42nd MDOS Airman receives AETC 2015 12 OAY Award Published April 20, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE,ALa -- Staff Sgt. Shelby Vande Zande, 42nd Medical Operations Squadron Immunizations Clinic noncommissioned officer in charge, out shined her peers by winning the Air Education and Training Command 2015 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award in the NCO category. This award recognizes 12 outstanding enlisted personnel within AETC for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements. "My leadership, mentors and spouse definitely contributed to this win," said Vande Zande. "My leadership spent a lot of time and effort over the last year not just writing the packages, but taking the time to help develop and mentor me as an Airman. I also have several mentors inside and outside of my organization that I lean on when needed, most importantly my husband. He has been the most supportive person in my life, and anything I have decided to do he has been behind me 100 percent." Vande Zande's home roots are in Lexington, Tennessee, where she enlisted in the Air Force her junior year of high school and left for basic military training in August 2013, arriving at Maxwell eight months later. "I am extremely impressed with Staff Sgt. Vande Zande," said Col. Kevin Poitinger, 42nd Medical Group commander. "She is a driven NCO with an infectious personality. I'm excited to watch her development within our Air Force and the impact she'll have as a mentor to our next generation of enlisted leaders." "Staff Sgt. Vande Zande is a stellar NCO who embodies the core values not only at work but in everything she does," said her supervisor, Tech. Sgt. Joshua Dennis, 42nd Medical Operations Squadron clinical medicine flight chief. "She constantly strives to make herself irreplaceable in the work center. Her work ethic is tenacious, and her vigor to get the mission done is contagious to everyone around her." During the period of performance for the award, Vande Zande was the recipient of the John L. Levitow award at Airman Leadership School, became the NCOIC of the immunizations clinic, and elected as the both 42nd Medical Group's Booster Club secretary and Air Force Assistance Fund unit project officer. "All in all, a lot happened over the last year to contribute to winning the award; however, the win does not just reflect the things I have accomplished over the past year, but what we have been able to accomplish as a group through teamwork and dedication," said Vande Zande. "I think it is an absolute honor to simply be nominated for this award and to win is definitely humbling."