Frank Wilkinson grew up in a bowling center - literally.

The son of a former professional bowler, Frank joined his first youth bowling league at age 5 and was hooked on the sport.

His dad owned several pro shops, and when Frank was 8 his dad became the proprietor of Rab's Country Lanes, a 48-lane center in Staten Island, N.Y. Now 21, Frank is the manager of the family owned center and was recently named Local Youth Sports Administrator of the Year by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS).

Frank's meteoric rise to national acclaim was powered by confidence, curiosity, and commitment.

Before he entered his teens, Frank already showed signs of leadership. He took on the responsibility of organizing the adult/child leagues at Rab's Country Lanes and began volunteering with the Youth Leaders chapter of what is now known as the Staten Island USBC Association.

At 14, he was elected president of the Youth Leaders chapter, created the Annual Junior Masters Scholarship Tournament and began serving as the event's tournament director. In its first five years of operation, the competition grew to attract more than 300 youth bowlers from the New York City and Westchester areas as well as other parts of New York State and New Jersey, awarding more than $15,000 in scholarships.

Getting the word out about youth bowling opportunities was one of Frank's big challenges as a local Youth Leaders president, so he launched a semi-annual newsletter mailed to all Staten Island certified youth bowler. He sold advertising to cover printing and postage costs.

As a member of the New York State Youth Leaders chapter, he solved similar communication challenges by establishing a website for what was then known as the New York State Young American Bowling Alliance.

When the site went live, the president of the NYSYABA Thomas Solimine was ecstatic. "This website is so informative it has made the work of others involved that much easier," he said. "It allows all of our members access to information concerning upcoming events, event results, board listings, member contacts, site addresses, meeting dates and directions, photographs and much more. The information he provides is truly unbelievable."

Perhaps it was that effort that led to Frank's election as president of the state Youth Leaders chapter in 2004.

Frank had earned his certifications as Level I coach in 2000, and a Level II coach in 2003. While working part-time at his family's center, he arranged for others to have similar training so they could be effective in helping young bowlers improve in the sport. He enlisted the help of center management and staff to launch a Junior Coaches program, which started with 10 teenage bowlers willing to volunteer as coaches during the center's leagues for younger bowlers. (The program now has more than 50 volunteer coaches.)

Frank's many accomplishments and efforts to bring new opportunities to his fellow youth bowlers did not go unnoticed. He was selected as the YABA's 2004-05 Youth Leader of the Year, earning a $1,500 scholarship. Later he was asked to serve on USBC's National Youth Committee to provide insight on youth bowlers' needs and expectations.

All the while, back at Rab's Country Lanes kids were joining the center's youth program, enjoying the fun of league bowling and improving with the guidance of Frank (who earned his USBC Bronze coach certification in 2005) and the center's group of certified coaches.

"Our youth program has grown to over 1,000 youth bowlers, " Frank said, "and that doesn't include our high school bowlers. We have 13 public or Catholic schools that bowl in our center."

Have-a-Ball introductory leagues for kids also have been successful at the center. Kids who join those short-season leagues learn the basics of the game and receive a bowling ball of their very own, which encourages them to continue enjoying the sport.

"Under Wilkinson's leadership the (center's Have-a-Ball) program has grown from 50 to more than 280 youngsters," said Liz DeHart, a director of the Staten Island USBC.

She also cited Frank's efforts to introduce bowling to school students through their physical education classes when she nominated him for one of the Hershey's STRIVE Awards offered by the National Council of Youth Sports. (NCYS represents more than 185 organizations - including USBC - and serves 60 million registered participants, among them 44 million boys and girls who are active in organized youth sports throughout the United States.)

"Frank is passionately involved in all aspects of the bowling industry and a strong advocate for youth bowling," she said.

The NCYS agreed, and will present Frank with their Local Youth Sports Administrator of the Year Award in a ceremony at Rab's Country Lanes Oct. 26, just prior to the Staten Island USBC Association Bowling Against Breast Cancer Bowl-a-Thon.

"It will be an awesome and emotional day," Frank said. After receiving his award, he's set to kick off the fundraiser with a moving opening ceremonies program.

It promises to be a day filled with people having fun, sharing memories, and making new ones... a day like many others at Rab's Country Lanes, thanks to Frank Wilkinson.

STATEN ISLAND, NY (August 15, 2008) - Frank Wilkinson has had a lifetime journey in the sport of bowling since the age of five. Wilkinson has risen above the obstacles. His leadership skills and devotion to youth bowling is striking an inspiring impact on youngsters all across the nation.

At just 21 years of age, there is no stopping Wilkinson who has already made a positive impact on children, in all aspects of the bowling industry as well as society as a whole. For his outstanding dedication and achievement, Frank Wilkinson of Staten Island, New York will be honored with NCYS' Hershey's STRIVE Award as Local Youth Sports Administrator of the Year.

STRIVE stands for Sports Teach Respect, Initiative, Values and Excellence and the award honors adult leaders for their "heartfelt passion, enthusiastic commitment and contagious spirit to help kids succeed in youth sports activities." This year, NCYS' Hershey's STRIVE Award will be presented to a national administrator, a volunteer, a coach, and a local administrator. Honorees were nominated by team members, parents or colleagues and judged by a panel of NCYS officials.

Wilkinson began showing leadership qualities at age 11 when he volunteered with the Staten Island Young American Bowling Alliance Youth Leaders Chapter chairing numerous committees before being elected President at just 14 years of age. During this time, Wilkinson developed opportunities for youth bowlers of all ages to compete and earn scholarship money on the lanes. Four years later he was elected President of the New York State Youth Leaders Chapter of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).

October 2007, Wilkinson was elected President of the Staten Island USBC Association and today remains an active leader in USBC and Bowling Proprietors Association. Wilkinson has worked in the family business, Rab's Country Lanes for the past eight years primarily with youth activities.

His Dad, a one-time Pro Bowler, died this past year. Wilkinson is now responsible to fill the shoes of his father as Proprietor forcing him to cut back on his college education to devote his time to the family business 7 days a week. He continues to attend DeVry University as a part-time student.

"Passionately involved in all aspects of the bowling industry and a strong advocate for youth bowling, Wilkinson has also introduced the sport of bowling to school students as a part of their physical education classes. He is also responsible for his bowling center's Have-A-Ball program, where kids join for instruction and receive a bowling ball during the season. Under Wilkinson's leadership the program has grown from 50 to over 280 youngsters," said Staten Island (N.Y.) USBC and New York State Women's Bowling Association Director Liz DeHart.

Frank Wilkinson is a respected voice for all youth bowlers telling the kids and the volunteers and says, "It is our job to pay it forward." Through Wilkinson's program, he and his staff are creating lifetime bowlers providing a fun and safe environment where youth bowlers can learn an exciting new sport, gain confidence, and develop personal skills to enjoy their whole lives.

Sally S. Johnson, NCYS Executive Director, noted that the lack of recognition given to outstanding adult leaders involved in youth sports prompted NCYS to create the STRIVE awards five years ago. "Honoring America's hometown heroes on a national scale gives them the praise they deserve," Johnson said. "It is awe-inspiring to pay tribute to these exceptional individuals who devote countless hours each week, all while juggling full-time careers, families, and other commitments."

Wilkinson will be honored on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at Rab's Country Lanes during the Bowling Against Breast Cancer Bowl-a-Thon presented by the Staten Island USBC (United States Bowling Congress) Association. The STRIVE event presentation is hosted by the NCYS and The Hershey Company. During the celebration, Wilkinson will receive a check for $2,500 which he has announced will be donated to the Staten Island USBC Association.

Other STRIVE winners In addition to Local Administrator of the Year, the other 2008 STRIVE Award winners for National Administrator, Coach/Official of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year include: Ann Cody of Washington, D.C. is being recognized as NCYS' Hershey's STRIVE National Administrator of the Year. She is the director of partnerships and public policy for BlazeSports America headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Cody has dedicated her career to ensuring that young people with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from sports. Cody is a Paralympic Gold Medalist in athletics and competed on three U.S. Paralympic teams. As a sport instructor, she has taught aspiring young athletes and their coaches training principles and techniques in wheelchair racing, injury prevention, sports psychology and racing strategies. Whether advocating for the creation of physical activity standards for people with disabilities or shaping landmark legislation, Cody's leadership is making a significant difference on overcoming the barriers and advancing the lives of youth with physical disabilities through sport and healthy lifestyles.

Steve Kelley whose indelible imprint he has left on the lives of hundreds of highly disadvantaged youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lawrence, Massachusetts has earned him the title of NCYS' 2008 Hershey's STRIVE Award for Coach of the Year. Academic Basketball is Steve Kelley's brainchild where every boy and girl must not only present a satisfactory weekly report from his/her teacher but must also attend a one-hour study session before each practice. Kelley says, "These kids are my heroes. They overcome odds that would pulverize adults. The drugs, the gangs, the guns, the violence, the teen pregnancy and the family problems they encounter each day would challenge a saint to stay on the straight and narrow. The kids do it. They work at their lives daily and they are the survivors and the 'thrivers' we read about as incredible successes. How lucky can on person be to work with these kids!"

Dan Dionisio of Olney, Maryland was chosen as the recipient of NCYS' Hershey's STRIVE Award for Volunteer of the Year. For nearly 20 years, Dionisio has been a coach or on the board of directors of the Olney Boys & Girls Community Sports Association helping OBGC children for eleven years before his own kids were born. His volunteer leadership is responsible for transforming a small disorganized organization serving 1,800 children, into a highly recognized organization serving 7,000 children on a 118-acre nationally acclaimed facility. Dionisio has set a standard for adult behavior in the club. He is a role model motivating nearly 800 volunteer coaches to make child-base decisions where no children are turned away due to cost and by creating a club environment where children flourish in superior quality youth sports programs.