July 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      

To:       News Directors, Assignment Editors

From:    Michelle Mazzei, Associate Director of Communications, The National Exchange Club, 800/924-2643, info@nationalexchangeclub.org, Web site: www.nationalexchangeclub.org

National A.C.E. of the Year Announced, Benton Harbor Resident Awarded

                Each year The National Exchange Club awards a $10,000 college scholarship to a high school senior who is Accepting the Challenge of Excellence (A.C.E.). Tyrone Clark, Benton Harbor, Michigan, has been named the 2004-2005 National A.C.E. of the Year. On July 14, 2004, Clark received his scholarship and was recognized at Exchange’s 87th National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

                Tyrone attended Benton Harbor High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society and the Key Club while also working part-time after school.

                From the beginning, Tyrone never had an easy life. He grew up in a home where his father was addicted to drugs and he was consistently abused by those who were supposed to care for him. He suffered through emotional, physical and sexual abuse until the day he made the choice to leave and become homeless.

                Tyrone has risen above his chaotic and violent life to accept the challenge of excellence. He made choices to make his life better rather than using his troubles as an excuse for failure and unhappiness. He has used his experiences to grow, learn and become a truly outstanding young man. Tyrone volunteers with youth by tutoring at an elementary school, teaching art projects at a children’s museum and helping out at the Boys and Girls Club. He also volunteers his time at the Salvation Army and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Tyrone is also the director of the male youth choir at his church.

The A.C.E. award program encourages students to overcome their hardships and get back on track toward a high school diploma. It recognizes those students who are often overlooked for their accomplishments. A.C.E. of the Year recipients are shining illustrations of the rewards of hard work and perseverance.

                The process for selecting the National A.C.E. of the Year begins at the club level. It is a monthly recognition of youth in Exchange Club communities. At the end of the year, monthly honorees are reviewed and a winner is selected to compete at the district level. The District A.C.E. of the Year then goes on to the final selection of the prestigious National A.C.E. of the Year.

                The National Exchange Club is a group of men and women working together to make our communities better places to live through programs of service in Americanism, Community Service, Youth Activities and its national project, the Prevention of Child Abuse. To date, the National Exchange Club’s efforts have helped more than 225,000 families and 300,000 children break the cycle of child abuse. The National Exchange Club’s goal is to become the premier service club in America by igniting the spirit of community service across the nation.                                                   

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