Top ‘You Made the Grade’ Winner to Give Back to His Community with Generous Gift

Augusta (Ga,) Christian School ninth grader Trent Hall, 14, is starting the school year off right as the first-place winner of the Exchange’s “You Made The Grade” sweepstakes where he is planning to use his winnings to give back to the local community. Trent has won a grand prize in the form of a $2,000 Exchange gift card, which will be presented to him during a presentation at the Fort Gordon Exchange on Aug. 12.

“I feel so grateful and blessed to have been chosen. I was really surprised when my mom told me I was chosen in the first place,” Trent said.

This 14-year-old plans to use his prize money to support a local organization that helps women fighting cancer. Any remaining funds will be used for Trent’s school supplies.

“I plan to save the gift card until I visit the Lydia Project, which offers support services to women undergoing cancer treatment. I want to use it to buy supplies for my volunteer shifts,” Trent said.

The scholarly sweepstakes is engineered to reward military students for going above and beyond in their studies. Trent was selected from more than 2,300 students with a military connection who entered the drawing after maintaining at least a B average during the spring semester.

Trent’s parents are both Army retirees with a combined 42 years of service. His mother, Tameka M. Hall, served 22 years and retired as chief warrant officer three. His father, Robert E. Hall Sr., served 20 years and retired as master sergeant. Mrs. Hall, who works as a Sustainment Division deputy at Fort Gordon, was browsing the Exchange website and discovered the “You Made The Grade” program and encouraged him to apply.

“As a parent, I felt excited and incredibly proud because Trenton loves school and puts in a lot of effort both inside and outside of the classroom,” Tameka Hall said. “I truly feel blessed to have such a wonderful child.”

Trent enjoys reading and playing soccer in his spare time, but makes sure to dedicate time for his studies.

“Trenton is a disciplined, quiet and attentive student. He has always enjoyed school, with science being his favorite subject. Currently, Trenton is enrolled in all honors classes,” Tameka Hall said.

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rich Martinez, Exchange senior enlisted advisor, praised the top three winners for their hard work.

“These exceptional students have demonstrated that dedication to academics leads to positive outcomes,” Martinez said. “Students, especially from military families, face significant pressures on their time. The Exchange is proud to recognize their hard work.”

Through the Exchange’s You Made the Grade program, first- through 12th-graders with a B average or higher are eligible to receive a coupon book filled with Exchange discounts and a sweepstakes entry form for a shot at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 prize. The program is intended to reward military students who excel in the classroom. Those who enter must be dependents of authorized Exchange shoppers. Shoppers can visit customer service at their local Exchange for a coupon booklet and sweepstakes entry form.

Col. Anthony Kazor, Fort Gordon garrison commander, and Latoya Harris, Fort Gordon Exchange general manager, present a $2,000 gift card to Trenton Hall, the worldwide first-place winner in the Exchange’s “You Made the Grade” sweepstakes. From left: Col. Kazor; Trent’s mother, Tameka Hall; Trent; Trent’s father, Robert E. Hall Sr.; Harris; and Fort Gordon Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Durette. Trent’s parents are both Army retirees with a combined 42 years of service.  (U.S. Army photos by David Logsdon)