4-17-2026 12:03am

Little Miami Senior Makes It As One of the Top 5 Finalists for 2026 Military Child of the Year

Beth Callahan Editor

MAINEVILLE, OH -- Growing up as a military dependent, Abigail Transfiguracion, now a senior at Little Miami High School, was born and then raised on military bases across the county.

"I was born in Arizona, then we moved Texas, then Missouri and Idaho, then here... 5 moves," she said.

Abigail, whose father Rodney served in the Air Force until he retired explained she likes to say that both parents actually served... "I like to say both because mom (Erin) was always home with us keeping things together."

Even though her father has retired, Abigail explained how the military still plays a very important part of her life. As a current participant of Little Miami High School's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), she was recently recognized as one of the top five of Operation Home Front's Military Child of the Year.

Operation Home Front is a 501(C)(3) Non-profit that "provides relief and recurring family support programs and services throughout the year to help military families overcome short-term difficulties so they don’t become long-term hardships."

Since 2008, Operation Homefront has been recognizing some of the outstanding children of military personnel in all its branches through a program called Military Child of the Year® Award. The award "reflects the positive impact that these impressive young people have made on their military families, their schools, and their communities."

"There are certain specifications you have to meet, such as a parent has to have been or is in the military for a certain amount of time, and you have to be nominated," Abigail said, noting that it was her JROTC Instructor Lieutenant Chas Petersen who nominated her.

"That was a fun surprise for me... learning in class when he said, 'Oh, by the way, you're a semi- finalist for Military Child of the Year. ' I didn't know what that was. So, I did a bit of research."

As a semi-finalist, Abigail had to fill out another application on her own, and write an essay. "Then, after that, I was chosen out of, I think, 2000 other military children as a semi finalist. I was chosen as one of the top five military children for the Air Force."

Abigail explained that they pick the top five for each branch, and then, each branch has a finalist.

"I had to do an interview. I'd rather write.," laughed the two time winner of the International Armed Service YMCA Arts & Essay Contest. "It was an hour long interview and very nerve wrecking."

During the interview Abigail said she was asked what she would advise other military child.

"Learning how to adapt... that is the biggest thing, for you are moving about every two years. Honestly, you need to make the most of it. In the past, I used to look at the bad things.. 'oh my friends ... I have to move away from all my friends that I just became so close to.' I didn't realize how many opportunities were actually being opened. I have been to so many states and experienced more things than a lot of people get a chance to experience. So learning to live the most you can at each place."

"Social Media makes it easier to move. You are able to keep in touch with friends who you met in all the other places. I might not be talking to them everyday, but we can keep up with each other," she said.

On the day of our interview, Abigail found out that she did not make the Top Finalist as the 2026 Air Force Military Child of the Year. "I'm still very happy I did it, and very honored that my instructor nominated me," she explained."

Abigail, who currently works at Otterbein in Lebanon as a resident aid, plans on going to Wright State University to study to become a nurse anesthesiologist."I really wanted to enlist but going to college and go through college ROTC, I can hopefully get committed as an officer.... I can't see myself not being in the military. It's been my life."