Yorktown teen chosen for Military Child of the Year
YORKTOWN, Va. (WAVY) — Yorktown teen Allison Candelario was selected as Operation Homefront’s 2024 Military Child of the Year to represent the Army.
Her parents and brother have all served or currently serve in the military. Candelario was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 13 — a journey that sparked the desire to become a pediatric surgeon.
“My aim is to become a pediatric surgeon who can not only heal bodies, but also etch values of empathy into the hearts of patients,” she said. “This experience ignited in me a determination to carry forward the values of empathy and compassion.”
Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit. They aim to build strong, stable and secure military families. The annual award celebrates the achievements of military children, reflecting the positive impact they’ve made.
“Recipients of this annual award are selected for their excellence in scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, and extracurricular activities,” a release states. “A gala to honor the 2024 MCOY recipients will be held on April 11 in Arlington, Virginia. There, MCOY awards will be delivered by top military leadership, and each recipient will also receive $10,000, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts.”
Check with WAVY.com for more updates.
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