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Positive Choices Pay Off

CHICAGO - Air Serv employee Daron McClinton didn't let his home environment stop him from achieving his goals. Although he grew up economically disadvantaged and lived in a housing project, he has become one of Air Serv's' best and most reliable employees.

On October 6, Daron received the Youth Achievement Award from The Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities. Daron was part of the foundation's "Bridges ... from school to work" program, which provides employment opportunities for youth with disabilities in their final year of high school. 

Richard Marriott, chairman of The Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities, presented the award. The following is an excerpt from his speech, honoring this fine young man.

And now, the Youth Achievement Award - that part of the program I most look forward to every year, because it cuts through all the speechmaking and all the statistics and gets to the heart of what Bridges is all about - remarkable young adults responding to challenges and, ultimately, showing the world what they have to contribute.

Daron McClinton lives in a high-rise building in a neighborhood that holds daily challenges most of us would find it hard to imagine. But he decided early that he wanted his future to be built upon his positive choices rather than the pitfalls of his environment.  As he says, "Its not where you live, its how you live."

Daron's been demonstrating his determination to live by that motto ever since he arrived at Bridges about a year ago. For starters, he willingly cut his hair and shaved his beard -- a big step for any nineteen year old. He then fought through shyness and communication challenges to get out on the interview circuit and when he landed a job at O'Hare Airport as a wheelchair attendant for Air Serv he had the opening he needed.

In spite of having to commute almost an hour to work on two different trains, Daron has proven to be a model of timeliness and dependability. His supervisor rates him among Air Serv's very best employees, and notes his increasing confidence and pride. And clearly Daron is reaping the benefits of his performance. In the ten months since he started he has been promoted from a part-time evening shift to a full-time day schedule, received a 7% increase in his base pay and has seen his tip income grow significantly. And perhaps the ultimate testimonial, frequent fliers at O'Hare have started to ask for Daron by name when they need assistance.

This young man is a role model that any of us would do well to note. I'm proud to introduce our 2004 Youth Achievement Award recipient, Daron McClinton.