Operation Homefront announces 2023 Military Child of the Year® Award recipients
McLEAN, VA — Operation Homefront, the national nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families, has named the seven recipients of its esteemed Military Child of the Year® Award, the nation’s premier recognition of the outstanding achievements of our military children.
Now in its 15th year, the Military Child of the Year® Award reflects the incredible impact these exceptional young people have made on their military families, their schools, and their communities. An awards gala in their honor will be held on April 13 in Arlington, Virginia, at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City. Each recipient will also receive a $10,000 grant, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts.
“Military children shoulder the myriad of challenges of military life with a positive spirit and strength, building the character and resilience needed in our nation’s future leaders,” said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., President and CEO of Operation Homefront. “In recognizing this year’s Military Child of the Year® Award recipients, we honor the more than two million amazing military kids, who serve alongside their families, and strengthen our communities with their dedication and service.”
The seven recipients represent the armed forces branch in which a parent either serves or has served — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Space Force. The selection was based on scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria. Awardees were selected by a distinguished panel of volunteer judges who support the military community.
This year’s Military Child of the Year® Award recipients have moved a combined 37 times and lived through 208 months of deployments. They have logged 1661 volunteer hours in the 12 months before nominations.
The awardees are:
- Air Force: Louis Geer, 18, San Antonio, TX
- Army: Mackenzie Hanna, 17, Grafton, MA
- Coast Guard: Haydn Jones, 17, Sault Sainte Marie, MI
- Marine Corps: Hannah Marie Tokiwa, 17, Pearl City, HI
- National Guard: Jackson Griggs, 18, Rainbow City, AL
- Navy: Jemma Bates, 18, Annapolis, MD
- Space Force: Hayley Schreiner, 16, Colorado Springs, CO
In addition, 28 finalists were awarded a special one-time $1000 cash award.
Raytheon Technologies is the program’s presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors include BODYARMOR Sports Drink, Impossible Foods, MidAtlantic Broadband, PNC Foundation, Procter & Gamble, University of Cincinnati Online, Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and the Jack in the Box Foundation.
Learn more about the Military Child of the Year® Award.
About Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 88 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing, and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit Operation Homefront’s website.
Media Inquiries:
Erin Burgy Erin.Burgy@operationhomefront.org or (469) 934-7131