A handful of area teens are among the 95 military children ages 13 to 18 from across the United States and overseas that are in the running for a national awards program recognizing America’s military kids, Operation Homefront announced Jan. 12.
Local semifinalists for Operation Homefront’s 2021 Military Child of the Year Awards program in the Marine Corps branch are Jake Alchin, 17, of New Bern (Havelock High School), Cameron Davis, 17, of Jacksonville (Onslow Early College High School), Tatihana Loya, 17, of Swansboro (Swansboro High School) and Michayla Wittner, 17, of Jacksonville (Southwest Onslow High School). Alessandra Besachio, 16, of Hubert (Culver Academies) is a semifinalist for the Navy branch award.