Operation Homefront Announces 2025 Military Child of the Year® Award Recipients
SAN ANTONIO, TX- Operation Homefront has announced the seven extraordinary recipients of its 2025 Military Child of the Year® Award, recognizing those who excel in academics, community service, and leadership among their peers. This year’s honorees were selected from a record-breaking pool of more than 900 nominees, reflecting the remarkable qualities of military children nationwide and abroad.
Now in its 17th year, the Military Child of the Year® Award shines a light on the profound impact these young people have on their families, schools, and communities. As the nation’s premier honor for military children, the Award underscores Operation Homefront’s mission to build strong, stable, and secure military families by celebrating the service and fortitude of the youngest members.
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 – and each has their own unique story of perseverance and achievement in the face of the challenges of military life. Winners were selected by a distinguished panel of volunteer judges who support the military community.
The recipients will be honored at a gala in Arlington, VA on April 10. Each will also receive a $10,000 grant, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts.
“Our seven awardees are incredible young leaders with uniquely compelling stories that highlight the resiliency, strength and service representative of the millions of military kids globally that serve every American alongside their parents,” said Rear Admiral (ret) Alan Reyes, CEO of Operation Homefront. “We are tremendously proud to honor the impact they have had, and will continue to have, on their families, respective communities and our nation.”
This year’s Military Child of the Year® Award recipients have moved a combined 34 times and lived through 283 months of deployments. They have logged 3,488 volunteer hours in the 12 months before nominations.
The awardees are:
Air Force: Sophia Pinero, 17, APO, AE (Ramstein Air Base, Germany)
Army: Maribel Sikes, 16, Fort Knox, KY
Coast Guard: Ian Lindo, 17, Chesapeake, VA
Marine Corps: Isabella Smith, 17, Hubert, NC
National Guard: Emily Baldeosingh, 18, Havelock, NC
Navy: Mason Mosher, 19, Marysville, WA
Space Force: Natalia Serna, 17, Lompoc, CA
In addition, 28 finalists, representing the seven individual branches, were awarded a special one-time $1,000 cash award.
RTX is the program’s presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors include Black Rifle Coffee Company, BODYARMOR Sports Drink, Caesars Entertainment, Carnival Cruise Line, Dollar Tree, GEICO, Impossible Foods, La Quinta by Wyndham, Procter & Gamble, Sunbelt Rentals, Town House® Crackers, and the University of Cincinnati.
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, 83 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 OperationHomefront.org.
Media Inquiries:
Amber Myszka, Director, Integrated Public Relations
Amber.Myszka@OperationHomefront.org
(208) 258-1476
