Congratulations to Connor, 15, from Florida – the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve WINNER of OMK’s Courageous Kids of 2021 Contest sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union!

“Connor has demonstrated courage, resilience and strength in his first year of high school,” said his mother. “He put in four months of hard work with pre-season #basketball training to show his dedication and become a better player. However, after all his hard work, Connor did not make his high school basketball team.
He could have let this define his high school experience and ruin his love for basketball, but instead, Connor decided to join the high school wrestling team and a recreational basketball league to work on his skills. Connor gave his all at wrestling and excelled in the recreational basketball league. He did this while maintaining a 4.3 GPA, including AICE and AP courses.

Connor has just now made the cut to be on a local AAU basketball team. I am so proud that he did not let one coach’s opinion of him ruin his love for the game of basketball. I think it takes great courage for a high school student to try something and not succeed. To then give it another try shows great strength, resilience, and courage.

On top of that, to have his father not be present for it all because he is deployed makes it even more admirable. When his father returns home, Connor hopes to be able to tell him that he has achieved his goal of making his high school basketball team!”

Connor has received two Our Military Kids grants to cover basketball fees during his father’s deployment. Thank you, Connor + family, for your service!