A Great Mills High School senior has spent this year representing military-connected teens across Maryland — and picking up recognition from the governor’s office along the way.
Oliviah Bell, a member of the Pax River Teen Center, was named the Maryland Military Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, honored for her leadership, service, academic excellence, healthy-living habits, and readiness for life and the workforce. As the state’s Military Youth of the Year, Bell serves as an ambassador for youth across Maryland, received a $2,500 college scholarship from presenting partner Raymond James, and represented the state at the regional Northeast Youth of the Year competition in New York City this summer. She met with Gov. Wes Moore to discuss her journey and received an official Governor’s Citation recognizing her leadership and community service.
Bell has been a Boys & Girls Clubs member for 10 years, the last four at the Pax River Teen Center, where she currently serves as Keystone Club President, leading a teen group focused on community service and youth advocacy. She’s also active at Great Mills High School, where she’s a 12th-grader involved in NJROTC — serving as Community Service Officer during the 2024-25 school year and Mistress of Ceremonies in 2025-26. After graduation, she plans to attend Towson University to study communications, aiming for a career as a communications and media specialist.
“We are incredibly proud of Oliviah and all the Youth of the Year nominees,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Being named Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor. As the Maryland Military Youth of the Year, Oliviah will serve as a spokesperson for kids and teens across the state who face the many unique challenges associated with military life.”
Bell’s regional bid didn’t advance to the national title this year — that honor went to Jonathan G. of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, at the 2026 National Military Youth of the Year celebration in Washington, D.C. The Military Youth of the Year track, which recognizes teens from Boys & Girls Club-affiliated centers on military installations worldwide, is a newer addition to the broader Youth of the Year program, having marked its 10th anniversary in 2023; the overall Youth of the Year program itself dates back to 1947 as Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s flagship youth recognition effort.
