Kainath Kamil Hopes to Change the World through Innovation As our 2020 Military Child of the Year for Innovation, Kainath Kamil, 16, wants to continue studying the genetic mechanisms of addiction—which means even more weekends with her fruit flies. A student at Mission Vista High School in Oceanside, California, Kainath believes in the transformative power … Continued
Adversity Builds Strength in Kristina Lee, 2020 MCOY for National Guard Kristina Lee, our 2020 Military Child of the Year for the National Guard, has worn the crown as Ohio’s Miss Teen Buckeye State, and she sported a different look when she campaigned for office at a SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference. The 18-year-old senior at … Continued
Samantha Grab, Our Air Force 2020 Military Child of the Year, Finds the Joy in Life Samantha Grab, our 2020 Military Child of the Year® for the Air Force, has brought light and happiness to so many around her through her music and positive attitude, especially during tough times. Her family’s nickname for her is … Continued
Miryam Smith, 2020 MCOY for the Navy, Honors Dad through Excellence Miryam Smith, our 2020 Military Child of the Year for the Navy, remembers her father telling her that hard work pays off and that she could achieve anything she put her mind to. Those words have been Miryam’s motivation since her father, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Eduardo Smith, took his own life in 2016. The tragedy, she … Continued
Niklas Cooper, 2020 MCOY for Marines, Serves School and Community When Niklas Cooper, our 2020 Military Child of the Year for the Marine Corps, shows up, he brings a big heart as a leader and volunteer in his community and as a student at Lejeune High School in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he is … Continued
Fionnuala Mahoney Believes in Compassion and Helping Those in Need Fionnuala “Finn” Mahoney, our 2020 Military Child of the Year for the Army, is a resilient, adaptable teenager. She proves that every day living with learning differences, being a caregiver for her grandmother, helping to rebuild her childhood home in New Hampshire, and being a … Continued
Our virtual 2020 Military Child of the Year® award gala continues today with an introduction to this year’s recipients: Fionnuala Mahoney, U.S. Army, Samantha Grab, U.S. Air Force; Pierce Corson, U.S. Coast Guard; Niklas Cooper, U.S. Marine Corps; Kristina Lee, National Guard; Miryam Smith, U.S. Navy; Kainath Kamil, Innovation Award presented by Booz Allen Hamilton. … Continued
We are excited to announce the start of our VIRTUAL 2020 Military Child of the Year® Awards celebration! We invite you to join us over the next two weeks to help us celebrate these seven amazing young men and women who represent the thousands of military children everywhere who thrive and excel while coping with the challenges of military life. … Continued
A Message from Our President and CEO, Gen. John I. Pray, Jr., to Our Military Families, Supporters, and Friends Over the past several weeks as the COVID-19 pandemic reached our shores, we, as Americans, have experienced a fundamental change in our way of life. I want all to know that despite this change and those … Continued
Military Child of the Year Honors Seven of the Nation’s Best and Brightest Teens In selecting seven military teens to receive the Operation Homefront’s 2020 Military Child of the Year (MCOY) Award, we see some of the brightest minds, biggest hearts, and strongest characters among the young people in our country. Now in its 12th … Continued
