JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Cadet, Lt. Kristina Franke was presented with an award on May 15, at the Arlington Career Center in Arlington, Va., for winning the Armed Services YMCA National Essay Contest.
"Our annual essay contest allows children to express their love, appreciation and admiration for their military heroes," retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mike Landers, CEO of ASYMCA said. "Their essays also serve to remind us of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform, and their families, make each day for our country."
Kristina began her essay by defining what being a hero means to her.
"I define a military hero as a brave man or woman who steps up to the challenge of protecting their country and their loving families," Kristina wrote. "They make the ultimate sacrifices for everyone before themselves."
Having endured nine of her hero's deployments, she can speak on sacrifice from a first-hand perspective. Kristina's military hero is her father.
"He may be my military hero, but he is also my number one father in the whole world," she revealed as she read her essay to a classroom of AFJROTC students, her leadership and her parents. "My father does so much for the Air Force and for his family."
The Yorktown High School senior competed with 11th to 12th grade DOD dependents from across the nation. Her parents surprised her with the news that she won the high-level award. Furthermore, it would be presented to her in front of AFJROTC leadership and peers.
"I was shocked to find out I won," Kristina said.
Master Sgt. John Franke, 11th Security Forces Group superintendent of resources, and his wife Stephanie said they could not be happier with their daughter and her success.
"As a parent, I feel proud she put such a range of emotion in her words," Master Sgt. Franke said. "She wrote in an efficient and structured way that motivated the listener to share her perspective. I read the essay before, but hearing her read it out loud compounds the emotion she put into it. She did a great job putting what she believed in her essay and communicating her feelings."
Mrs. Franke recognized the difference in her daughter since she began her AFJROTC journey at the Arlington Career Center.
"I am definitely very proud of my daughter; she has come very far," she said. "It's amazing because she used to be very shy. This program and her dad have really helped her to succeed. She has been in JROTC for three years. Kristina ended her freshman year as a staff sergeant and skipped 10th grade all together. She became a master sergeant in 11th grade."
Kristina is now a Lt. group deputy commander, in charge of two groups, or about 100 people, at the AFJROTC unit VA821 at her school.
"My dad has helped me get to where I am now," Kristina said as she read her story aloud. "If he didn't help me with my leadership skills and motivation skills I wouldn't be reaching for my goals or trying to improve myself and also wouldn't be helping other high school cadets reach their goals and find the best in them."
Her hero acknowledged her strength and likened them to his own.
"As an NCO and as a cop, you have to take charge and control over some stressful situations; she is setting a tone of taking control over a conversation and guiding it with her words. I think that is really powerful."
Her strong qualities were recognized by leadership within the AFJROTC program as well.
"After my first two years in the program, I received the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Union Award for showing great skills and patriotism," Kristina said.
In addition, the young leader received decorations for mentoring youth with the Kitty Hawk program there.
"As a master sergeant, part of my job is mentoring," Franke said. "I'm proud knowing she is putting out messages about respect, honesty and integrity. She has not only been mentored well, but can mentor others. This shows her leadership ability."
Kristina has been earning college credits through a dual enrollment program and will be attending George Mason University in the fall to pursue her dream of becoming a social worker.
"I think the experience you had with this program is going to launch you into your future career," Giselle Schnieder, ASYMCA program director, said to Kristina. "You were able to overcome your shyness; you've learned leadership and communication skills; and with the values you already have, you are going to be an incredible social worker."