Semi-finalists Announced for 2012 Military Child of the Year® Award

Deserving Young Patriots Will Win $5,000

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Operation Homefront today announced the 100 semi-finalists – 20 representing each branch of Service – for the 2012 Military Child of the Year® Award.  For the second year in a row, the award will be given to an outstanding military child from each branch of Service – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

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Each semi-finalist will be interviewed by Operation Homefront staff, and award recipients will be chosen by a committee including active duty military personnel, Family Readiness Support Assistants, teachers, military mothers, and community members. 

The recipient of the Military Child of the Year® Award for each branch of Service will be announced March 8.  Each award recipient will receive $5,000 and will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C. for a special recognition ceremony on April 5, 2012.   

Ideal candidates for the Military Child of the Year® Award demonstrate resilience and strength of character, and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life.  They demonstrate leadership within their families and within their communities.

"The sons and daughters of America's service members learn what patriotism is at a very young age," said Jim Knotts, President & CEO of Operation Homefront.  "Children in military families understand sacrifice and live with the concept of service.  This is what the Military Child of the Year® Award honors."

Following are the semi-finalists for the 2012 Military Child of the Year® Award.

AIR FORCE
Tasha D. – Age 15 – Callaway, FL
Gregory C. – Age 17 – Albuquerque, NM
Jacob P. – Age 11 – Childress, TX
Ilaria R. – Age 10 – Valrico, FL
Brookelyn S. – Age 17 – Marblehead, MA
Brandon S.  – Age 16 – Andrews AFB, MD
Chelsea R. – Age 17 – Panama City, FL
Joanna S. – Age 17 – Europe
Caitlin R. – Age 17 – Luling, TX
Alexandra D. – Age 17 – Durham, NC
Bryce R. – Age 12 – Valrico, FL
Bailey C. – Age 8 – Surprise, AZ
Kyle W. – Age 15 – Ashland, IL
Brianna S. – Age 13 – Kadena Air Base, Japan
Jada K. – Age 12 – Tolleson, AZ
Mika D. – Age 12 – Lumberton, NC
Katherine O. – Age 16 – Las Vegas, NV
Jeffrey M. – Age 13 – Scott AFB, IL
Ryan P. – Age 18 – Yuba City, CA
Madyson N. – Age 15 – Lackland AFB, TX

ARMY
Hunter M. – Age 12 – Fort Huachuca, AZ
Amelia M. – Age 17 – Carlisle, PA
Brock W. – Age 12 – Vine Grove, KY
McKenna T. – Age 14 – Fort Meade, MD
Jacob F. – Age 12 – Europe
Marly K. – Age 12 – Hope Mills, NC
Andrew M. – Age 11 – Lakewood, WA
Gabriella G. – Age 10 – Copperas Cove, TX
Samuel B. – Age 14 – Fortson, GA
Brandon G. – Age 17 – Hope Mills, NC
Sydney S. – Age 12 – Wake Forest, NC
Jessica H. – Age 17 – Fort Riley, KS
Courtney L. – Age 16 – Fayetteville, NC
Robert D. – Age 11 – Europe
Robert W. – Age 13 – Gastonia, NC
Alexis S. – Age 13 – Fort Drum, NY
Zachary H. – Age 17 – Aberdeen, NC
Kirsten L. – Age 14 – Elizabethtown, KY
Erika J. – Age 17 – Raeford,, NC
Marquis H. – Age 17 – Sanford, NC

COAST GUARD
Alena D. – Age 17 – Fairfax, VA
Felicity M. – Age 8 – South Portland, ME
Meaghan, M. – Age 15 – Grosse Pointe Park, MI
Collin E. – Age 17 – Morehead City, NC
Margaret C. – Age 17 – Chesapeake, VA
Maggi F. – Age 10 – Prescott, AZ
Matthew M. – Age 9 – Lake St Louis, MO
Lyric S. – Age 13 – Bayamon, PR
Maverick J. – Age 15 – Port Angeles, WA
Meaghan B. – Age 8 – Astoria, OR
Ayden M. – Age 10 – Cocoa, FL
Alyssa S. – Age 12 – Davie, FL
Chandel B. – Age 13 – Chesapeake, VA
Tamalega T. – Age 8 – Amherst, NY
Matthew Y. – Age 16 – Fairhope, AL
Jack F. – Age 8 – Prescott, AZ
Felicity L. – Age 11 – Kittery, ME
Sara H. – Age 11 – Virginia Beach, VA
Zahkeira B. – Age 13 – Jacksonville, NC
Duncan M. – Age 15 – Groton, CT

MARINE CORPS
Renalyn Q. – Age 16 – Kailua, HI
Michael-Logan J. – Age 13 – Oceanside, CA
Jacob M. – Age 14 – Garden City, NY
Erika B. – Age 16 – Jacksonville, NC
Benjamin L. – Age 18 – Tampa, FL
Bailey L. – Age 16 – Beaufort, SC
Desirae S. – Age 18 – Jacksonville, NC
Tanner G. – Age 11 – Concord, NC
Kathleen D. – Age 16 – Camp Lejeune, NC
Tyler V. – Age 17 – Chester, VA
Eric D. – Age 15 – San Diego, CA
Bailey L. – Age 15 – Tampa, FL
Archie B. – Age 17 – Pearl City, HI
Joseph K. – Age 18 – Hubert, NC
Whitney H. – Age 18 – Prince Frederick, MD
Mikayla L. – Age 12 – San Diego, CA
Thomas C. – Age 10 – Beaufort, SC
Anastasia B. – Age 10 – Oceanside, CA
Gavin S. – Age 8 – Jacksonville, NC
Savannah C. – Age 8 – Paso Robles, CA

NAVY
Desiree' W. – Age 13 – San Diego, CA
Ashley F. – Age 16 – Jacksonville, FL
Haley F. – Age 8 – Lexington Park, MD
GiVahna P. – Age 14 – Springfield, VA
Daniel N. – Age 12 – Fleming Island, FL
Addalyn B. – Age 13 – Newbury Park, CA
Malcolm T. – Age 10 – Odenton, MD
Avery D. – Age 12 – Jacksonville, FL
Elisha D. – Age 15 – Pacific Area
James Nathan R. – Age 9 – Jamul, CA
Debra P. – Age 11 – Seattle, WA
Sheridamae G. – Age 12 – San Diego, CA
Hallie G. – Age 11 – Chula Vista, CA
Mariah W. – Age 14 – Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan
Isabella T. – Age 13 – Jacksonville, NC
Kasey P. – Age 13 – Ramona, CA
Maiya D. – Age 16 – Portsmouth, VA
Keegan M. – Age 13 – Panama City Beach, FL
Amanda N. – Age 12 – Aiea, HI
MacKenize F. – Age 11 – Browns Mills, NJ

About Operation Homefront:  Operation Homefront provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.   A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers across 24 chapters and has met more than 267,000 needs since 2002.  A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, 95 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to support service members and their families.  For more information about Operation Homefront, please visit www.OperationHomefront.net.

SOURCE Operation Homefront