Kayla's Story

"As a parent of this nominee, I can only say there are just too many things to be proud of," said Kayla's mother. "During her dad's recovery with Wounded Warrior Regiment she has shown resilience. She has helped at home with her siblings and stepping up in our household as a role model."

"She has maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking dual enrollment classes at the local college, keeping up with studies during extracurricular activities like travel softball and track and field. She has been big on giving back to the community. She is an assistant soccer coach for recreational soccer, helping out with she can at local food pantries.

"There have been times where I’ve been stressed trying to adjust to helping my husband with his disabilities. She has been more than understanding and has helped me out many times with her younger siblings. Whether I’ve needed her to be my Uber driver or go to the grocery store, she’s always there. I always feel she goes above and beyond to be the most helpful.

"Her dad has been on multiple deployments resulting in many combat-related injuries. She has been a comfort for me and made things a lot easier.  She has also been involved in youth programs at our church and continues to thrive spiritually. We are so excited to see what this year brings to her. As she heads off to college, I know she is ready to be on her own. She can adjust to anything that comes her way. I’m not worried that she’s ready to face the world."