Their Success, Our Mission
In April, we celebrate military kids with the world.
Each of these young adults pictured is part of a military family that has overcome challenges while sharing in successes. For 26 years, MCEC’s mission has been to help military kids succeed. We do the research, cultivate the resources, and create a network of support on their behalf.
Madison, Kansas
Madison serves her community every day as a fifth-grade teacher and understands firsthand how impactful teachers can be on a young life. After experiencing her Marine father’s six deployments and multiple training absences, Madison credits her military childhood with instilling a sense of service and influencing her choice of career.
“I distinctly remember how impactful each one of my teachers was to my success. I am grateful for their support and dedication in shaping my character and modeling a life of service. Pursuing a career in public education felt like a natural progression, allowing me to continue the legacy of service and make a positive impact on future generations.”
Isaac, Texas
Isaac grew up in a Marine family watching his parents serve and persist through any situation. Their example led him to want to work with Veterans. This Fall, Isaac will attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, majoring in Psychology with an emphasis on clinical science.
“I would love to be a psychologist as it’s always been a dream of mine to work with people. I eventually would like to work for the Department of Veteran Affairs and help with treating veterans with mental health challenges, like PTSD. Growing up as a military child and having a father who is a disabled veteran has led me to want to help support the military and veteran community.”
Alison, Washington, DC
Born in Germany to an Army dad, Alison had an interest in other cultures from the beginning. As an undergraduate at University of Texas – Austin, she studied Honors Geography and German and did a Congressional Fellowship in Osnabruck, Germany. A volunteer opportunity with Syrian refugees set her on a new course and Master’s degree in International Development. Her work in Monitoring and Evaluation with Catholic Relief Services allows her to serve communities in need and reflects her family’s value of service to others.
“Growing up in a military family exposed me to a wide range of cultural experiences and introduced me to the concept of a service-oriented career. It also instilled in me a degree of adaptability and an ability to roll with the punches that I am grateful for…all of these factors prepared me well for my work in the humanitarian assistance sector.”
Nate, Japan
“Being the child of a military member allowed me to meet, fellowship, and participate in events with people from all walks of life. From race, religion, and region of the country to socioeconomic status, the military attracts the full spectrum of America, which allowed me to have direct experiences with a range of people united by a dedication to service.
I understand the sacrifices of military members and their families and the benefits of being in the military, including schooling, travel, opportunities, and job satisfaction. When I looked at universities and careers during my teenage years, my familiarity with the military removed the typical fear of pursuing a career in the armed forces. Using the relationships I cultivated through my father’s network, I settled on pursuing a career in the Air Force and applied to the Air Force Academy to become a pilot.”
Morgan, Virginia
Morgan is beginning her career as an Occupation Therapist after growing up in an Air Force family.
“Growing up in the military taught me the concept of things I can control, and things I cannot early on. My family did a great job of maintaining consistency in areas we had control over, and leaving space to process things we could not, such as relocating. As an adult, these principles have helped me through the ebbs and flows of life. I can apply the same concept with my patients – capitalizing on aspects within their control in order to increase their independence.”
Bria, New York
Bria saw the world with her Air Force family and credits her military childhood with giving her a way to face the world. She is the Associate Company Manager for The Great Gatsby, a new musical on Broadway. The Broadway Women’s Fund has selected Bria as 2024 Woman to Watch on Broadway as a theatre industry emerging female leader.
“Each military perspective is unique in both burdens and opportunities. Mine shaped how I approach the world and its experiences with a curiosity to understand before anything else. I can’t wish it for everyone, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Charles, North Carolina
Charles is a talented musician, technology expert, and Teaching Fellow. Service to his community comes naturally to this Air Force brat. The often-times stressful or absurd situations that military families have to navigate become the experiences talked about with fond affection and laughter.
“We had orders to Guam but three days short of leaving they changed to Loring AFB, ME. It was Christmastime, so we did the I-40 hustle in 4 days from Merced, CA to Raleigh, NC where we spent Christmas before heading to Maine. We still talk about how that was our National Lampoon’s ‘Christmas Vacation.’”
The legacy continues with Charles’ sister, Anna….
Anna, Illinois
Anna is remarkably close to her Air Force Veteran father. They share a passion for giving blood, understanding firsthand how it saves lives. Anna is currently in law school working in Loyola’s Family Advocacy Law Center. Both Charles and Anna will tell you three things that impacted their adult lives from the military:
- Desert Storm, because they got mail from their dad every day, including tapes of books he read to them.
- Korea because of the people and culture while living off base.
- DoDEA schools because of teachers who were accepting of all and became a part of our family during the holidays.
“Being the new kid taught us to be positive and look for opportunities.”
Sean, Virginia
Sean is a sophomore aviation major at Hampton University. Sean grew up a Marine kid with a family steeped in service. His Navy career was a natural choice to continue his family’s legacy of service.
“My family has a history of service, both in and out of the military. I enjoyed living in multiple countries and states across the US and thought becoming a Navy Sailor would be a great way for me to continue seeing the world and continue my family legacy.”
Julia, Missouri
Julia, recently retired as a Colonel, continued her family’s legacy of service with her own 28-year Army career beginning at West Point. “My Dad got to see the world through the Army and that is what I wanted to do!”
“I have many memories of my Dad in uniform: early mornings and late nights, deployments and one-year overseas tours, and attending special events like Thanksgiving meals at the dining facility. My Dad got to see the world through the Army and that is what I wanted to do! I entered the Army the year my Dad retired after 30 years of service. I traveled the world, experienced diverse cultures, was pictured on the U.S. Army Uniform Poster, made life-long friends, and would not change a thing!”
Zac, Washington, DC
“Being raised in a military family meant a childhood filled with frequent moves, each time introducing me to new faces and cultures. This lifestyle cultivated my enthusiasm for meeting people and navigating change with ease. Now, in my consulting career, I find joy in the constant flow of new interactions and the opportunity to leverage my communication skills daily.”
Luke, Colorado
Luke studied biochemistry as an undergraduate and went on to receive his MBA. He made the decision to join the National Guard and continue a family tradition of military service.
“Growing up, I saw the positive impact my parents had on soldiers and their families. Serving provides me the opportunity to make a difference and help others the way my parents did.”