Military Child of the Year® Award
Now in its 18th 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
Finalists have been announced for Operation Homefront’s 2026 Military Child of the Year® Awards, the nation’s premier recognition of the outstanding achievements of our military children.
Air Force
Morgan Becker, 18, Elkhorn, NE
Abby Huisman, 17, Burke, VA
Andrew Peske, 18, Kathleen, GA
Elizabeth Stanton, 16, College Station, TX
Abigail Transfiguracion, 18, Maineville, OH
Army
Amani Ambay, 18, Lutz, FL
Shannon Arana, 16, Fort Drum, NY
Kelsey Barrett, 17, Anchorage, AK
Zenobia Davis, 17, APO, AE
Kinsey Robinson, 17, West End, NC
Coast Guard
Jake Fuller, 18, New City, NY
Logan McGuire, 18, Hamilton, NJ
Joseph Obermeier, 17, Bethesda, MD
Mia Spruill, 17, Virginia Beach, VA
Victoria Vanacore, 17, Kill Devil Hills, NC
Marine Corps
Virginia Burks, 17, Havelock, NC
Matthew Jones, 17, Saint Augustine, FL
Hannah Kirksey, 17, Sneads Ferry, NC
Mia Monday, 18, Kailua, HI
Connor Nicol, 17, Hampton, NH
National Guard
Olivia Azzopardi, 18, Maumee, OH
Tanner Griggs, 17, Rainbow City, AL
Genesis Hall, 16, Marion, NC
Lila Morgan, 18, Lithia. FL
Grant Wilson, 17, New Albany, OH
Navy
Jude Cutler, 16, FPO, AP
Katelyn Jung, 17, Leonardtown, MD
Bianca Villalobos, 15, Lakeside, CA
Ayla Zook, 18, King George, VA
Grace Zook, 16, King George, VA
Space Force
Abigail Addison, 18, Colorado Springs, CO
Shu Xian Mila Baker, 17, Raphine, VA
Hadlee Fuller, 18, Gainesville, FL
Olivia Kohler, 18, Littleton, CO
Taylor Schreiner, 18, Colorado Springs, CO
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 2026 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 21-24, 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 DD1172
- Be willing to participate in media and donor opportunities
2025 Winners in DC
