• FORT GORDON, Ga.
Augusta (Ga.) Christian School ninth grader Trent Hall, 14, is starting the school year off right. As the first-place winner of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s “You Made The Grade” sweepstakes, he is planning to use his winnings to give back to the local community, to support a local organization that helps women fighting cancer. Any remaining funds will be used for Trent’s school supplies.
The youngster won a grand prize of a $2,000 Exchange gift card, which he was awarded during a presentation at the Fort Gordon Exchange on Aug. 12.
“I plan to save the gift card until I visit the Lydia Project, which offers support services to women undergoing cancer treatment,” Hall said. “I want to use it to buy supplies for my volunteer shifts.”
MILITARY FAMILY
The youngster’s parents are both Army retirees with a combined 42 years of service.
His mother, Tameka M. Hall, served 22 years and retired as chief warrant officer three. His father, Robert E. Hall Sr., served 20 years and retired as master sergeant.
Mrs. Hall, who works as a Sustainment Division deputy at Fort Gordon, was browsing the Exchange website and discovered the “You Made The Grade” program and encouraged her son to apply.
“As a parent, I felt excited and incredibly proud because Trenton loves school and puts in a lot of effort both inside and outside of the classroom,” Tameka Hall said. “I truly feel blessed to have such a wonderful child.”
Trent enjoys reading and playing soccer in his spare time, but makes sure to dedicate time for his studies.
“Trenton is a disciplined, quiet and attentive student,” his mother noted. “He has always enjoyed school, with science being his favorite subject. Currently, Trenton is enrolled in all honors classes.”
HARD WORK
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rich Martinez, Exchange senior enlisted advisor, praised Hall and the other top three winners for their hard work.
“These exceptional students have demonstrated that dedication to academics leads to positive outcomes,” Martinez said. “Students, especially from military families, face significant pressures on their time. The Exchange is proud to recognize their hard work.”
THE PROGRAM
Through the Exchange’s “You Made the Grade” program, first- through 12th-graders with a B average or higher are eligible to receive a coupon book filled with Exchange discounts and a sweepstakes entry form for a shot at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 prize.
The program is intended to reward military students who excel in the classroom.
Those who enter must be dependents of authorized Exchange shoppers. Shoppers can visit customer service at their local Exchange for a coupon booklet and sweepstakes entry form.
The scholarly sweepstakes is engineered to reward military students for going above and beyond in their studies. Trent Hall was selected from more than 2,300 students with a military connection who entered the drawing after maintaining at least a B average during the spring semester.
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
