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Story and photo by Dijon Rolle
U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern Public Affairs
The Landstuhl Youth Center is abuzz with activity, as bus loads of teens and pre-teens bound through the doors of the facility located on Landstuhl Post.
Staff members like Michelle Walker welcome the children with hugs and high-fives, while ensuring their time at the center is well-spent. The center offers arts and crafts, culinary classes, field trips, sports, academic workshops and other activities
designed to keep young hands and minds busy.
“We do everything from sports to cooking. I know a lot of people think that we just let the kids come here and hang out. But we really try to set up activities for them to help engage them and to help them meet new kids, so they’re always learning in a fun way,” Walker said.
As the center’s academic program manager, Walker helps students with their homework, applying for college and navigating an array of educational resources. She also teaches SAT prep classes at Kaiserslautern High School.
Last year, Walker applied for the Darden College Going Experience Grant, her first. The $1,000 grant is designed to support the center’s free college-prep programming. Last month, the staff received word that the center had won.
“We’re all really big on looking for grants for the center that will give back to the youth. I found the Darden Grant and it was perfect for the academic program because it dealt with helping the kids find out about classes and colleges, which can sometimes be difficult for military kids living overseas. They can’t always go and visit schools.” Walker said. “We’re here to help them get more information about the entire
application process, what it’s like to go to college and what they should expect.”
The Atlanta, Ga., native wants to use the grant to purchase new SAT software, text books, calculators and tools to help the students excel. She also hopes to host a college spirit day for upperclassmen to help them find out more about their favorite colleges.
Ricky Ruiz, the center’s youth programs director, said the award could not have come at a better time.
“The grant is important because during times of fiscal uncertainty … resources and funding are limited,” Ruiz said. “So, any type of additional resources or funding we can get really helps the program and the center. It’s really a great thing to be given the chance to apply for these grants through the boys and girls clubs of America.”
The Landstuhl Youth Center is located in Bldg. 3819 on Landstuhl Post and is open from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer.
For more information, call 486-8658 or 06371-86-8658.
