RAMSTEIN AIR BASE – For the second-place winner of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s worldwide You Made the Grade sweepstakes, the Kaiserslautern Military Community isn’t just a place to live—it’s an opportunity to broaden horizons.
Aaron Perez, a seventh-grader at Kaiserslautern Middle School, received his prize, a $1,500 Exchange gift card, during a Jan. 27 presentation at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Exchange. Col. Scott McFarland, commander of the Exchange’s Europe/Southwest Asia region, and Richard Toney, deputy director of the 86th Mission Support Group, congratulated Aaron on his win.
“The KMCC Exchange is privileged to honor Aaron’s exemplary academic performance with this prize,” McFarland said. “We know Aaron will do great things in the future and can’t wait to see the heights to which he’ll soar as his academic career progresses.”
Through the You Made the Grade program, first- through 12th-graders who maintain 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 Exchange gift card.
Aaron, 12, was one of three winners randomly selected from more than 550 eligible entries. He said he plans to use the gift card to purchase a laptop to help with his schoolwork.
Since moving to Kaiserslautern two years ago, Aaron has taken full advantage of living in the heart of Europe. Earlier this month, he traveled to the Swiss Alps for the Boy Scouts’ annual Klondike event, and recently traveled to Naples, Italy for a Boy Scouts summer camp.
“I like meeting new people and staying in new places,” Aaron said.
Aaron’s father, Sgt. 1st Class Juan Perez, is an Army Reservist serving in the 7th Mission Support Command. He said the frequent moves of a military lifestyle have not always been easy, but Aaron has always found a way to make the most of it.
“It’s exciting to be in a new place, but it’s also sad to leave the place we were at,” Perez said. “Our children are really resilient in that aspect, and they’ve learned to adapt. It’s hard to leave behind those friends they’ve made in the past, but they’ve become very social and can make new ones easily.”
Students and guardians can contact the KMCC Exchange at (0)6371-4079100 for more information about the You Made the Grade program. Students can send You Made the Grade sweepstakes entry forms, which are included in the coupon booklets, to:
You Made the Grade
PO Box 227398
Dallas, TX 75222-7398
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The second-place winner of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s You Made the Grade sweepstakes says Kaiserslautern isn’t just a place to live—it’s an opportunity to broaden horizons. Read more: http://bit.ly/2rMHja5.
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. As the 56th-largest retailer in the United States, Exchange earnings provided $2.4 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.
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Media Notes:
For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Conner Hammett, 214-312-2714 or [email protected].
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