Prior to entering the ninth grade, Travis Almand's family moved 10 times. Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization, recognizes how hard and how common the multitude of relocations is for military families. In honor of children who rise to the challenge of excelling in the midst of a nomadic lifestyle, the nonprofit set up an annual awards program that will recognize seven outstanding children of U.S. service members, ages 13 to 18. Almand is in the running to be one of those seven.
Almand is a distinguished Eagle Scout and is in the 10 percent of his senior class. He played defensive end for the Dragon football team and had a successful season. Almand was selected as a Carroll Green Jacket out of 200 other students. Green Jackets are chosen by the faculty and are picked for their outstanding service and academic achievement.
Almand is one of 15 semifinalists in the Air Force category. Award recipients will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., to be recognized at the April 2018 gala. Senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards. Award-winners will also receive $10,000 each, a laptop computer and other donated gifts.