Guam 3rd grader wins worldwide Armed Services YMCA contest

Nina Taitano’s wining entry in the 2016 Annual Armed Services YMCA Art and Essay Contest. (Contributed Photo)

SPRINGFIELD, Va.—The Armed Services YMCA announced Nina Taitano, of Barrigada, as a winner in the 2016 Annual Armed Services YMCA Art and Essay Contest. Taitano, a third grader at CDR William C. McCool Elementary and Middle School, was selected as the winner in the National Guard and Reserve category.
William D. French, Vice Admiral, USN (Ret), president/CEO of Armed Services YMCA, will present the prize of an Apple iPod Touch to Taitano at the McCool School Thursday, June 9, at 9:30am. French, former Commander, Joint Region Marianas, is on the island to speak at the USO’s 75th Anniversary Gala and to explore options of bringing ASYMCA services to the military men and women, and their families, stationed on Guam.
The annual Armed Services YMCA Art & Essay Contest allows children to express their love, appreciation and admiration for their military heroes and serves to remind us of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform, and their families, make each day for our country. Entries for the art contest depict the theme, “My Military Family.”
The contest is officially launched every November and is open to all eligible children of U.S. active duty or retired service members.
Winners of both the art and essay contests have their winning entries displayed at 34 Armed Services YMCA Branches and affiliate locations, as well as military bases worldwide during Military Family Month each November. Winners also receive special Apple brand product prizes to help military children create and express themselves.

Art contest
Entries for the art contest should depict the theme, “My Military Family.” Co-sponsored by GEICO, the art contest promotes art among children in grades K-6 of active duty or retired (with 20+ years of service) members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard/Reserves families.

Essay contest
This year’s theme, “My Military Hero,” encourages military children to use creative writing to express what their military hero means to them.
Each year, the Armed Services YMCA serves more than half a million junior enlisted active duty Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen and their families from 200 service centers in 18 states. Whether providing respite child care for parents in need, summer camps for kids, or assisting with emergency needs, the Armed Services YMCA is a nonprofit with a mission: Make Military Life Easier. To learn more about the Armed Services YMCA visit asymca.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.