As we get ready to honor this year’s Military Child of the Year Award recipients in Washington DC on April 11th, we are privileged to share their inspiring examples of resiliency, leadership and achievement. Today, we’re proud to spotlight Nicole Marie Daly, Army Military Child of the Year for 2013:
Nicole, age 16, has moved 9 times and so far, attended 3 high schools. Despite these constant changes, Nicole is ranked at the top of her class with a 4.7 GPA, a weighted score based on her coursework of Honors and Advanced Placement classes. She has earned varsity letters in both cross country and track and runs half-marathons with her father.
She served as the Military Child Education Representative for Fort Lee on a panel determining ways to help military children transition between schools. Nicole volunteers weekly with the Fort Lee Thrift Shop and at events to support the College Scholarship Fund for the Fort Lee Area Spouse’s Club. In addition, she spent over 150 hours last year on weekends visiting National Guard and Reserve units to teach soldiers and dependents about their education benefits. Nicole was nominated by her school counselor, Tara Bauman-Seely, who wrote, “She is truly an example of a well-rounded student and immediately embraced her new environment and involved herself with extra-curricular activities. She certainly stands out to me as a role model for military students!”
Nicole’s father, Edward, is a West Point graduate and Chief of Ordnance and Commandant of the Ordnance Center and School at Fort Lee, VA . Her mother, Cathy, is also a West Point graduate and a former Quartermaster Officer. Nicole’s great-grandfather served in WWII.
Growing up in a military family “created resiliency because every time we move, I have to constantly prove myself as an individual and my capabilities” Nicole explains. Her favorite part of this lifestyle is the diversity. “The ability to engage with so many different cultures, ways of life, and personalities is invaluable and something I cherish every day. It truly opens the mind at such young ages, which I believe is the key to human harmony.”
While still open-minded about careers, Nicole is leaning toward the medical field. “I think the impact that doctors are able to have on patients’ lives is amazing. Having said that, the possibilities are endless!”
Nicole’s favorite thing to do is spend time with her family, especially cheering together for the NY Yankees or her brothers at their baseball games. She is the eldest child of Cathy and Edward Daly, both West Point graduates. She has two younger brothers, Connor and Mitchell.
Service Highlights
Fort Lee Thrift Shop
Fort Lee Spouse Club
Family Readiness Groups
Other Highlights
Freshman Class President, Citizenship Award
Military Child Education Representative, Fort Lee
Model United Nations
Chemistry Club
National Honor Society
Varsity letters in cross country & track
Favorite Quote: Nicole says, “I have this quote posted as my screensaver and throughout my room. It is a continual reminder every day of how precious life is, and how I should strive to make the best of it.”
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. ~ Oscar Wilde
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The fifth annual Military Child of the Year Awards will be presented April 11, 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. In addition to the trip to our nation’s capital, recipients are awarded a laptop computer and a $5,000 cash prize.
