, 12, a member of the Malmstrom Youth Programs Center and catcher for the ACR Automax "As" Little League team here, has won a 2008 Major League Baseball S.T.A.R. Award. This award is presented to Boys and Girls Club members throughout the country who have demonstrated an all-around positive attitude in after-school sports, fitness and recreation programs. He was presented with a certificate and is now eligible to advance to state competition. 

The S.T.A.R. award recognizes youth between the ages of 10 and 18 who best embody the characteristics of Sportsmanship, Team spirit, Achievement and Responsibility. Candidates were asked to write a short synopsis of what they have done in each of these four areas, and their responses were part of the judging process. 

"I try to lead by example and try harder when things aren't going well," Andrew wrote. "Like this past basketball season when our team didn't win a single game. I became a cheerleader for my teammates and I never quit playing hard." 

Andrew also won the Youth Programs Award for Outstanding Teamwork and Sportsmanship for 2008 and he credits his actions during basketball season for helping him achieve that. 

Other achievements Andrew is proudest of include becoming a member of the school leadership team at Loy Elementary School. 

"I wanted to help my school be better for everyone," Andrew said. "Making the team took more than just my honor-roll grades. It took always having a positive attitude, being nice to others and having good character." 

He said he uses his position on the leadership team to try and make a difference.
"We held several aluminum can drives to raise money to buy Christmas presents for local foster kids," he said. "It was really cool when the teachers took us shopping and let us pick out the toys ourselves." 

Besides being a part of the leadership team at Loy, he is also active in the Peer Mediator Program, which helps classmates solve their differences when they have a conflict during school. 

"I think my positive attitude helps others see that they don't have to always fight and argue when conflicts come up," Andrew said. 

This is his second year of involvement with the program and he said he has been asked to help train the younger members coming into the program.

"As parents, we are very proud of how Andrew always looks to help others," said Capt. John Garrison, 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron. "If there's only two types of people in the world - the givers and the takers - Andrew is a true giver." 

The Major League Baseball's S.T.A.R. Award program operates on local, state, regional and national levels. It is the latest addition to the decade-long relationship between the two organizations. Over the past 10 years, MLB has recognized the Boys and Girls Clubs of America as the league's official charity. 

"Our relationship with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America has enabled us to reach out to a largely under-served group of young people," said MLB Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig. "The opportunity to give these young men and women recognition for the good work is an appropriate way to help them establish a strong foundation for a successful future." 

Andrew has been a member of the Youth Programs Center, a certified Boys and Girls Club of America, for more than three years. He now qualifies to compete for the state S.T.A.R. honor. The 50 state winners and one military winner will be honored by Major League Baseball and vie for six regional spots, earning them the opportunity to attend the MLB All-Star game in July. One national winner will be invited to the 2008 World Series game in October, where they will be introduced to Commissioner Selig and be recognized for their achievement. 

"Andrew has demonstrated many positive attributes while he's been a member of the Youth Center," said Cindy Berg, director of Youth Programs here. "It was a great honor and privilege to nominate him for this award."