Two Fort Buchanan students turned strong report cards into big wins through the Exchange’s You Made the Grade program, earning a combined $2,000 in Exchange gift cards.
Antilles Middle School sixth grader Liam Pimentel, 11, earned a $1,500 Exchange gift card as the worldwide sweepstakes’ second-place winner, while Commonwealth Middle School third grader Jorge Davila, 8, received a $500 Exchange gift card as the third-place winner. Both students were randomly selected from more than 2,000 entries.
The students were presented with their awards Aug. 29 by Command Sgt. Maj. Everett Sikes, garrison command sergeant major; Lt. Col. Eric Littlejohn, deputy garrison commander; Ulises Marrero, deputy to the garrison commander; and Fort Buchanan PX General Manager Rochelle Tolentino.
“Behind every report card from a student belonging to a military family is a story of hard work and perseverance,” Tolentino said. “It is an honor for the Exchange to recognize military children like Liam and Jorge, who inspire us every day with their resilience and determination.”
For Liam, the win came with a little extra luck. He entered the sweepstakes after bringing his report card to the Fort Buchanan PX, where he regularly earns You Made the Grade gift cards, discounts and freebies.
“I was shocked,” Liam said. “I was shocked because my mom got a keychain she bought in Hawaii and it said, ‘Luck may return as money.’ Before we entered the sweepstakes, we all kissed the card too. I think the charm worked.”
Liam is the son of Chief Petty Officer and Chief Machinery Technician Yocar Pimentel, who has served 16 years in the Coast Guard. Pimentel said he also couldn’t believe the news that his son had won.
“I couldn’t believe it at first,” Pimentel said. “I know a lot of people fill out those applications. I thought, ‘Wow, what a really lucky kid.’ He got really excited, so I was just happy for him. Last year, in fifth grade, he was on honor roll and at the top of the class. He is a really good student.”
Pimentel said the prize will help Liam buy items he has been wanting, including a Nintendo Switch 2. The family visits the PX two or three times a week, citing the savings compared with stores off installation.
Jorge, the son of Maj. Jorge Davila, who has served for three years since receiving a direct commission, entered the sweepstakes for the first time after his family learned about it while picking up You Made the Grade gift cards for him and his sister.
“It was unexpected,” said Jorge’s mother, Anna Bras. “This is the first time we entered. We didn’t know much about the program. When we got gift cards for him and his sister, we saw the sweepstakes form, so we sent it in.”
Bras said they entered for the chance to win one of the sweepstakes prizes of $2,000, $1,500 or $500. She said Jorge’s strong grades helped motivate the family to enter.
“We were proud of him and wanted him to see what he could achieve for getting good grades,” Bras said. “He is very responsible with his classwork and a very intelligent student. He’s got all A’s.”
Jorge plans to use the gift card toward a new iPad for school, Bras said.
“He’s very excited to choose,” Bras said. “An iPad was an item we weren’t expecting to buy, but he’ll be using Google Classroom in school, so he does need it.”
Bras said her family visits the Fort Buchanan PX almost every weekend, preferring it to stores outside the gate.
“It is our place to get everything the commissary doesn’t sell,” Bras said. “We also feel safer visiting. The kids can go through the aisles almost by themselves because everyone knows you and it’s a friendly place.”
For more than 25 years, the Exchange has recognized students in first through 12th grades for above-average academic achievement through You Made the Grade. Military children who maintain a B average or higher—or the equivalent—can bring their report cards for each grading period to their local Exchange for a $20 or $10 Exchange gift card and other prizes. Homeschooled students can participate as well.
Students can then enter the worldwide You Made the Grade sweepstakes for a chance to win a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 Exchange gift card. The next drawing will take place in December.
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