Florida Teen Among 5 Honored by Military

Five military teens honored for selfless service
Stars and Stripes
By Meredith Tibbetts
Published: April 12, 2014

All five recipients – representing each service branch – mug for the camera with Poison lead singer Bret Michaels, far left. From left to right, the teens and their branches are: Juanita Lindsay Collins, Coast Guard; Kenzi Hall, Army; Ryan Patrick Curtin, Navy; Gage Alan Dabin, Air Force; Michael-Logan Burke Jordan, Marine Corps.
MEREDITH TIBBETTS/STARS AND STRIPES

• Coast Guard: Juanita Lindsay Collins, 17, of Florida, with a 4.5 cumulative weighted GPA, has completed 300 hours of volunteer service and was president of her junior and senior class as well as the National Honor Society. She was also a 2013 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award winner.

Army: Kenzi Hall, 16, living in California
Marine Corps: Michael-Logan Burke Jordan, 15, of Hawaii
Navy: Ryan Patrick Curtin, 18, of Texas
Air Force: Gage Alan Dabin, 18, of Alaska

ARLINGTON, Va. — Despite being teenagers, despite moving more than any kid should be asked to, and despite facing the stress of a parent deployed, these five military children have shown what dedication and determination can accomplish.

On Thursday night, five teens, one representing each service branch, were honored as the Military Child of the Year by Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that provides financial aid and other assistance to the families of servicemembers.

These kids have different passions, but two things in common: a high GPA and a commitment to community.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Poison lead singer Bret Michaels — himself a military brat — spoke during the event of the sacrifices military children have to make and how each honoree not only rose to the occasion, but exemplified leadership and achievement.

This is the sixth year that Operation Homefront has presented the Military Child of the Year awards. Each honoree receives $5,000 and a trip to Washington. The teens are selected from a pool of a nearly 1,000 nominees.
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