William Tramm, a senior at Vicenza High School, has been named the 2015 Vicenza Youth of the Year and runner up for the Army Europe Boys and Girls Clubs of America competition. He won second place at the regional level against dozens of youth across Army Europe garrisons recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America for sound character, leadership skills and willingness to give back to the community.
The local competition selects one student from a pool of applicants to represent the Vicenza military community. This honor is bestowed upon one deserving youth in the community for contributions to family, school, community, and Boys and Girls Club (Teen Center), as well as personal challenges and obstacles overcome. Amid a pool of tough competitors, Tramm shined and overcame his competitors to win the award.
Tramm, son of Gene and Karin Tramm, has lived in Vicenza for the past nine years. He has excelled in all areas of life while a student in Vicenza, particularly in the Vicenza High School community. Tramm holds a 3.929 grade point average while remaining heavily involved in athletic, academic, and community service ventures outside the classroom. After playing one season of football as a freshman, Tramm went on to earn three varsity letters as a member of the VHS men's cross country team culminating in a captain role as a senior. He has previously held the title of sophomore class vice president and Student Council president as a junior.
For three of the last four years, Tramm has traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, as part of the VHS Model United Nations team, competing against peers in other DoDEA Europe schools. He has been a member of the National Honor Society, Italian Honor Society, and the Red Cross Club each for three years. As a founding member of the community service-based Red Cross Club, Tramm helped write the club's constitution and as a club officer, he volunteered in a number of different community events. Currently, he volunteers time weekly at Vicenza Elementary School as a student mentor.
For the last two years, Tramm has been one of three VHS representatives to the International Student Leadership Institute in Germany. At this year's ISLI conference in March, Tramm will act as one of three regents whose responsibility includes running the conference, organizing the event for more than 90 students, and developing informational presentations to be shared with new attendees.
"In a problem-solving situation, Will possesses excellent ability to seek input from all viewpoints, weigh the pros and cons of each choice and render possible solutions" says Mark Gillett, VHS School psychologist and moderator for multiple clubs of which Tramm is a part. Tramm's problem-solving skills will likely come in handy next month when he takes his talents to this year's ISLI conference.
Tramm, though 18 years old, is a citizen of the world. As a result of his parents' careers, he has lived in the United States, Iceland, Spain, and Italy. He understands the complexities of cultures and customs more so than the average teen because of the international lifestyle he lives. He says of meeting friends from all over the world, "It makes me understand that I am truly a part of a global community," he said.
Perhaps most impressive of Tramm's international feats is his 2013 hike up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with his father and brother. Will credits his parents for fostering in him a strong love of the outdoors. When his father floated the idea to hike the mountain, Tramm and his brother quickly agreed.
"I know I couldn't have done it without them. The hike itself was long and difficult and is probably the coolest thing I've ever done. I'm very glad to have had the opportunity and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a challenge," Will said.
Next year, William will be attending Florida International University in Miami where he will study Marine Biology.
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