This article originally appeared on our sister publication’s website, MilitaryFamilies.com.
April brings not only the annual celebration of “Month of the Military Child” but also the latest announcement of Operation Homefront’s “Military Child of the Year” (MCOY) winners.
The award, now in its 14th year, honors one military child from each branch for their community service, excellence in education and exemplary accomplishments. Additionally, one child from any branch receives the nonprofit’s Award for Innovation for the design of a creative solution to a local, regional or global challenge. Each winner receives $10,000, a laptop, a trip to a celebratory gala and other donated gifts.
Operation Homefront’s Senior Director of Family Support services said in an email that each year highlights a crop of “extraordinary military children.”
“Their volunteerism and leadership along with academic accomplishments are truly inspiring,” wrote Jenny Valderas. “Each one of them has thrived in the military family environment and has overcome obstacles with grit and determination.”
Tremendous teens
The 2022 MCOY winners are:
- Air Force: Anna Cummins, 16, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Army: Elena Ashburn, 18, Pembroke Pines, Florida
- Coast Guard: Kathryn Alonso, 17, Vienna, Virginia
- Marine Corps: Sophia Jordan, 13, Fort Worth, Texas
- National Guard: Andrew Stone, 15, Germany
- Navy: Mitchell Matella, 16, Rockville, Maryland
- Space Force: Grant Benson, 18, Burke, Virginia
- Innovation (Army): David Lee, 18, South Korea
Anna Cummins was chosen for her 260 hours of volunteer service in the past year with American Red Cross, Evans Army Community Hospital and Angel Flight, among other accomplishments. She found out she won when her parents terrifyingly said, “We need to talk” after school one day. Cummins had visited Chick-fil-A without texting her mother, and she figured she was toast.
Instead, they handed her flowers and balloons. Cummins realized she was in the exact opposite of trouble.
“I was ecstatic, started crying and hugged my family,” she said via text. “I feel so much pride and excitement for this opportunity!”
Given the accomplishments of past winners, Valderas said, Cummins’ response was wholly appropriate. “We’ve recognized kids who go on to military academies; some have even built their own nonprofit organizations,” she wrote. “They are looking to make a difference in the world, and I can only begin to imagine what their futures hold.”
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A family affair
Sophia Jordan, the Marine Corps winner, knew all about MCOY long before applying. That’s because both of her older brothers previously won the prestigious award.
“We compete in everything, including who can eat the most orange rolls at Christmas, so we also have a joke about who could win Military Child of the Year the quickest,” Jordan said. “I love every aspect of being a military child, because it’s the best adventure you could ever be a part of.”
Operation Homefront chose Jordan in part for her Sunshine Express boxes, hand-decorated goodie packages she assembles for critically-ill Make-a-Wish children. Last year, the 13-year-old cheerleader created over 100 Sunshine Express parcels; in 2022, she’s on track to smash that record.
“I think sometimes Fi [Sophia’s nickname] doesn’t realize how much of an impact she’s already made,” said ReBecca Jordan, Sophia’s mother. “I’ve had so many parents call me and say she is such a kind person, and thank you for the opportunity for their children to help by bringing in donations, packing the boxes and writing letters to these kids.”
Cummins, Jordan and the other MCOY honorees celebrated their wins at an Operation Homefront Gala in Virginia on April 7. The party was well-deserved, as the recipients have PCSed a combined 40 times, survived 115 months of deployments and logged 1473 volunteer hours in the 12 months before nominations.
Both Jordan and Cummins, however, already have their eyes on what comes after the gala. Jordan aims to be either a military nurse, civil rights attorney or stand-up comedian (“I’m very funny,” she explained), while Cummins hopes to launch an Air Force-wide project to help military children of siblings with special needs.
Onward and upward, then ― even though the MCOY honor is still “so cool” for both girls.
“I couldn’t believe I was selected,” Cummins said. “It’s still sinking in!”
Learn more about Operation Homefront and its Military Child of the Year Award.