DENVER — A Colorado teen who's the son of a National Guard colonel and conducted a humanitarian project in Nepal was recently named a Military Child of the Year.
The nonprofit Operation Homefront honors seven teens – one from each military branch – with the award each year for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership and extracurricular involvement while facing the challenges of a military family life.
Caleb Hatch, 19, of Boulder, was named the Military Child of the Year for the National Guard for 2024.
Hatch is a University of Colorado Boulder student who has dealt with 38 months of parent deployments and the medical issues of diabetes and celiac disease, according to Operation Homefront. He's active with the CU Boulder chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
"I love science," he said. "I love constantly being in awe of how the world works, like how computers can teach me physics or how bioengineering has created the insulin that keeps me alive. I want to be part of making the world a better place through innovation.
As part of his work with Engineers Without Borders, Hatch was on a team that went to rural Nepal to implement a spring source protection and water distribution system.
He also plays the viola and was principal chair for ensembles within the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony.
He's the son of National Guard Col. Shawn Hatch and Army veteran Marie Hatch, according to Operation Homefront. His father has served since 1999, and his mother served five years before honorably discharging as a captain from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
The other teens named 2024 Military Child of the Year were:
- Noelani Martinez, 16, of San Antonio: Air Force
- Allison Candelario, 17, of Yorktown, Va.: Army
- Charlotte Tama, 18, of Washington, D.C.: Coast Guard
- Isabella Arrieta, 17, of Murrieta, Calif.: Marine Corps
- Lindsay Carstairs, 17, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.: Navy
- Taylor Walsh, 17, of Arlington Va.: Space Force
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