Fort Knox Garrison Commander Col. Lance O’Bryan, Command Sgt. Maj. William R. Fogle and Fort Knox Exchange General Manager Donald Basil presented Sydney with her $1,500 PX gift card at the Fort Knox Exchange on Jan. 28.
FORT KNOX – Hard work and good grades have paid off for a Fort Knox fourth-grader—to the tune of $1,500.
Nine-year-old Sydney Taliaferro, who attends Van Voorhis Elementary School on Fort Knox, took home the second-place prize in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s worldwide You Made the Grade sweepstakes. The program celebrates military students’ academic success and resilience in the classroom.
Fort Knox Garrison Commander Col. Lance O’Bryan, Command Sgt. Maj. William R. Fogle and Exchange leaders presented Sydney with her $1,500 PX gift card at the Fort Knox Exchange on Jan. 28.
“The Exchange is honored to recognize Sydney for her dedication to doing well at school,” said Fort Knox Exchange General Manager Donald Basil. “She is a shining example for military kids worldwide. Hard work is rewarded—and the Exchange is proud of her.”
Sydney is the daughter of retired Master Sgt. Nick Taliaferro and Chief Warrant Officer Jonte’ia Taliaferro, who is assigned to Fort Knox. Her mother expressed excitement for her accomplishment.
“I was shocked at first,” Chief Taliaferro said. “This is a really cool program.”
Sydney’s favorite subject is math. She hopes to become an architect when she grows up.
“I was really excited when I found out that I won,” Sydney said. “I would like to thank my mom, because I would not have won without her.”
The Exchange’s You Made the Grade program, now in its 22nd year, rewards students who maintain a B average or higher with a $5 PX/BX gift card each grading period during the school year. Students can then enter the worldwide sweepstakes for a chance at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 gift card.
Other winners of the You Made the Grade sweepstakes for the fall semester include grand-prize winner Brooke Eskew at Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan, and third-place winner Alexander Popovich at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in South Korea.
Facebook-friendly version: She studies, she scores! A Fort Knox student won a $1,500 @shopmyexchange gift card in the You Made the Grade sweepstakes. Read more about Sydney Taliaferro’s big win: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-1Y0.
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 54th-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $3.4 billion in earnings for critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website 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 Keiana Holleman, 214-312-6514 or [email protected].
Follow the Exchange:
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