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The Young Marines national youth organization announced the 2015 - 2016 National Young Marine of the Year YM SgtMaj Lucas Ward 17 of Farmington Illinois. Ward represented Division Five in competing with five other Division Young Marines of the Year for the title which was announced at the Adult Leaders Conference for Young Marines May 9 2015 in Las Ve- gas NV. Lucas has demonstrated all of the qualities we are looking for in that one Young Marine who will serve as our ambas- sador in his travels around the country and interact with Young Marines parents and adult volunteers said Michael Kessler national executive di- rector and CEO of the Young Marines.He is the personifica- tion of all that is good about this organization. Ward is a member of the Mid- west Central Young Marines of Peoria IL under the command of John Lewis. Lucas is an outstanding Young Marine said YM Sgt- Maj Blake DeWeese the 2014 National Young Marine of the Year. I first met Lucas in 2013 when we both attended Ad- vance Leadership School. He looks out for all under his care and genuinely feels for every- one. I have all the confidence in the world Lucas will do an amazing job representing the Young Marines program. Ward joined the Young Ma- rines at age 11 and currently hes in his sixth year in the program. He was the honor graduate from his recruit class and he was awarded the Per- sonal Achievement award for Division Five for his perfor- mance as a Young Marines staff member at the Division Five academy. He is the color sergeant for the units color guard. He credits the Young Ma- rines for encouraging him to be more outgoing and confi- dent. The program has changed my life in a fantastic way and it has the power to do that for many others as well Ward said. Besides his participation in the Young Marines Ward is a junior at Farmington Cen- tral High School where hes involved in track Marching Band as the drum major concert band pep band Key Club a community service organization Spanish Club Drama Club and yearly theat- rical productions. In addition he participates in the Science Olympiad Students With Ad- vocacy Training SWAT and Operation Teen Safe Driving OTSD. Ward also works two jobs as a page at the Farmington Area Public Library District and as a stocker at a local grocery store. After he completes high school Ward would like to at- tend a college with NROTC getting a degree in criminal justice. After school he plans to join the Marine Corps through ROTC and be a mili- tary police officer. Ward is the son of Lisa and David Ward. He has two sis- ters and one brother. YMSgtMaj Lucas Ward 2015 National Young Marine of the Year ESPRIT Page 5 YMSgtMaj Lucas Ward 2015 National Young Marine of the Year receives his award at this years ALC .