DALLAS – The grand-prize winner in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s You Made the Grade sweepstakes has more than just good grades. She has a big heart, too.

Eighth-grader Holly Thill, 14, took home the top prize in the Exchange’s semiannual sweepstakes, part of a program to reward military students for academic success. Holly, who is home-schooled in Beavercreek, Ohio, and earns mostly A’s, was awarded a $2,000 Exchange gift card during a presentation at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Exchange on Feb. 5. 

With part of her winnings, Holly plans to buy blankets and coats to distribute to the homeless in Ohio through her church, Emmanuel Catholic Church, in Dayton.

“I want to help those who are homeless,” Holly said. “So many of the homeless are veterans—I want to give back to those who have served in the military.”

The military holds a special place in Holly’s heart. She and her six younger siblings have grown up in a military family. Her father, Lt. Col. Joseph Thill, is the deputy director at the Air Force Research Laboratory and has served in the Air Force for 22 years. Holly’s mother, Bridget Thill, served in the Air Force for nine years as well.

The worldwide sweepstakes also awarded second- and third-place prizes. The second prize, a $1,500 Exchange gift card, was awarded to Grace Yuquimpo, a 10^th-grader at Seoul American High School at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan. She received her $1,500 gift card during a presentation at the Camp Casey Exchange.

Grace travels by bus nearly two hours each morning to her high school. After school, she plays sports, including varsity basketball and varsity soccer. But, she still finds time to stay dedicated to her studies. 

With her prize, Grace intends to buy gifts, including a computer and luggage, for her mom, Kay Yuquimpo, a nurse at The Medical Clinic at Camp Casey, and her dad, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nick Yuquimpo, who is assigned to Camp Red Cloud.

Drew Koike, a 10th-grader at School Without Walls High School in Washington, D.C., won the third-place prize—a $500 Exchange gift card. He received his prize during a presentation at the Joint Base Andrews Exchange. He’s the son of retired Master Sgt. Jason Leinen and Miyuki Koike.

“The program has motivated me to strive for better grades every time,” said Drew, who maintains a B average while staying involved with extracurricular activities, including Model United Nations, cycling and lacrosse. 

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, the Exchange senior enlisted advisor, praised the winners for their hard work.

“These outstanding students have proved that commitment to working hard in school really does pay off,” Applegate said. “Students—especially military students—face tremendous pressures with many demands on their time. The Exchange is honored to reward these students for their hard work.” 

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.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff.  To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/public-affairs/press-releases.htmor 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 Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 11th, 2016 at 10:13 and is filed under Press Release. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.