Kadena Exchange’s ‘You Made the Grade’ Program rewards stellar military kids year-round

KADENA AIR FORCE BASE — For 20 years, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has celebrated the resiliency of military children who work hard in school, awarding them nearly $550,000 through its You Made the Grade program.

Kadena students in first through 12th grades who maintain a B average or higher are eligible to receive a $5 gift card each grading period. Students who qualify for a gift card also have a chance to win a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 Exchange gift card by filling out a sweepstakes entry form.

“Military students face unique challenges,” said Kadena Exchange Store Manager Flordeliza Payton. “In fact, according to the Department of Defense Education Activity, military children move an average of six to nine times while they are in school. These young members of the military family also cope with their parents’ deployments, making new friends and the stresses of daily classwork. They deserve to be recognized and rewarded for excelling.”

To receive the gift card and sweepstakes entry form, military students can bring their report card to the Kadena Exchange Customer Service Counter. Homeschooled students can participate by providing written affirmation of their grades from a parent or other community-authorized education provider. Students can submit one sweepstakes entry for each grading period.

Students can send completed sweepstakes forms to:

You Made the Grade
PO Box 227398
Dallas, TX 75222-7398

“The Exchange is all in to make military communities the No. 1 place to live and work,” Payton said. “It has been a privilege to reward military students’ academic excellence for the last 20 years.”