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January 27, 2007

Meltons receive lifetime achievement award

Sommer Woodward

Derek and Stacey Melton were recently honored with an award from the National Guard Bureau.

The Meltons received a Lifetime Achievement Award for the work they do with the cadets at Thunderbird Youth Academy.

Lucy Belle Schultz is the only other person to receive such a distinction from Pryor.

Jane Bennett, Division Executive Assistant of the Youth Programs Division, said Derek has been involved with the program since day one and he has never received any compensation for his work.

Bennett said the Meltons have done things like take the cadets to church, help with Christmas presents for the BRAVO kids and have mentored individual cadets.

“There are so many things they’ve done,” Bennett said. “We just couldn’t name them all.”

Director Steve Tunnell said Stacey has mentored 26 different cadets over the years. Being a mentor involves making time for the cadet each week, taking the cadet to dinner, working on community service projects.

The most important part of being a mentor is following up for a year after graduation. Tunnell said the mentor meets with the cadet twice a month for 12 months after graduation and also calls the cadet at least twice a month.

The idea of following up is to help the cadet stay on track with their plans.

Derek is one of the founding members of the 501 (c)3 program, Thundebird Challenge Inc.

Tunnell said since Derek is a detective and pastor, he is able to mentor the cadets in many ways. Derek has helped many cadets make the decision to stay in the program.

“The big thing is they are here during the 22 weeks that the cadet is here,” said Tunnell, and that the Meltons follow the cadet for 12 months after graduation.

“That is really the most critical time,” said Bennett. “Staying on track once they leave here is the hard part.”

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