Fort Belvoir Third Grader Wins $500 Prize in Exchange’s ‘You Made the Grade’ Sweepstakes

Fort Belvoir Upper School third grader Bronsyn Dungey, 8, turned his first You Made the Grade entry into a prize-winning moment, earning third place in the Exchange’s worldwide sweepstakes.

“I was very surprised and excited,” Bronsyn said. “I can’t believe I’ve won $500. This is proof hard work always pays off.”

Bronsyn, the son of Navy Cmdr. Gibb Dungey, who has served 17 years, was presented a $500 Exchange gift card by Store Manager Nanami Taniguchi during an Aug. 14 event at the Fort Belvoir PX.

“We’re thrilled to recognize Bronsyn’s dedication and love of learning,” Taniguchi said. “Military kids like Bronsyn inspire us every day. The You Made the Grade program and sweepstakes is our way to commend their hard work in and out of the classroom.”

Megan Dungey, Bronsyn’s mother, said she was preparing to visit the Fort Belvoir PX when she checked her email on her phone in the car and she saw her son had been selected.

“I couldn’t believe it. My jaw just dropped,” Dungey said. “My husband is currently away for training all summer, so I checked my email to see if my husband had written anything before leaving. I saw the email and it said Bronsyn won. I was so excited. Bronsyn was with me in the van. I said, ‘Bronsyn, read this, read what this says.’ And his face just lit up. I called my husband right away and had Bronsyn tell his father that he won.”

Dungey said they plan to use the reward for back-to-school shopping.

“We plan to get him some new shoes, clothes and a new backpack,” she said. “I have a family of seven, so the $500 is a big help.”

A soccer and basketball player, gymnast and an eager learner, Bronsyn will be taking advanced academic courses in math and reading this school year.

“He is so bright,” Dungey said. “We recently found out he’s been selected for full-time advanced classes for third grade. With him receiving this gift card, it has been even more motivation for him. This was his reward for that. It was perfect timing.”

Dungey said her children have participated in the program for several semesters, but had never entered the drawing before. She said it’s important for military families and their children to feel appreciated.

“It feels good to know the Exchange is giving back to the kids who sacrifice a lot with what their parents put in for their country,” Dungey said. “It means a lot that kids are being seen and it’s a reward for them specifically because they’re balancing so many other things.”

For more than 25 years, the Exchange’s You Made the Grade program has rewarded students in first through 12th grades for above-average academic achievement to inspire them to continue striving for excellence. Military children who maintain a B average or higher can bring their report cards each grading period to their local Exchange for a $20 or $10 Exchange gift card and other prizes. Students can then enter the worldwide sweepstakes for a chance at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 Exchange gift card.

Fort Belvoir Upper School rising grader Bronsyn Dungey accepts his You Made the Grade Prize at the Fort Belvoir Exchange, accompanied by his mother, Megan Dungey, and his sisters. At right is Fort Belvoir Store Manager Nanami Taniguchi.