Naval Air Station Meridian leaders and members of the Mississippi Council of the Navy League gathered at Weidmann’s Restaurant Tuesday to name Aviation Administrationman First Class Christopher Vanhoose as this year’s winner of the AC2 Whitney Powell Memorial Military Citizen of the Year Award.

The annual award recognizes sailors who have made significant contributions back to Meridian and the surrounding community through volunteering and other community service work. The award was named in memory of AC2 Whitney Powell, a previous recipient of the Military Citizen of the Year Award, who volunteered her time at Wesley House Women’s Shelter, Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency and Calvary Chapel. Powell was killed in a car accident on Feb. 7, 2013, and the award was renamed later that year in her memory.

Vanhoose, who serves as a naval military training instructor at Naval Technical Training Center Meridian, has been involved in the Meridian Walk for Diabetes, Downtown History Walk, State Games of Mississippi, Neshoba Central JROTC, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Moving Wall and numerous blood drives through the American Red Cross.

“American Red Cross has a big footprint out here. We’re the only blood service that takes donations in Meridian,” he said. “It’s a great organization to work with. We’ve had over 800 blood donations, so that’s a couple thousand patients that we’ve been able to provide blood for in the local community and the state of Mississippi.”

Being named the Military Citizen of the Year was a surprise, Vanhoose said, but it was an honor to be recognized. With just over a year left in his time at NAS Meridian, he said he plans to continue helping out in the community wherever he can.

“I’m really happy that I can continue to honor the tradition of AC2,” he said. “It’s not expected, but I’m very excited and hope to keep pushing on and serving the community.”

In addition to Vanhoose, Aviation Administrationman First Class Tina Marie Anthony and Air Traffic Controller Second Class Ruby Wesby were also nominated for the award. Anthony, who serves as the leading petty officer of the NATTC learning site, volunteers with the Northeast Lauderdale JROTC, assists in the Fleet Reserve Association’s annual Feed the Troops event at Thanksgiving and enjoys knitting and crocheting baby blankets for the Budget for Babies program run by the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Wesby, who helps naval aviators maintain quick, safe and organized traffic on and around the runways, has volunteered at the annual 9/11 Stair Climb, Northeast Lauderdale Elementary May Day and the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library’s summer reading kickoff.

Capt. Luke Davis, commanding officer on board NAS Meridian, said he was proud to recognize the three sailors for their contributions over the past year. In total, he said, NAS Meridian sailors contributed 2,848 hours of volunteer service over the past 12 months.

“We’re so proud to be able to talk about our Military Citizens of the Year and why we’re here today. They’re truly a representation of the great people out at NAS Meridian and the top three that we’ve identified this year,” he said. “We’re so proud of our volunteers and how they’re getting out in the community.”

Volunteering helps the community, Davis said, but for military service members, who relocate frequently, the work also helps build connections with Meridian and Lauderdale County and helps sailors integrate into an unfamiliar place. Plus, he said, the sailors have a lot of fun.