 Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit serving America's Military Families, has named Molly Frey, a senior at Pickerington North High School in Pickerington, Ohio, its 2017 National Guard Military Child of the Year.
Frey, who competed with nearly 400 applicants, will receive $10,000 and a flight for her and a Family member to Washington, D.C., for an awards gala on April 6. Frey is the daughter of Senior Master Sgt. Renee Frey, Ohio National Guard Joint Force Headquarters human resources office management analyst, and retired Senior Master Sgt. Kim Frey, former 121st Air Refueling Wing public affairs superintendent.
Molly was honored for academic achievement, volunteerism, extracurricular activity and leadership. She is graduating high school a year early and has been accepted to Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where she will study biology. She has also earned a spot on the Capital Crusaders golf team. Her accomplishments reflect resiliency, considering her childhood included her mother's active-duty military demands and her father's multiple deployments, including service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“She has continuously worked so hard to maintain her high grades while being involved in so many activities,” Renee said. “Her father and I were overcome with excitement and we are so very proud of her.”
Molly, an honor roll student, maintains a 4.14 grade point average. In 2012, along with her figure skating coach, she created and held the inaugural figure skating show, “Tribute to the Troops,” which honored military members and collected items for shipment to deployed service men and women. Frey also raised more than $6,000 for breast cancer research by participating in the annual Skate for Hope for five years.
Molly studied ballet for over nine years and performed in BalletMet's professional production of “The Nutcracker” six times. She studied piano for over 11 years and now gives piano lessons to young students at 88 Keys Music Studio. She has also participated in the leadership group Students Serving Students, which is designed to improve character, bolster school climate and organize events.
Operation Homefront announced winners from five other branches of the military and the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation.
“These seven award recipients are truly exceptional young people who have achieved much at such a young age, in terms of academic achievement and service to others. They are remarkable representatives of a larger community of extraordinary military kids,” said retired Brig. Gen. John I. Pray Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront. “The nearly 400 nominees we had for our ninth annual Military Child of the Year Awards all personified resiliency, leadership, achievement and strength of character. Their Families and their communities can be justifiably proud of each of them — and we are too.” |
