MCEC Honors Outstanding Achievements Supporting Military-Connected Students

HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas – The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) celebrated excellence in leadership, partnership, and research supporting military-connected students through three distinguished awards presented during the 2025 Global Training Summits in Atlanta and Austin.

This year’s honors highlight the extraordinary impact of students, educators, and partners working to advance MCEC’s mission of ensuring every military-connected child is college-, work-, and life-ready.

The MCEC Student 2 Student® (S2S®) Team of the Year Awards recognized four schools whose programs embody peer leadership and inclusion:

• Elite Team of the Year: Rainbow Elementary School – Madison, AL
• Elementary School Winner: House Creek Elementary – Copperas Cove, TX
• Middle School Winner: Burkburnett Middle School – Burkburnett, TX
• High School Winner: Swansboro High School – Swansboro, NC

Each team demonstrated creativity and compassion through projects such as food drives, recycling challenges, mentorship programs, and student-led orientations—all building a culture of belonging for new and returning students alike.

The Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award was presented to Through the Years – Alabama/Texas, a multi-state collaboration that began at the 2015 MCEC Summit. What started as a connection between Liberty Middle School (AL) and Meadows Elementary (TX) has grown to include ten schools, a military battalion, and community organizations across both states. United by trust and shared purpose, their partnership exemplifies the power of sustained collaboration in supporting military-connected children.

Finally, the Dr. Mary M. Keller Award for Distinguished Contributions to Science honored Dr. Stephen Cozza, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University and a retired Army colonel. Dr. Cozza, a founding member and former co-chair of the MCEC Science Advisory Board, has dedicated his career to understanding the impact of military life on children and families.

“Military kids are our nation’s children,” Dr. Cozza reflected in his acceptance remarks. “They serve this country right alongside their parents, providing a wonderful example for all American children of how to prosper through adversity.”

“Each of these honorees represents a vital part of the MCEC mission,” said Mary Bier, President and CEO of the Military Child Education Coalition. “From the students who create belonging in their schools, to the educators and community partners who sustain collaboration across states, to the scientists who deepen our understanding — together, they ensure military-connected children are seen, supported, and set up to thrive.”

Although the 2025 Global Training Summits took place regionally this year, many honorees were recognized in person, and their inspiring stories were shared through video presentations viewed by attendees across both events.

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About the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)

Established in 1998, the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) is a nonprofit organization that solely exists to help the military-connected child and youth thrive. MCEC supports all military-connected children by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resolve education challenges associated with the military lifestyle and works to ensure they are college, work, and life-ready. Visit MilitaryChild.org to learn more.

Media Contact:
Karen Kirk
Director of Marketing and Brand Creative
Military Child Education Coalition
Karen.Kirk@MilitaryChild.org