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Mario Koch named the 2021 - 2022 National Young Marine of the Year
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
 

YM/SgtMaj Mario KochThe Young Marines, a national youth organization, announced the National Young Marine of the Year - YM/SgtMaj Mario Koch, 17, of North Olmsted, Ohio. He is a member of the Greater Cleveland Young Marines from Fairview Park, Ohio. Koch is a junior at North Olmsted High School.

Koch is the top Young Marine in the United States. Over the course of the year, he will travel to other units throughout the country to lead, motivate, and serve as a role model for other Young Marines.

As National Young Marine of the Year, Koch will escort WWII veterans to the annual Reunion of Honor trip to Guam and Iwo Jima in the fall of 2021.

“I am so honored to earn the title of National Young Marine of the Year,” Koch said. “I am very grateful to the Young Marines for teaching me how to be a leader. The program has helped me improve my work ethic, and it has helped me be a positive example for other Young Marines. I am excited to motivate and inspire all the youth in our program.”

Koch joined the Young Marines at age nine and is in his eighth year in the program. He joined because he wanted to make friends and learn to be a leader.

“When I was eight years old, I saw some Young Marines in uniform, and I thought they were amazing,” he said. “I wanted to be in that uniform. I wanted to be a Young Marine.”

As a Young Marine, he has earned the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) device, been named Top Ten at the Advanced Leadership School, received ribbons for attendance for six consecutive years, and earned 43 ribbons for additional accomplishments.

Outside of the Young Marines, he plays varsity basketball and football for his high school. After graduating, he plans on attending college to study sports medicine to become a sports medicine physician.

Mario was announced as the National Young Marine of the Year at the Young Marines Adult Leadership Conference which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 6-9, 2021.

“Mario Koch will have an outstanding year as National Young Marine of the Year,” said Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “Mr. Koch’s message on mentoring and developing our junior Young Marines is exactly what we need as we work continue our path back to normal after the pandemic. His focus on bettering the experience for Young Marines entering the program now is perfect as we are a dynamic organization, always looking to improve. I know he will be an inspiration to all involved as he goes out to meet with our Young Marines, volunteers and others across the country."

Mario is the son of Juanita Koch-Kovach, who was an adult volunteer with the Young Marines for six years, and his stepfather John Kovach, who served 21 years in the Army.

How it works

The Young Marines organization is divided into six divisions across the United States. Each Division Young Marine of the Year must meet vigorous requirements such as graduating from Advanced Leadership School at the Young Marines’ National Leadership Academy, maintaining high academic achievement in school, and maintaining high standards of physical fitness.

Koch represented his division in competition with five other division winners for the title of National Young Marine of the Year.

About the Young Marines

The Young Marines is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) youth education and service program for boys and girls, age eight through the completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on teaching the values of leadership, teamwork, and self-discipline, so its members can live and promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings in 1959 with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 235 units with 7,500 youth and 2,500 adult volunteers in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Japan, and affiliates in a host of other countries.

For more information, visit the official website at: https://www.YoungMarines.com.

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Media Contact: Abra Hogarth
abra.hogarth@youngmarines.com or 800-717-0060 X209

Andy Richardson
Ginny Richardson Public Relations
arichardson@gr-pr.com or 630-789-8899

 


Strengthening the lives of America's youth
A national youth program for boys and girls, ages eight through high school, focused on leadership, citizenship through community service, self-discipline, and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Headquarters Young Marines
17739 Main Street, Suite 250
Dumfries, VA 22026

Combined Federal Campaign # 11954

800-717-0060 Phone
202-315-3594 Fax