Military Child of the Year® Award
Now in its 17th year, Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year® Award reflects the positive impact that these impressive young people have made on their military families, their schools, and their communities.
Announcement
We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the esteemed Operation Homefront 2025 Military Child of the Year® Award!
Air Force
Morgan Becker, 17, Elkhorn, NE
Madison Jennings, 17, South Riding, VA
Abigail Long, 16, Oklahoma City, OK
Sophia Pinero, 16, APO, AE
Elizabeth Stanton, 15, College Station, TX
Army
Abigail Babski, 17, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
Maribel Sikes, 16, Fort Knox, KY
Jordan Simmers, 18, APO, AE
Leilani Tenen, 18, Richmond Hill, GA
Patrick Whearly-Sanchez, 17, El Paso, TX
Coast Guard
Emmalyn Buskirk, 18, Hickory, NC
Yaniel Capestany, 17, San Juan, PR
Ian Lindo, 17, Chesapeake, VA
Logan McGuire, 17, Hamilton, NJ
Kamelia Perez, 17, Miami, FL
Marine Corps
Hannah Kirksey, 17, Sneads Ferry, NC
Connor Nicol, 16, Hampton, NH
Hayden Pinto, 17, Mount Pleasant, SC
Anthony Rieck-Williamson, 17, Camp Lejeune, NC
Isabella Smith, 17, Hubert, NC
National Guard
Amaia Arteta, 16, Green Cove Springs, FL
Emily Baldeosingh, 17, Havelock, NC
Kylee Finn, 18, Cascade, MT
Lila Morgan, 17, Lithia, FL
Grant Wilson, 16, New Albany, OH
Navy
Dmya Brandy, 16, Chesapeake, VA
Siyennah Igmen, 17, FPO, AP
Mason Mosher, 18, Marysville, WA
Analiese Poe, 18, Clarksville, TN
Ayla Zook, 17, King George, VA
Space Force
Mia Daniels, 17, Arlington, VA
Hadlee Fuller, 17, Melbourne, FL
Olivia Kohler, 17, Littleton, CO
Natalia Serna, 16, Lompoc, CA
Christian Tilmans, 15, Melbourne, FL
About the Awards
The annual awards recognize outstanding young people ages 13 to 18. Recipients will represent a branch of the armed forces — the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Space Force — for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life.
All Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Award recipients will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., and recognized at the April 2025 gala, during which senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards. They also will receive $10,000 each, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts. The gala is usually held in April, the month of the military child, as a way to recognize the support and appreciation we provide to military families.
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?
- Child must be a legal military dependent. Status confirmed by DEERS enrollment form.
- Military children must be between the ages of 13 and 18, at the time of nomination.
- Child and one adult guardian must be available to travel to the Washington, DC area April 8-11, during the month of the military child, for the Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Awards Gala award presentation.
- Officers, directors, employees, and agents of Operation Homefront and its subsidiaries or affiliated organizations, and their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, and spouse of each) and those living in the same households of each are not eligible to receive programs, services, grants, or donated goods intended for use by Operation Homefront’s clients.
- Previous Operation Homefront Military Child of the Year Award Recipients, including Innovation Award recipients, are no longer eligible.
In addition to the above eligibility requirements, if selected as a Semifinalist, must:
- Provide 2 letters of recommendation
- Provide form to DD1172
- Be willing to participate in media and donor opportunities
2024 Winners in DC
