RIDGEFIELD – The Young Marines, a national youth organization, has announced Tristan Begines, 17, of Vancouver, as Division 5 Young Marine of the Year. He has been a member of the Lewis and Clark Young Marines, located in Ridgefield, for four years. A junior at Ridgefield High School, Begines will compete with five other division winners for the title of National Young Marine of the Year, the highest honor bestowed by the organization.
Begines will travel to other units throughout the division to lead, motivate and serve as a role model for other Young Marines in the program over the year. Division 5 consists of 20 units in six states.
“Tristan is a proven leader and an exemplary Young Marine,” said retired Marine Corps Col. William P. Davis, national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines. “He is an outstanding example and role model for his fellow Young Marines. His academic, unit and community accomplishments are outstanding. Like each of our six division winners, Tristan shows strong leadership qualities. His tireless dedication to the program, mentoring others and aligning his personal mission with that of the Young Marines to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle makes him an ideal candidate to earn the National Young Marine of the Year title.”
Outside of Young Marines, Begines’ interests include rock climbing, hiking, camping, chess, cooking and American Sign Language.