April is Month of the Military Child

Onslow County Schools has had a long and very positive relationship with our military. The growth of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River and their associated schools and facilities has had a tremendous impact on the growth of the school system, as well as the local community.  

April is celebrated as the Month of the Military Child, a time dedicated to recognizing the resilience, bravery, and sacrifices of military-connected children. More than 40% of OCS students are military-connected, and these young individuals face unique challenges, such as frequent relocations and the absence of deployed parents. During the Month of the Military Child, schools throughout OCS have special events and activities planned as we join the Department of Defense and other organizations in honoring the strength and adaptability of our military children and families. 

Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all military branches, representing unity and support for all military-connected children. Purple Up Day is observed annually during the Month of the Military Child. This special day encourages communities to wear purple as a visible gesture of support for military children and their families. 

We invite board members, OCS staff, and the larger Onslow County community to join us in wearing purple on Purple Up Day – Friday, April 11 – to recognize and honor the sacrifices made by our military-connected children. Your participation helps show our collective support and appreciation for their strength and resilience. 

Also during April is the recognition of Operation Homefront’s Military Child of the Year. This award is a prestigious annual recognition which celebrates the exceptional achievements of military children. Now in its 17th year, the award acknowledges young individuals aged 13 to 18 who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, and extracurricular activities while navigating the challenges of military life. Each Operation Homefront recipient represents a branch of the armed forces. 

We are honored to recognize two OCS students for their selection as part of the program. 

We would like to congratulate Dixon High School junior Hannah Kirksey on her selection as a 2025 United States Marine Corps Military Child of the Year Finalist. Hannah lives in Sneads Ferry and is in the 11th grade at Dixon High School.  

As a military child, Hannah adapted to moving six times and attending seven schools by using her comedic skills to make friends. Despite her father’s many deployments during significant milestones in her life, she overcame adversity early on. She managed dyslexia with determination and excelled academically, ranking in the top 20 of her class at DHS with a 4.2 GPA. 

Hannah is a dedicated athlete, earning varsity letters in swimming and cheerleading, and competing nationally. Her hard work has made her a National Merit Scholarship contender. She also leads various clubs, including mentoring in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and founding the Military Community and Support Club. Hannah also recently placed in the top 10 for the Healthy Living category at the HOSA – Future Health Professionals State Conference. 

With over 750 volunteer hours and a part-time nursery job at her local church, Hannah aims to attend Duke University or UNC Chapel Hill for Nursing/Pre-Med, aspiring to become a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse.  

Hannah's story exemplifies strength, adaptability, and relentless drive. 

We are proud to share that Swansboro High School junior Isabella Smith has been selected as the 2025 United States Marine Corps Military Child of the Year.  

The passing of her father in 2023 had a profound impact on Isabella. Despite her grief, she channeled her emotions into honoring her father's memory and transformed from a shy student into a campus leader. Isabella's dedication to service and leadership is inspired by her father's hard work and commitment to his career. 

Isabella has excelled academically at Swansboro High School, maintaining high standards in AP and dual-credit classes. She is on track to earn an associate degree before graduating high school. Balancing her academic workload with leadership activities, Isabella has volunteered 200 hours with school and community organizations, including serving as the Student 2 Student Military Coordinator, helping new students transition smoothly into their new environment. 

She is also president of the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, has an internship at Swansboro Middle, and has been accepted to the North Carolina Governor’s School this summer. This past October, Isabella attended the Military Child Education Coalition’s Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program at the United States Military Academy at West Point. While there, she received the Suzy Carlton Student Leadership and Civic Responsibility Award.  

Isabella's resilience and ability to balance her academic and leadership responsibilities have made her a role model at Swansboro High School. She aspires to a career in the political field and is considering several universities in North Carolina for her bachelor's degree before attending law school.  

As the Marine Corps honoree, Isabella will be flown to Washington, D.C. and be recognized at the April 2025 gala. At this event, senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards. They will also receive $10,000 each, a laptop, and other donated gifts. 

Congratulations to Isabella and Hannah, and we thank the military families and children in our community for the sacrifices they make for our nation each and every day.