{"id":4897,"date":"2020-02-03T17:23:01","date_gmt":"2020-02-03T17:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=4897"},"modified":"2020-02-03T18:10:03","modified_gmt":"2020-02-03T18:10:03","slug":"army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-military-students-with-4000-in-prizes-for-stellar-academic-achievements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2020\/02\/03\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-military-students-with-4000-in-prizes-for-stellar-academic-achievements\/","title":{"rendered":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service Honors Military Students With $4,000 in Prizes for Stellar Academic Achievements"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \u00a0DALLAS <\/strong>\u2014 The Army & Air Force Exchange Service honored three hard-working military students for their academic excellence during the fall 2019 semester with $4,000 in prizes.<\/p>\n

Atticus Conlin, 8, won the grand prize, a $2,000 Exchange gift card, which was presented at the Fort Bragg Exchange. Atticus\u2019 father, Army Maj. Christopher Conlin, recently deployed for the fourth time.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI was really excited when I found out I had won,\u201d the third-grader said. \u201cI jumped around the room and even hugged my big sister. I\u2019d like to buy some Nerf guns, a new baseball mitt, and maybe a phone. I\u2019ll definitely buy some candy to share with my sisters too.\u201d (A video of Atticus learning of his prize can be found here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Collin Sedillo, 7, received his $1,500 second-place prize at the Kirtland AFB Exchange and plans to spend it on a Nintendo Switch and Pokemon cards. The first-grader\u2019s favorite subject is science and he loves to draw comics and kickbox in his free time. Collin\u2019s father, Jordan Sedillo, is an Iraq war Army Veteran.<\/p>\n

The third-place prize, a $500 Exchange gift card, went to 11-year-old Danielle Tomoka Choi from Fort Meade. The fifth-grader loves to run marathons, practice ballet, play the piano and participate in her school\u2019s band as a flautist. Danielle plans to give her younger sister Emily half of her winnings so they can both enjoy her prize. Her father, Maj. Brian Choi, a National Guard member, has served in the military for 12 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to reward military children who work hard in school,\u201d said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Luis Reyes, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. \u201cMilitary kids move so often it can be difficult to keep their grades up. These children have proven that they are adaptable and committed to their academics. The Exchange is proud of their achievements.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service\u2019s You Made the Grade program rewards students in first through 12th grade for above-average academic achievement to inspire them to continue striving for excellence. Military children who maintain a B average higher can bring their report cards each grading period to their local Exchange for a $5 gift card. Students can then enter the worldwide sweepstakes for a chance at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 Exchange gift card. The next sweepstakes drawing will take place in June.<\/p>\n

Facebook-friendly version<\/strong>: The Exchange honored three hard-working military students for winning the You Made the Grade Program sweepstakes. These star students won a total of $4,000 in Exchange gift cards! Read more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-1gZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

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. The Exchange is the 62nd<\/sup>-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.3 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. 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<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Gabriela Moore, 214-312-6514, or mooreag@aafes.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0DALLAS \u2014 The Army & Air Force Exchange Service honored three hard-working military students for their academic excellence during the fall 2019 semester with $4,000 in prizes. Atticus Conlin, 8, won the grand prize, a $2,000 Exchange gift card, which was presented at the Fort Bragg Exchange. Atticus\u2019 father, Army Maj. Christopher Conlin, recently deployed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":4902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"The Exchange honored three hard-working military students for winning the You Made the Grade Program sweepstakes. These star students won a total of $4,000 in Exchange gift cards! #AAFES #Exchange #Winner","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[160,48,230,231,232,33,36,229,57,39,44,62],"class_list":["post-4897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","tag-aafes","tag-deployed","tag-fort-bragg","tag-fort-meade","tag-kirtland","tag-press-release","tag-public-affairs","tag-soldier","tag-sweepstakes","tag-the-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-veterans-online-shopping-benefit","tag-you-made-the-grade"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2020\/02\/03\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-military-students-with-4000-in-prizes-for-stellar-academic-achievements\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service Honors Military Students With $4,000 in Prizes for Stellar Academic Achievements","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2020\/02\/03\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-military-students-with-4000-in-prizes-for-stellar-academic-achievements\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2020\/02\/03\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-military-students-with-4000-in-prizes-for-stellar-academic-achievements\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/Ft-Bragg-Grand-Prize-Presentation-e1580750363660.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/02\/Ft-Bragg-Grand-Prize-Presentation-e1580750363660.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marisa Conner"}],"creator":["Marisa Conner"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","deployed","fort bragg","fort meade","kirtland","press release","public affairs","soldier","sweepstakes","the army & air force exchange service","veterans online shopping benefit","you made the grade"],"dateCreated":"2020-02-03T17:23:01Z","datePublished":"2020-02-03T17:23:01Z","dateModified":"2020-02-03T18:10:03Z"},"rendered":"